Employment Specialist

Employee Specialist – Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Team

Salary:

• High School Diploma or GED: $18.00/hour + paid wellness day every other Friday
• High School Diploma or GED + 5 years' supervised behavioral health experience: $23.00/hour + paid wellness day every other Friday
• Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, or Human Services: $25.00/hour + paid wellness day every other Friday

Schedule: Full-Time | Every other Friday off (paid wellness day)

Looking for a career where your work truly matters? Heritage Behavioral Health Center is hiring a passionate Employee Specialist to join our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Team!

About Heritage Behavioral Health Center

We are a mission-driven Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic located in Decatur, Illinois, dedicated to improving mental health and substance use care for individuals in a multi-county area. We recognize that every individual at our organization has an impact on client care – regardless of the position they hold.

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• Collaborative, mission-driven work environment
• Every other Friday off – paid wellness days
• Competitive salaries aligned with state and national benchmarks
• Loan forgiveness eligibility through NHSC
• Ongoing training and support in the evidence-based treatment models

At Heritage, we believe in taking care of our staff's needs so that they can concentrate on taking care of the needs of the individuals we serve. Our staff are our greatest asset, and we treat them as such!

Your Role

The Employee Specialist works as part of our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Team, using the evidence-based IPS – Supported Employment model to help individuals with a mental health, substance use, or co-occurring diagnosis find and keep competitive employment in the community. This role integrates closely with each individual's treatment team and focuses on rapid, individualized job searches driven by the person's own preferences, strengths, and goals.

Core Responsibilities:

• Provide direct IPS – Supported Employment services to individuals with mental health, substance use, or co-occurring disorders
• Conduct vocational assessments based on individual preferences, strengths, and work history
• Engage in rapid, individualized job development and job searches (not solely reliant on classroom training or pre-employment assessment)
• Build and maintain relationships with area employers to identify job opportunities matching participant interests
• Provide time-unlimited, individualized follow-along supports to help participants maintain employment
• Integrate employment services with mental health/substance use treatment by collaborating closely with each participant's treatment team
• Assist participants in understanding how employment may affect benefits, coordinating with benefits planning resources as needed
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation of services provided in accordance with agency and funding source requirements
• Participate in IPS supervision, fidelity reviews, and ongoing training to maintain adherence to the evidence-based model
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings, treatment team meetings, and community networking events

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Understanding of, or willingness to be trained in, the IPS – Supported Employment evidence-based model
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with participants, employers, and treatment team members
• Ability to work independently in the community while managing a caseload
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for documentation and compliance
• Belief in the ability of individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders to work in competitive, integrated employment
• Comfort with a flexible schedule that may include community-based meetings with employers and participants

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or Human Services preferred
• A valid driver's license, reliable means of transportation, and proof of current automobile insurance is required
• Minimum of 21 years of age

Heritage also offers the following with this position:

• Generous Time Off: Vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave
• Wellness Benefits: Every other Friday off paid, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and fitness reimbursement
• Insurance: Health, dental, vision, flex spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care), and additional life insurance. Health insurance includes substantial agency contribution toward the cost
• Retirement plan (401k)
• Direct deposit of payroll check
• Continuing education and tuition assistance opportunities
• Access to Federal Student Loan Forgiveness – Heritage is a National Health Service Corp Site, providing access to federal student loan forgiveness for approved licensed staff. Additional information is available at nhsc.hrsa.gov