Our Vision The elimination of barriers that restrict individuals with disabilities from community inclusion. We strive to eliminate all barriers that keep our clients from being a part of their community. Our Mission To provide services and supports to people with barriers to attain self-direction, inclusion, personal fulfillment, and productivity in all life areas. At DSI, we provide these services and supports to our clients to help them attain self-direction, inclusion and personal fulfillment and be productive in all areas of life.

Job Description

POSITION TITLE: Employment Consultant / Schooled-Based Career Coach

DIVISION: Director of Vocational Services

CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

STATUS: Full-Time

PURPOSE:

The primary function of the Employment Consultant and School-Based Career Coach is to assist persons to choose, obtain and retain integrated employment in the community and assist in the implementation, analysis, identification and development of Pre-Employment Transition Services for the North Central Collaborative. The Employment Consultant will initially assess, job develop, train and provide ongoing support for individuals with disabilities seeking employment. The Career Coach will provide services to support core Pre-ETS initiatives in local high schools. 

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Knows and understands the DSI mission “To provide services and supports to people with barriers to attain self-direction, inclusion, personal fulfillment, and productivity in all life areas.”

Review and assess all collateral information concerning strengths, abilities, barriers, limitations, and vocational preferences of the client.

Be knowledgeable of funding sources for employment services such as Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS) and others as needed.

Be aware of and develop relationships with outside services and make appropriate referrals based on identified needs of the person served.

Coordinate and facilitate person centered planning and utilize person centered strategies to develop an employment plan to meet the goals of the person served.

Coordinate and participate in appropriate discovery activities with the person served such as job shadows, informational interviews, and work experiences in the community to explore their talents, interests, preferences, capabilities, ideal work environments, challenges, support strategies, and informed choice to identify an appropriate vocational goal.

Provide motivation, support, and consultation as necessary to enhance job readiness for people seeking employment.

Teach and/or enhance job seeking methods and techniques, following funding source guidelines.

Provide assessment, job development, on-site and/or off-site support and coaching as needed to persons served.

Actively participate in interdisciplinary team meetings with person served and their identified support team members (including but not limited to: Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Case Managers, Behavior Consultants, therapists, guardians, family members, school staff)

Identify labor and employer needs utilizing job development activities, which may include employer contacts, job restructuring, needed accommodations, negotiating duties and compensation.

Utilize job and cultural analysis to determine job requirements and match those needs with personal interests and abilities of qualified candidates.

Coordinate or provide on-going consultation, guidance, and follow-up support as required by employee/employer needs.

Promote and facilitate integration of the employee into work and community culture through natural supports related to advocacy, positive co-worker relationships, and formation of linkages with community resources and services.

Provide or coordinate ongoing long-term services reflecting the needs and desires of the person served.

Market and educate employers about available candidates and services provided by DSI, including work incentive/benefit programs.

Initiate process to secure performance/satisfaction feedback from employee/employer and funding source and utilize results to improve services.

Maintain detailed accurate records, progress notes and required documentation utilizing complete sentences, proper grammar, and professional tone in compliance with agency and funding source guidelines and ensure all documentation is up to date in electronic record

Complete and submit appropriate billing as required to funding source.

Work individually and/or with support team members to make efficient use of time and generate required levels of production.

Must be physically capable of performing diverse job functions to assist persons served in learning their job duties. Such physical acts include but are not limited to: standing for long periods of time, bending, mopping, sweeping, pushing, lifting items of various weights, and possess manual dexterity skills to operate various tools and equipment. In addition, must be able to generate case documentation and communicate on the telephone.

Assist in the implementation, development and follow-through of referrals and intakes

Build Pre-ETS group activities and after school programming

Work directly with Pre-ETS students on job exploration counseling, work based learning experiences, work place readiness, self-advocacy, and post-secondary.

Additional duties as requested.

ESSENTIAL JOB QUALITIES:

• Maintain professional behaviors and appearance: dress appropriately, be on time for all appointments and follow through on commitments.
• Attend/request related training as authorized.
• Promote and display positive attitude and an overall commitment to the agency’s mission, values, and vision.
• Ability to work flexible, non-standard hours, including occasional evening and weekends. 
• Must represent the agency at school functions such as outreach night activities educating families on Pre-ETS services.

QUALIFICATIONS:

High School diploma or GED required.

Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred with 2 years-experience in the field is preferred. Each employee must attend and participate in staff meetings and training sessions regularly and maintain all required internal and external requirements and certifications.

Previous experience in employment services, marketing, working with people with disabilities desired.

A valid driver’s license, proof of automobile insurance and acceptable motor vehicle report is required. In this position, reliable transportation is also required. 

Must possess or be able to obtain CPR, CPI and First Aid certification annually and perform as necessary.

Must have strong teamwork and excellent oral and written communication skills.

Must be able to pass each school’s required background checks.

Must have demonstrated use of desktop publishing and word processing.

The above statements reflect general functions of this job and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all work requirements inherent to the job. The immediate supervisor may elaborate on the above list if the duties come within the employee's realm of responsibility.