MHSS Employment Specialist (Employment Transition Services)

Minimum Qualifications

Who We Are:

Mental Health Support Services (MHSS) is the provider of mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorder services for children and adults in Chesterfield County. We are seeking an Employment Specialist to join Chesterfield Employment Services Program where we have supported individuals with employment for over fifty years. As an Employment Specialist, you will provide direct training, support, and advocacy to students with intellectual disabilities prepare for life after high school by enhancing their hard and soft skills, exploring employment options and participating in on-site job training. If this is your passion, then come join our team!

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in psychology, education, marketing, or a related human services field; one year of experience in working with individuals with disabilities such as mental illness or developmental disabilities; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. One year of experience of working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in a community setting preferred. Certifications in Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and First Aid preferred; experience with an electronic health record system preferred; experience with data collection preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Working knowledge of the principles and practices of supported employment; of systemic training techniques. Ability to supervise consumers in work settings; to assist consumers with physically demanding work including, but not limited to, heavy lifting, walking up and down stairs, standing for prolonged periods, squatting, stooping, bending, twisting, stretching, crawling, reaching overhead, and working in awkward positions without choice or variety; to communicate effectively orally and in writing; to develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers; proficiency with Microsoft Office preferred.

Additional Requirements:

Current valid driver's license and good driving record required. Based on the Virginia DMV point system, record must not reflect a total of six or more demerit points within the twenty-four months preceding the anticipated hire date, or one major violation of six demerit points within the preceding thirty-six months. Out of state records must be obtained by applicant and presented at time of interview. Records must reflect at least three years of history and be dated within thirty days of interview date.

Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check, and education/degree verification required.

This position is considered Critical Safety Sensitive and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing. The use of medical marijuana for this position is strictly prohibited.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Liaises with Schools and Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Counselors;
• Provides training sessions for students either in groups or individual settings;
• Reviews, maintains and prepares a variety of consumer records and reports (e.g. behavior, consumer progress, billing);
• Establishes curricula for training modules and coordinates work experiences for students with existing Chesterfield Employment Services (CES) business partners;
• Meets regulatory requirements of DARS to bill for services provided;
• Transports individuals to employment sites and related designated locations;
• Functions as a provider/coordinator for the Leadership for Empowerment and Abuse Prevention (LEAP) relationship and sexuality training with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) partnership for persons with disabilities; and
• Performs other work as required.

Shift

Monday - Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; hours can vary based on needs of individuals being supported.

Work Location

Mental Health Support Services