The Vocational Electives Specialist will focus primarily on curriculum, development, and support of member electives and workplace skills in partnership with our Workplace Skills Manager. This Vocational Electives Specialist role will also function as a role model to peers, exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills, especially related to workplace re-entry. They will serve as an advocate, providing supportive information and peer support for members in outpatient and inpatient settings. Using their recovery or work-related experience, Vocational Elective Specialists provide support and resources for members through case management within the framework of the vocational programming, with a focus on developing vocational skills and acquiring full time employment upon graduation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develops and delivers various vocational electives curriculum via group facilitation with members.
• Works closely with department leadership and team members to develop, launch, and build out electives and workplace skills programming for members.
• Facilitates electives teaching and groups as needed across various subject matter areas.
• Supports members in enrollment into the correct electives to accomplish their vocational goals.
• Partners with outside employers interested in partnering and/or participating in our electives program(s).
• Completes administrative duties related to enrollment and scheduling for vocational electives.
• Observes members, listens to their concerns, records their observations, and reports to mental health professionals about any unusual behavior(s).
• Aides in various daily living activities to effectively support the re-entry and recovery processes.
• Effectively assesses changes in mood, and accurately determines whether it is positive, negative, and/or potentially dangerous, taking necessary steps to modify the member’s actions or alert medical or mental health professionals.
• Assists members in articulating personal goals for recovery using one-to-one and group sessions.
• Supports members in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aide them in achieving those goals.
• Assists members in working with their Case Manager and Treatment Team to determine the steps needing to be taken to achieve their goals and self-directed recovery.
• Assists members in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups, as well as a means of locating and joining existing groups.
• Encourages ongoing individual and group sessions to teach members how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears by providing a forum which allows group members to share their experiences.
• Identifies literature, media, and other resources to help members to gain hope, learn to identify their strengths, and combat negative self-talk.
• In direct partnership with the Case Management team, effectively supports members’ vocational choices and assists them in choosing a job that matches their strengths, overcoming job-related anxiety by reviewing job applications, and providing interview tips.
• Assists members in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure.
• Maintains safety for themselves and their members, which can include securing documents, files, and effectively deescalating members and/or complex situations.
• Provides direct support to the treatment team for in-house members or on supervised trips, as needed.
• When required and assigned by management, transports members to their approved destinations. This may include maintaining a safe and clean vehicle and using navigation apps to determine the best route.
• In addition, all other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Excellent professional and ethical boundaries across all aspects of the peer support and member therapeutic relationship
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, demonstrating versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within a fast-paced environment
• Computer skills – KIPU, MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
• High school diploma or GED required
• Peer Support Specialist certification is required
• Minimum one (1) year Peer Support Specialist experience
• Valid AZ driver’s license may be required
• Successful clearance of annual MVR may be required
• Successful clearance of pre-employment criminal/county/state background check
• Successful clearance of pre-employment drug and alcohol testing
• Successful clearance of annual TB PPD testing

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

New Freedom Ops LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, a drug free workplace, and complies with Veteran and ADA regulations as applicable.