Position:Human Services-Employment Specialist

Reports To:Human Services Site Manager

Hours: Full-time M-F $19.40 hr.

Location: SalemDay Services

Overview

Triangle has an immediate opening for an Employment Specialistat the Salemsite. The qualified candidate will equip adults with disabilities to achieve their career and personal goals by maximizing their participationin supported employment and progressing towards competitive employment in the community.

Triangle’s Expectation of Employee

• Adheres to Triangle policy and procedures.

• Fosters a positive, solution-oriented culture consistent with Triangle’s mission.

• Promotes employment, self-advocacy, and independence across programs and participants.

• Acts as a role model within and outside of Triangle.

• Maintains a positive and respectful attitude towards participants, staff, and community partners.

• Communicates regularly with supervisor.

• Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload.

• Consistently reports to work on time prepared to perform duties of position, with a willingness to flex hours as needed.

Primary Responsibilities 

• Equipsindividuals with disabilities with job readiness skills to secure employment

• Createsan inviting, exciting, innovative, learning environment

• Takeslead in developing and implementing activities and employment opportunitiesfocused on personal and professional development

• Produces weekly supported employment schedule

• Consistently connects with community employers toidentify or create employment opportunities for individuals

• Establishes opportunities for job shadowing and training with local community businesses

• Developsjob leads and cultivates employer relationships to enhance community partnerships

• Monitorsindividual job performance, attitude, and behavior for appropriateness

• Provides individualized support to individuals, when necessary, both during programming and 1:1 job coaching 

• Proactively communicates with families over employment progress and needs

• Provides supports to individuals and assists in developing natural supports to ensure integration and increased or maintained independence in the community

• Trains and developsindependence skills related to employment, such as travel training, hygiene, self-advocacy, etc.

• Provides transportation for groups or individual career seekers to interviews, employment assessments, job searching, and other employment activities in the community

• Collaborates with Career Services/Work Force Development departments to execute supported employment jobs, including production goals

• Professionally trains and manages direct care staff working supported employment sites to meet employer goals

• Communicates in a professional manner with employers and trouble shoots issues at supported employment sites with all relevant parties

• Works with Case Management team to ensure individual’s ISP (Individual Support Plan) goals are being met

• Participates in ISP meetings with Department of Developmental Services, participants, and their families or other members of their support team as needed

• Takes direction from Site Manager to collect accurate data as needed for ISP’s, behavior plans, monthly progress notes, etc.

• Submits billing and related progress notes on a daily basisutilizing Penelope software

• Contributes to monthly ISP goal tracking notes

• Other duties as assigned

Daily

• Performs1:1 job development with or on behalf of participant and complete documenting/ billing in database

• Adjust supported employment schedule as needed

• Provides direct care/ group site supervision when necessary

• Prepares and executes lessons to foster personal and professional growth

• Knows and adheres to all safety policies and emergency procedures. Know basic emergency facts regarding participation

• Maintains up to date case notes, employment records, schedules, etc.

Weekly

• Providesservices and bills for 20 hours of 3168 or 3180 on a weekly basis

• Plans and facilitates 1 hour job clubs once a week for groups of 4-6; bills services accordingly

• Checks in with appropriate parties on a weekly basis to share applicable progress, challenges, and ISP and behavior data

Yearly

• Reaches department placement/ annual goals set by Site Manager and Department

• Participates in progress meetings (ISP, behavioral etc.) as requested.

As Needed

• Meets 1:1 with caseload 

• Completes reports, observations, career readiness assessments, and job coaching as requested

• Develops 10 employer relationships/leads per month

• Places 10 participants in competitive, integrated employment (not in supported group sites)

• Participates in biweekly team meetings 

• Meets with Site Manager on a monthly basis for supervision and as needed

• Quality checks client payroll, production goals, and other items as needed for supported employment sites

• Communicates with employers and proposes implementation/production goals; fields questions in a professional manner

• Flexes work week as required by employment sites and job coaching schedules; informs Site Manager of any changes

Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor's Degree preferred

• One to three years of Human Services or Sales experience preferred 

• First Aid and CPR or willingness to become certified. 

• Massachusetts Driver's License and clean driving record required

• Personal vehicle required

• Must clear a state and federal background check

Language Skills

• Ability to verbally communicate

• Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and write documents. 

• Ability to respond and navigate common inquiries or complaints from regulatory agencies, or family members. 

Americans with Disability Specifications

Physical DemandsThe physical demands described here 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 occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here 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. The noise level in the work environment is usually