ACT Vocational Specialist

Under the supervision of the ACT Team Lead/Mental Health Professional, the ACT Vocational Specialist/Mental Health Practitioner provides comprehensive, community-based mental health, rehabilitation, and supported employment services to individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. Responsibilities include assessment, treatment planning, care coordination, skills training, crisis support, and vocational services that promote recovery, employment, independent living, and community integration. This position serves as the primary for vocational services and ensures vocational goals are integrated into the individual's treatment and recovery plan.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide case management, service coordination, assessment, and treatment planning services for an assigned caseload in accordance with ACT model standards.
• Conduct vocational assessments and assist clients in identifying employment, educational, and volunteer opportunities that align with their interests, strengths, and recovery goals.
• Deliver supported employment services, including job development, job placement, job coaching, skills training, and ongoing support to help clients obtain and maintain meaningful employment.
• Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of individualized treatment plans, providing discipline-specific interventions that support client-centered recovery goals.
• Monitor and evaluate clients' psychiatric symptoms, co-occurring substance use disorders, functional status, and response to treatment, and communicate recommendations to the multidisciplinary ACT team.
• Provide evidence-based, recovery-oriented interventions, including Illness Management and Recovery (IMR), Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT), skills training, problem-solving support, and activities of daily living assistance.
• Assist clients in developing and maintaining independent living skills, social supports, family relationships, and community connections that promote recovery and reduce isolation.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary ACT team to provide comprehensive mental health, substance use, rehabilitation, and support services in office and community-based settings.
• Serve as the team's vocational specialist by providing vocational expertise, coordinating employment-related services, and ensuring vocational goals are integrated into treatment planning and service delivery.
• Provide individual and group services utilizing a stage-based, client-centered approach that supports recovery, community integration, and improved quality of life.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation, participate in team meetings and program evaluation activities, and comply with agency policies, regulatory requirements, and ACT and agency standards.
• Demonstrate professionalism, support the agency's mission, vision, and values, participate in ongoing professional development, and maintain competency in community-based mental health practices.
• Participate in evening, weekend, and on-call responsibilities as required by the ACT program.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ability to travel as position requires.
• Performs other work-related duties as assigned.
• Is sensitive and responsive to management needs such as data collection and program evaluation.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Must be 21 years of age and have the ability to meet the Minnesota Department of Human Service rules for qualifications of a Behavioral Health Practitioner (245I.04).
• Must possess a valid Driver’s License and Auto Insurance.
• Experience working with adults diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness.

REQUIRED COMMUNICATION/MATHEMATICAL/REASONING SKILLS:

• Must possess the required level of skills and abilities to read, write, speak, and apply mathematical concepts and sound reasoning to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job.
• Must be able to perform basic operations on a computer within the Windows operating system.
• This position requires problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, and the ability to multi-task.

REQUIRED PHYSICAL ABILITIES:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to walk.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

RESPONSIBILITIES, EXPECTATIONS & STANDARDS:

• Commitment to the daily application of ElevaCare’s mission, to serve patients, their families and our community.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating work flow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment.
• Carry out duties and responsibilities in compliance with Health and Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• May be exposed to communicable diseases when working in a health care environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS: The individual must be able to work the hours specified above. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform the essentials functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, so long as the accommodations do not cause undue hardship to the employer.

This job description is intended to describe the general requirements for the performance of this job. It is not an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.