Center for Alternative·New York
The Employment Specialist leads the integration of vocational goals and services to support clients in job readiness and competitive employment. They provide mobile community-based mental health treatment and case management for young adults with serious mental illnesses.
Job Title: Employment Specialist
The CASES Young Adult ACT team provides mobile community based mental health treatment to promote the recovery and community integration of individuals ages 18 to 28 with serious mental illnesses, high rates of co-occurring substance use disorders and histories of criminal legal system involvement.
The Employment Specialist is an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team of mental health clinicians delivering services such as supported employment, wellness self management counseling, integrated co-occurring disorder treatment, daily living skills and general case management.
The Employment Specialist has lead responsibility on the team for integrating vocational goals and services to support consumers in job readiness, vocational training, adult education, and competitive employment.
ACT staff are both generalists and specialists where the Employment Specialist will also provide person-centered mental health wellness services and support for clients.
We are looking for a mental health professional with extensive experience in vocational assessment, job exploration, and skills development in choosing, getting, and maintaining employment.
This is a field-based position and requires at least 80% of services to be provided to participants in their homes, shelters, places of employment, vocational and education settings and other community settings.
The salary for this role is $63,654 per year.
424 East 147th Street, 1st Floor, Bronx, NY 10455. Our office is easily accessible by public transportation.
Flexible - Staff have the flexibility to complete their workday from home or another suitable space, typically after reporting to the office and/or engaging in field or community-based work.
Attend and participate in daily team meetings to discuss clients’ clinical and case management issues and needs
Complete documentations required by the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DOHMH) licensing guidelines, NYS Medicaid billing guidelines as well as per CASES ACT Policy and Procedures
Complete and update comprehensive assessments using results from administration of standardized screening instruments for job/school readiness, vocational/educational interests, suicidality, violence risk
Identify the treatment and support services consumers should receive based on stages of change, vocational/educational readiness and interests, immediate needs and complete treatment plans using a person-centered approach
Regularly collaborate with the team’s Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Specialist on employment resources and supports for the team’s clients
Collaborate with family, friends, other service providers on consumer’s educational/vocational training, post-hospital-discharge care coordination, housing needs, entitlements support, social support, primary care needs, etc
Use motivational interviewing, recovery and trauma-informed approaches when delivering services
Provide 24-hour crisis intervention on-call services on rotating basis
Provide at least 80 percent of treatment contacts in the community and complete expected minimum monthly treatment contacts, including leading substance use treatment groups when clinically indicated
Provide culturally competent services in accordance with CASES policies and practice.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred
PEOPLE| Hold people’s stories with dignity
UNITY| Commit to a shared mission
RESPECT| Celebrate the strength of diversity
PROGRESS| Always work to improve
OPTIMIZE| Make the best use of resources
SOLUTIONS| Work together to solve problems
EMPATHY| Seek to understand others
Although we would love to learn about the skills of every candidate, only selected candidates that are selected will receive a response. We encourage you to apply for any position(s) you feel you are qualified for.
CASES is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with CASES is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital, military, or citizenship status. We also actively recruit individuals with prior involvement in the criminal legal system.
Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm 35 hours per week excluding breaks
Requires a Bachelor's degree in rehabilitation counseling or a related field and at least one year of experience in vocational assessment and human services. Candidates must be able to conduct physical outreach visits in the community at least 80% of the time.
Market context
Behavioral health roles in New York are often in steady demand, especially for clinicians who can support diverse age groups and handle assessments or admissions. These positions can be competitive because employers commonly look for independent licensure, while also considering associate-level candidates with clear growth toward full licensure. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your licensure status and assessment experience before applying.