Supported Education Specialist #668 in Beaverton, Oregon at LifeWorks Northwest

At LifeWorks NW, our work strengthens the health and wellbeing of individuals and families at every stage of life. Our mission is to promote a healthy community through high-quality, culturally responsive mental health, addiction, and prevention services that create real, lasting change. Guided by our values of recovery and resilience, relationships, and results, we partner closely with clients and communities to reduce stigma and build pathways to stability and hope. If you want your work to make a meaningful difference beyond the walls of an office, we invite you to join us.

The Supported Education Specialist assesses the severe and persistent mentally ill client case load for educational capabilities, provides training assistance, offers continuing support, and assists clients to explore educational possibilities and make education placements. Encourages schools, administrators, and community providers to recognize clients' abilities to be productive and successful in these settings and assists with creating individualized accommodations in school settings to optimize academic outcomes. Services are offered in a community based or home visit setting.

Location: This position is based out of LifeWorks NW's Beaverton site.

Pay/Benefits: $25.39-$32.71 per hour plus Full benefits.

Salary Placement Notice:
The posted salary range reflects the compensation potential for this role. Most candidates will be placed between the entry level and midpoint of the range, depending on their experience and qualifications. However, more seasoned professionals with extensive exact or similar experience may be considered for placement toward the higher end of the range. Final salary offers are made in alignment with internal compensation processes in accordance with Oregon Pay Equity laws.

EssentialResponsibilities:

• Interviewsindividuals and, if applicable, family members or team members in the clientsupport system to complete the strengths based educational assessments toidentify clients' skills and strengths, interests, goals, dreams, aspirationsand resources available to reach their goals.
• Counselsindividuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, orbehavioral problems affecting their educational situation.
• Develops aneducation focused service plan based on clients' interests, abilities,strengths and needs. Service plans will have measurable goals and objectivesbased on the diagnosis and will specify type, frequency, intensity, andduration of service. Service plans will be client driven and follow-ups will becompleted on time, assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
• Assistsclients with financial aid applications and scholarships that may assist inachieving academic goals.
• Researches possible educational opportunitiesfor clients by contacting school counselors, school administrators, and anyother means of reaching potential employers or educators.
• Establishes and maintains connections withschools and organizations offering educational opportunities.
• Identifies barriersto client's educational goals, such as finances, scheduling, and transportationproblems. Works with clients to develop strategies for overcoming barriers.
• Maintains closecontact with clients during educational placements to resolve problems andevaluate placement adequacy.
• Performs interventions as needed with assignedclients previously placed who may be at risk of school failure. Work closely with teachers, counselors andclients to resolve issues as soon as possible.
• Coordinates and consults with other teammembers to keep team informed of issues and progress.
• Counselsindividuals, groups, families, or communities regarding educational placementand retention issues
• Refers clients orfamilies to community resources including school counselors, tutors andfinancial aid advisors
• Provides crisisintervention to clients when difficult situations occur
• Monitors and tracks educational status andperformance. Provides accurate and timely written reports.
• Ensures timely record maintenance of, billings,completed releases of information, and Service Activity Logs (S/AL's).Maintains client records in compliance with agency and confidentialityguidelines. Completes documentation in an electronic health records system.
• Serves as back-up for other staff when needed.
• Checks e-mail/voice mail daily/throughout theday when working responding to contacts within 48 hours for routine matter(urgent matters may require a more immediate response)
• Required to transport clients in a personalvehicle and/or LifeWorks NW vehicle.

Qualifications:

• This position requires a valid and active QMHA credential certification through MHACBO.
  
• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology,Counseling or a behavioral health related field OR three years of comparableexperience working with individual who have severe and persistent mentalillness.
• Must have a minimum of an additional year ofexperience in the behavioral health field working with people withdisabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to communicateeffectively; understand mental health assessment, treatment and serviceterminology and individual, group, family and other counseling techniques;program policies and procedures for services and supports identified in anIndividual Services and Supports Plan.
• Demonstrated ability to provideculturally-competent treatment services to diverse client populations andmaintain a cooperative working relationship with others in a culturally diverseenvironment.
• Ability to provide educational services andcompliance with confidentially in accordance with federal, state and/or fundingsource requirements.
• Knowledge of community resources enablingappropriate referrals for specific client needs.
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, andWord. Ability to master proprietary software including electronic healthrecord system required.
• Requires valid driver's license, proof of current automobile insurance coverage, verification of safe driving record from DMV, and ability to meet LWNW driving requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer

www.lifeworksnw.org

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