Employment Specialist (Supported Employment)

Employment Specialist – Supported Employment

At Peace Health Care

Position: Employment Specialist / Job Coach

Employment Type: Full-Time or Part-Time

Location: Community-Based / Local Employer Sites

About The Position

At Peace Health Care is seeking a compassionate, dependable, and motivated Employment Specialist to provide Supported Employment services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Employment Specialist helps individuals identify employment goals, obtain competitive integrated employment, learn job responsibilities, develop workplace skills, and become as independent as possible in their employment.

This position involves working directly with individuals at community businesses and employment sites and collaborating with employers, families, Support Coordinators, and other members of the individual's support team.

Key Responsibilities

The Employment Specialist will:

• Provide individualized, person-centered Supported Employment services based on each individual's ISP, strengths, preferences, needs, and employment goals.
• Assist individuals with identifying career interests and employment preferences.
• Support job searching, applications, résumé development, interview preparation, and employer outreach.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with local employers.
• Complete job analyses and task analyses to identify job duties, workplace expectations, training needs, and appropriate supports.
• Provide on-the-job coaching and systematic instruction.
• Use appropriate teaching strategies such as modeling, verbal and gestural prompts, visual supports, task analysis, reinforcement, and other individualized techniques.
• Help individuals develop workplace skills including attendance, communication, task completion, time management, appropriate workplace behavior, and interaction with supervisors and coworkers.
• Encourage independence and natural workplace supports rather than unnecessary dependence on paid staff.
• Develop and implement plans for gradually fading job-coaching support as the individual becomes more independent.
• Assist individuals in communicating directly with supervisors and coworkers whenever possible.
• Maintain professional relationships and appropriate boundaries with individuals, employers, families, and team members.
• Monitor employment progress and communicate significant changes or concerns to the appropriate supervisor and support team.
• Follow all health, safety, emergency, incident-management, confidentiality, and individual-rights requirements.
• Provide transportation when required and authorized by agency policy.
• Complete accurate and timely service documentation for all services provided.
• Participate in required training, supervision, team meetings, and ongoing professional development.
  
  
  

Documentation Responsibilities

Employment Specialists are responsible for maintaining accurate and individualized documentation, including:

• Daily Supported Employment service notes
• Job-development and employer-contact documentation
• Job Analysis and Job Match forms
• Task Analysis worksheets when applicable
• Fading and Natural Supports plans
• Documentation of the individual's response to coaching and level of assistance provided
• Employment changes and significant workplace developments
• Incident and safety documentation when applicable
  
  
  

Documentation must accurately reflect the services actually provided and be completed according to At Peace Health Care policies and applicable Pennsylvania ODP Chapter 6100 requirements.

Qualifications Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent; additional education or experience in human services, rehabilitation, education, employment services, or a related field preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build professional relationships with community employers.
• Ability to work independently in community-based settings.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Reliable attendance and dependability.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation when transportation is part of assigned responsibilities.
• Ability to successfully complete required background checks and clearances.
• Ability to complete all required ODP/Chapter 6100 orientation, annual training, individual-specific training, and employment-service training requirements.
  
  
  

Preferred:

• Previous experience in Supported Employment, job coaching, vocational rehabilitation, direct support, case management, or employment services.
• Experience supporting individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
• Knowledge of Pennsylvania ODP services and Chapter 6100 regulations.
• CESP, ACRE, or other applicable employment-services training/credential.
  
  
  

What We're Looking For

The ideal Employment Specialist is patient, encouraging, creative, professional, and committed to helping people succeed in meaningful employment.

Successful candidates understand that the goal of Supported Employment is not to perform the job for the individual, but to teach, coach, problem-solve, build natural workplace supports, and gradually reduce paid support whenever appropriate.

Schedule

Schedule may vary depending on the employment schedules and support needs of the individuals served. Candidates should have flexibility to provide services at community employment sites, which may include daytime, evening, and/or weekend hours.

Join At Peace Health Care

If you are passionate about helping individuals achieve greater independence, build careers, and become successful members of their workplaces and communities, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today to join the At Peace Health Care Supported Employment team.

At Peace Health Care is an Equal Opportunity Employer.