Adult Outpatient Programs provide the least restrictive level of care where adults may receive clinical interventions aimed at decreasing existing signs and symptoms of their behavioral health concerns. Outpatient treatment focuses on recovery, problem resolution, symptom reduction, stabilization and/or prevention of movement to a higher level of care. Treatment varies widely and depends upon the patient’s presenting symptoms.

Individual Placement & Support (IPS) is an evidence-based practice of supported employment that helps people with serious mental illness work at regular jobs of their choosing. The IPS team’s Benefits Specialist provides personalized, understandable, and accurate information about Social Security, Medicaid, and other government entitlements, and helps patients understand how working will affect these and other benefits, such as housing assistance and food stamps. IPS program participants also learn about Social Security work incentives, which are ways to earn money while continuing to receive benefits.

Benefits Specialist working with the Supported Employment IPS program is responsible for providing comprehensive and personalized benefits counseling; recommending and facilitating use of work incentives to support consumers’ employment choices; and providing information about how benefits may be impacted by employment.

Essential Functions

• Demonstrates superior organizational skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrates ability to manage multiple high priority tasks and meet frequent deadlines; possesses and uses excellent time management skills
• Demonstrates  good math skills and deductive ability
• Demonstrates computer proficiency – use of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook) as well as web-based database and other applications as required
• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills; must be able to accurately relay technical information to beneficiaries and their families in verbal and written format
• Demonstrates good interviewing skills, both over the phone and in person
• Discovers and develops information about community resources, networks, advocacy groups and non-profit providers to assist consumers with implementing work incentives
• Develops and conducts community work incentive seminars, workshops, or other outreach, education or training activities in order to present information to consumers or professional organizations regarding work incentives and the services provided through AltaPointe’s Supported Employment – IPS program
• Assesses consumers’ financial resources to determine the need to apply for benefits
• Provides information about consumers’ total income based upon part-time or full-time work
• Assists consumers in completing applications to secure benefits
• Assists consumers in obtaining documentation required for applications to Social Security Administration and other agencies
• Advocates on behalf of consumers with the Social Security Administration office and other agencies
• Effectively utilizes the SOAR system
• Tracks status of consumer benefit applications
• Provides information about the effect of work on a spouse’s or dependent child’s benefits
• Ensures the AHS Finance and Accounting department and treatment team are notified when benefits are obtained
• Assists consumers with developing plans to exit benefit systems, if preferred
• Ensures matching of appropriate services for multiple consumers in caseload
• Identifies goals and plans for appropriate services
• Provides appropriate linkage to community resources
• Advocates on behalf of the consumer to secure community resources
• Effectively collaborates with the treatment team members and outside sources in the delivery of case management services
• Evaluates the consumer for discharge planning
• Seeks clinical supervision and consultation as needed
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
• Actively works to enhance case management skills
• Maintains confidential files containing required information for each supported employment client
• Maintains documentation for those individuals receiving services
• Provides timely documentation that meets requirements of various funding sources including Vocational Rehabilitation, Medicaid, and others
• Treats consumers with care, dignity, and compassion
• Respects consumers’ privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists consumers and visitors as needed
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the consumers’ needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm with consumers and families
• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures
• Attends required meetings, in-service trainings, and other workshops

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, or a Mental Health Discipline with successful completion of ADMH approved Case Management Training program and ADMH approved Supported Employment Specialist training Program (after hire acceptable), and two (2) years experience working in a mental health or vocational rehabilitation field.

Experience in providing employment services and workforce requirements are preferred.  Ability to work as an effective team member is essential.