Case Manager - Community Employment

Case Manager - Community Employment (IPS Employment Specialist)

Haymarket Center

Chicago, IL

Haymarket Center - Our Mission

The mission of Haymarket Center is to aid people with substance use disorders in their recovery by providing comprehensive behavioral health solutions.

Our Vision

The field of addiction medicine has gone through a remarkable transformation over the past few years. Haymarket Center has emerged as a leader in the fields of addiction and behavioral health treatment. We have done this through our evidence-based interventions and innovative programming geared towards strong outcomes. Our theme that captures the spirit of Haymarket Center is Focus on Success.

The message behind Focus on Success is one of participation by every Haymarket Center employee. Together, we are creating an organization where teamwork and collaboration enable us to succeed, both individually and collectively.

Brief Summary –  Case Manager - Community Employment (DHS)

As a Case Manager - Community Employment at Haymarket Center, you will help clients on your caseload living with substance use disorders and mental health conditions articulate their interests, values, and skills and you will assist these clients with their job search in the community. You will participate in weekly case consultation meetings, collaborating with a team of recovery coaches. You will coach and support your clients through their community job search, and you will meet with employers in the community on the client’s behalf. You will continue to support your clients in retaining their employment in the community. This is a full-time employment services role within an addictions treatment center serving those with substance use disorders and mental health conditions. 

To succeed in this role, you need: 

• An interest in and passion for mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment advocacy
• Effective verbal communication & relationship-building skills
• Good written communication skills
• Comfort and competence with technology such as Adobe Acrobat, MS Teams, MS Outlook, MS Windows, NextGen EHR (Electronic Health Record), etc.
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion and ability to work within a diverse team setting
• Be at least 21 years old
• Hold a valid Illinois driver's license and current car insurance

Several education and work experience paths are eligible for this role: 

• Associate's degree in psychology, social work, or related field with 2+ years of successful supervised clinical experience
• Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, or related field
• Bachelor's degree in unrelated field and 2+ years successful supervised clinical experience
• Master's degree in psychology, counseling, rehabilitation, social work, or related field

Full-time Employment (40 hours per week, 8 hours per day, generally 8:30 – 5:00 pm, M - F)

Job Description – Community Employment Case Manager (DHS)

• Engages clients and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers who do not necessarily have disability.
• Assists clients in obtaining individualized information about how entitlement (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) will be affected by employment so clients can make decisions about employment opportunities. Refers clients to benefits counseling, as needed. Helps clients report earnings, as needed.
• Assesses clients’ vocational skills and preferences on an ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. May provide mental health assessment based on education and credentials.  With the client’s permission, provide information and support to family members. Discusses client’s preference for disclosure of mental health status to employers.
• Helps clients learn about different jobs/careers by assisting with meetings with workers/managers to ask about positions that interest clients, meetings with academic advisors, observing workers (one day or less in duration), and job fairs to speak with employers about different types of jobs.
• Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interest and uniqueness of the people on his/her/their caseload, following the principles and procedures of IPS supported employment.
• Conducts an average of six employer contacts per week. Employer contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business, describe support offered by the program, and describe client strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Provides individualized follow-along support and/or supportive counseling, based on education and credentials, to assist clients in maintaining employment. Writes job support plans with clients and incorporates input from family members (with client permission) and the mental health team. Adjusts plan according to clients’ needs and preferences.
• Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients. May negotiate job accommodations and follow-along contact by the IPS specialist with the employer.
• Participates in weekly meetings with recovery and/or mental health treatment team and communicates individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational services with recovery services and mental health treatment.

Requirements

• Keep current and maintain client files and databases (Illinois SNAP Employment & Training System (ISETS) as required by program contracts. Analyze client needs and provide effective solutions. Proactively address challenges and ensures timely response and resolution for any customer concerns
• Responsible for a minimum number of 8 job starts per year or maintaining at least 65% employment on caseload.
• Develops an individual employment and/or education plan with clients. Incorporates input from mental health and family members, with client permission.
• Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community, for example meets clients at their homes, workplaces, coffee shops, libraries, one-stop offices, state VR office, family homes, helps clients follow up on job applications, and goes with clients to visit local GED programs and colleges.
• Attends educational consultation meetings with educators, such as Individual Education Program (IEP), 504 Plan, Disability Services, and Transitions Plan meetings, to discuss how students learn best and ways that the IPS specialist can support the student’s education.
• Experience providing employment services, and knowledge of the work world are preferred.
• Ability to work as an effective team member is essential.
• Experience working with people with substance use disorders and/or severe mental illness, experience providing employment services.