Employment Specialist Intern

The Intern will work in our WorkPlace Associates (WPA) program. WPA is a community-based program which helps working age youth and adults with mental health or cognitive disabilities regain or improve the quality of their lives through meaningful employment supports. The Employment Specialist Intern is a community-based position that is working with the PRE-ETS Program (Pre-Employment Transition Service) this will entail the person working in a primarily school setting in the Butler and Warren County area.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conduct comprehensive intake assessments, evaluating consumer interests, strengths, abilities, work histories, and potential barriers.
• Coordinate and collaborate with family members, advocates, schools, and other support systems to ensure effective delivery of service.
• Integrate services with relevant professional personnel to support treatment and educational plans.
• Develop and implement individualized Vocational Service Plans for consumers.
• Facilitate Job Seeking and Social Skills classes to empower consumers in the workforce.
• Serve as a liaison between WorkPlace Associates (WPA) staff, supervisors, funding sources, and employers to ensure smooth communication and coordination.
• Effectively communicate with consumers, employers, co-workers, family members, funding sources, and agency personnel.
• Cultivate and maintain positive working relationships with consumers and stakeholders.
• Participate in in-services, seminars, and other training activities as scheduled to stay current with best practices.
• Deliver virtual small group instruction on vocational topics through Microsoft Teams, following provided curriculum.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case records in compliance with professional and agency standards.
• Actively contribute to the success of the WPA team and program objectives.
• Complete required documentation in a timely and organized manner.
• Adhere to agency policies, procedures, and confidentiality standards.
• Be flexible with working hours to accommodate client needs, including availability for day, evening, and weekend shifts.
• Assist in coordinating services with schools and attend meetings, as necessary, to support the consumers.
• Teach job readiness and vocational skills to students in the Summer Youth Program.
• Participate in Individualized Education Program (IEP), Evaluation Team Report (ETR), or Transition meetings when applicable.
• Modify or develop lessons for the PRE-ETS program according to specified criteria.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Minimum Education, Experience and Other Skill Requirements:

• High school diploma required; in process Bachelor’s degree in related field required 
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent follow-up skills.
• Prior experience in social services, sales, or teaching is preferred but not required.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and PDF software.

Work Environment:

The WPA program is a community-based services program headquartered in an office setting. This role requires providing services to consumers in various community locations, necessitating the use of your personal vehicle for transportation. Exposed to a combination of office, school and mental health treatment environments. Exposed to children with behavior problems. May be exposed to shouting and children who are upset. 

Physical demands:

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Use hands to manipulate, handle, feel, and control items or equipment;
• Talk to other employees/clients and hear them;
• See and be able to read, write, and interpret written documents;
• Occasionally lift and move objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

Our Culture:

Best Point Education & Behavioral Health is Greater Cincinnati’s most prolific non-profit specializing in education, behavioral and therapeutic health services and autism services for vulnerable, at-risk youth, their families, and caregivers. Best Point Education & Behavioral Health is proud to embrace our ideals of an equal opportunity workplace by actions as well as our words. We lead our community with respect and tolerance, internally and externally, and we expect our employees to embrace this ideal and express it in their day-to-day interactions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against, based on age, race, gender, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected category.