CSO is looking for an Educational/Vocational Specialist for our PACT-Youth team in Pittsfield.

Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) is an evidence-based intensive outpatient treatment program designed to assist youth overcome the barriers to their recovery from severe and persistent behavioral health disorders. 

The goal of the PACT-Y service is to provide Youth and their Families with a comprehensive range of behavioral health services and supports that ensure the Youth can remain living in their community and prevent the need for out-of-home, residential, and/or hospital levels of care.  For young adults, whether they choose to live with another adult or on their own, the goal of PACT-Y services is to help them establish the full range of supports needed for them to live successfully in the community, including support in transitioning to DMH adult services, if needed.

This position will provide support services with the purpose of enhancing the emotional well-being, stability, and social functioning of program consumers. 

Responsibilities

• Perform supportive services to provide job skills training including "in vivo" skills training, side by side assistance, vocational and pre-vocational support to clients to include identifying interests and strengths and goals, and development of individualized placements. Assist in developing communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Recruit businesses on a local level with the goal of providing employment opportunities to clients.
• Complete work interest evaluations plans.
• Provide support and follow-up for program clients.
• Act as liaison with other agencies involved with clients.
• Follow a process for exploring and assessing a Youth's educational and vocational strengths, challenges, aspirations, and goals. This information must be incorporated into the Youth's Treatment Plan as specific service goals.  Serves as the primary lead in these processes and ensures that the Treatment Plan reflects the Youth's education and vocational aspirations and goals.
• Participate in treatment planning, team meeting, in-services and other relevant meetings.
• Act as member of mini-treatment team in accordance with treatment goals and planned activities/interventions and effectively communicate with other team members regarding client care.
• Deliver workshops and trainings. 

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree or Associate's Degree and applicable experience in employment support. Ability to work cooperatively, independently and with supervision.  The ability to handle situations in a professional manner at all times with clientele, staff, and external sources.  Must be flexible, possess good communication and interpersonal skills as well as the ability to effectively work as part of a team.  Must have valid driver's license and reliable transportation. Computer proficiency required, including ability to work with email, electronic health record and word processing software. Previous direct care experience in employment services, ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and staff, knowledge of local business community and experience with vocational programs strongly preferred.

Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply, (English/Spanish speaking.)

Benefits

We provide our employees with competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, including full coverage health and dental insurance and ample paid time off (vacation, personal, sick, and holidays). Additionally, we offer a 403B retirement savings plan, an employee referral bonus program, regular in-house training and professional development opportunities with free CEUs, and voluntary supplemental insurances at group rates, including short and long-term disability, cancer, accident and life. We also offer a premier employee assistance program (EAP) and personal cell phone plan discounts. Our work environment is flexible and supportive, with ample opportunities for collaboration within and across departments, programs and locations. 

Our Agency

Clinical & Support Options, Inc. is a behavioral health organization serving individuals and families across Western Massachusetts. From our early days as a child guidance clinic, we have expanded into a full service behavioral health agency, committed internally to excellence while we collaborate externally with community partners to participate in a comprehensive system of assistance and resources for the residents of our communities. We employ over 650 multi-disciplinary staff, helping thousands of families over the past 50 years. We have community based office locations throughout Western Massachusetts, including Springfield, Northampton, Greenfield, Orange, Athol, Gardner and Pittsfield.

Our expertise, in a nutshell, is to support people in their progress towards self-sufficiency, no matter what challenges they face on that journey. EOE/AA