Vocational & Pre-Vocational Services Coordinator

Supported Education and Employment Specialist

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Vocational & Pre-Vocational Services Coordinator position.

An Overview
This position works with young adults ages 15-30 years- old in the TRAILS program, a treatment program for seriously mentally ill emerging adults that have experienced a first episode of psychosis within the last two years and who may have a co-occurring substance use disorder. Duties include outreach to individuals and their families to engage youth in treatment and to provide support and education to promote participation and adherence to treatment. The position links clients to community resources, entitlements, educational and vocational opportunities and monitors treatment progress and mental status. Guides client’s to increased self-sufficiency through skill building around problem-solving, symptom management, coping skills, and improved social and recreational skills. Involves the preparation, monitoring, and assessment of individual treatment plans, maintaining clear concise client records, provision of crisis intervention, recovery coaching, short term individual, group and family counseling, linking consumers to needed services, and exploring community resources.

What You Should Bring
The ideal candidate should have thorough knowledge of the theories, principles and techniques applicable to psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational and prevocational programs and instruction, service delivery systems and community programs and organizations assisting a long-term psychiatrically disabled population, good knowledge of human rights regulations, good knowledge of psychopharmacology, psychiatric disorders, and related symptomatology, ability to identify the vocational needs of the target population, and to prepare and/or oversee the development of individual rehabilitation plans, ability to plan and evaluate vocational service delivery programs, ability to supervise and evaluate the work of others, ability to provide crisis intervention, ability to provide personal, vocational, and prevocational counseling and training, ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.

The Opportunity

• Provides case management services focused on vocational support including helping clients to identify vocational goals; linking clients to vocational programs, assisting clients in identifying potential job opportunities, applying for jobs, developing resumes and preparing for interviews, conducting visits to the job site, and meeting with the clients, co-workers and employers to facilitate successful adjustment to the work environment and problem solve job related difficulties.
• Provides case management services focused on educational support including meeting with clients and educators to improve academic success, helping clients to identify educational goals and problem-solving barriers to achieving those goals, and developing strategies to improve academic success.
• Assist with developing and facilitating young adult skill building group.
• Develops individual treatment plans with consumers and provides case management/recovery coaching, attending to needs such as housing, family relationships, meaningful activities, day care, family planning, health care, financial management, education, training, and employment.
• Conducts individual, family and group supportive counseling with young adult clients.
• Administering standardized evaluation instruments.
• Develops and maintains working relationships with community stakeholders including vocational and educational supports.
• Provides information and referral services.
• Conducts program presentations and workshops.
• Provides crisis intervention and addresses complex crises involving both psychological and environmental components.
• Identifies and provides targeted outreach and engagement to co-occurring individuals in the community and in shelters.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

About the Department
The Center for Adult Services (CAS) provides programs and services in Aging, Adult Protective Services, Clinical & Emergency Services, and Community & Residential Support Services for seniors and for persons with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders. CAS provides compassionate and effective person-centered services based on best practices. Our teams support self-determination, safety and recovery for Alexandria residents affected by abuse, neglect, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance abuse disorders.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Four Year College Degree from an accredited college in a human services field plus at least one year clinical experience providing vocational and/or pre-vocational services to adults with a mental health and/or co-occurring substance abuse disorder.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or related field. At least two years providing direct clinical and/or case management/recovery coaching services to ethnically diverse with SMI/co-occurring illnesses (Severe Mental Illness/Substance Abuse or Mental Illness/Intellectual Disabilities). At least one year working with adults or youth in a mental health setting, good computer skills, ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evening hours and bilingual English/Spanish or Amharic/English. Must have a valid driver’s license.

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to: FBI/Federal Records Check, VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry; Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database, education/certifications, and driver's license.

Schedule:

Monday through Friday, 8:30AM - 5:00PM, flexible schedule with occasional evening hours.