Employment Specialist

Applicants must complete online application and submit a resume to be considered.

Job Summary:

Provide vocational services to individuals with disabilities who have been referred to Cascade Connections through the Developmental Disabilities Administration, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Foundational Community Supports, and others. Required skills and duties vary based on the unique skills, abilities, and vocational goals of the individual served. We support individuals' journeys in discovery of skills and abilities, development of employment opportunities, and achieving goals our customers set for themselves.

Requirements:

• At least 18 years of age
• Education:

• Tier 1: Prefer AA degree or one year experience
• Tier 2: Bachelor’s Degree or two years’ experience
• Tier 3: Bachelor’s Degree and two years’ experience or five years’ experience

• Effectively communicates and understands, reads, and writes in English
• Willing to submit to for-cause drug testing
• Pass a DSHS background check
• Fulfill non-standard work hours to meet immediate, short-term coaching needs
• Work well with people and demonstrate leadership qualities
• Make quick and independent decisions
• Return phone calls and emails in a timely manner
• Work independently and in a team environment
• Represent Cascade Connections professionally in the community
• Be organized and efficient
• Use strong problem-solving skills
• Use Microsoft business applications
• Believe that all people can and should work
• Experience working with people with diverse backgrounds and ethnicities preferred
• Meet the “Additional Requirements” below

Additional Requirements:

• Valid Washington State driver’s license, clear driving record, and reliable transportation (upon hire)
• Cell phone (upon hire)
• US bank account for direct deposit (upon hire)
• Pass federal fingerprint background check (initial background check authorization submitted within 1 day of hire; fingerprints for federal background check submitted prior to working unsupervised)
• Orientation & Safety Training and Policy & Procedures Training (first day of employment)
• First Aid/CPR/AED Certification (within 30 days of hire, prior to working unsupervised)
• Bloodborne Pathogens Training (within 30 days of hire)
• Developmental Disability Specialty Training (within 90 days of hire)
• RIGHT RESPONSE Training (within 90 days of hire)

Physical Requirements:

• Able to drive at night
• Able to work at computer or desk area for extended periods of time
• Able to stand for up to 4 hours at a time
• Able to work in a variety of settings, including outside in both warm and cold temperatures and inside in environments that may be hot, dusty, or have strong smells such as common cleaning chemicals
• Frequent standing, walking, and sitting
• Pushing, pulling, crouching, and reaching as required
• Occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds
• To perform chest compressions for CPR, kneeling on ground with straight arms and required pressure

Responsibilities:

Tier 1

Coaching and Development

• Onsite job coaching and training to ensure the people we support are successful in their jobs and are able to work as independently as possible.
• Identify opportunities for customers' career growth. Responsible for job and community development efforts, including identifying employment opportunities and building relationships with employers.
• Work closely with employers, community partners, and agencies to create job opportunities and career pathways for Cascade customers.Assist those we serve in navigating and utilizing community resources.
• Assist those we serve in navigating and utilizing community resources.
• Support those we serve in achieving goals and objectives based on the individual’s Employment Plan and the goals they have set for themselves.
• Assist in social skills development, communication, on-the-job training, verbal cues, transit training, money management, personal choice, task breakdown, personal safety, reasonable accommodations, informed choice, self-esteem, personal empowerment, and self-advocacy.
• Provide community-based assessments to help identify a person's marketable skills, interests and identify any potential barriers or support needs for employment.
• Support customers to overcome barriers to employment & receive the support they need.
• Provide training and support when a job task changes or a support need is identified.
• Understand that each individual is unique in their need for supports, and provide individualized supports that reflect understanding the nature of a person’s skills, abilities, vocational goals, disability, values, culture, history, strengths, and weaknesses.
• Identify solutions to issues and implement them. This includes behavior supports, communication systems, and adaptive technology.
• Provide appropriate training/coaching for individuals one-to-one using training methods such as job analysis, task analysis, positive behavior supports, cue and prompting strategies.
• Identify potential barriers/support needs for employment and provide support to overcome them.
• Provide assessments of vocational skills and work readiness.
• Professionally navigate working with a variety of customers, their support team, and the coworkers/supervisors at their employment sites whose background or values may differ from staffs’.  

Case Management

• Support those we serve to set goals and create action steps through the Employment Planning process. 
• Maintain daily activity logs and other documentation to demonstrate the outcomes and progress on behalf of our customer.
• Create a Progress Report outlining the outcomes of services in relation to each action of the employment plan a minimum of every six months.
• Coordinate logistics with all parties involved (people we serve, family, residential, transportation, and employer).
• Implement and coordinate transportation supports.
• Maintain accurate data and documentation of job placement, including location, length of placement, contact name and number, job retention, wage and work hours, pay stubs, and other pertinent information.
• Manage caseload and required monthly service hours to meet customer needs.
• Maintain billing of 70% of hours.

Communication

• Communicate any concerns or issues to zone leader.
• Maintain positive working relationships with all stakeholders.
• Develop relationships with the co-workers of the people we support in order to develop natural support and enable people to work as independently as possible.
• Provide training and support of managers and coworkers in a worksite to enable a positive working relationship.
• Coordinate services with others including funders, residential staff, or families.
• Routinely communicate with the supervisors of customers to ensure clear expectations (minimum of one contact per month).  

Other

• Participate in scheduled staff meetings and routine staffing with zone leader. This will include discussion of each customer's goals and next steps to achieve them.
• Support other members of the team to assure coverage (i.e. vacation, sick, new job start).
• Conduct the majority of work in the community.
• Provide a positive role model for interactions between individuals we serve and community members.
• Attend all required trainings.
• Abide by agency policies and procedures, including maintaining confidentiality for all people we serve and adhering to the dress code.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Tier 2 – Accomplishes all duties and responsibilities of Tier 1 plus

Coaching and Development

• Develop community integrated-employment and assessment sites by networking, interacting with employers and community members, cold-calling, participating in community organizations, and maintaining an understanding of the local labor market.
• Develop and maintain network of businesses and employers and negotiate with businesses on behalf of people we serve to create potential job matches.
• Write professional reports in accordance with contracting agencies.
• Ability to develop a written comprehensive list of recommendations of next steps of services.

Other

• Complete entire peer coaching packet for Tier 1.
• Demonstrate the ability to serve customers from all funding sources and successfully develop employment opportunities.
• Understand and implement the best practices established by DDA/DVR/FCS & the County.
• Support new staff in developing skills in job coaching and job development through shadows and mentorship.
• Able to provide information in regards to Cascade Connections eligibility and answer questions regarding community resources.
• Independently locate necessary support services for individuals on caseload.
• Independently manage caseload, reporting progress of customers to zone leader on bi-weekly basis.

Tier 3 - Accomplishes all duties and responsibilities of Tier 1 & Tier 2 plus

• Demonstrates effective performance supporting individuals into jobs utilizing skills learned through experience and training provided.
• Able to independently work with DDA/DVR staff related to customer needs and services.
• Assure appropriate and orderly movement of customers between funding sources to ensure seamless services.
• Knowledgeable of contracting requirements, funding, and legislative trends.
• Works as an advocate for best practices by educating Cascade Connections staff.
• Plays a role in achieving goals as outlined in Cascade Connections strategic plan and performance metrics.

The Program Director, the Vocational Services Administrator, and the Executive Director reserve the right to make appropriate changes to the preceding job description at any time or as needed.

Cascade Connections is an Equal Opportunity Employer and stands committed to Affirmative Action.

Benefits

• Vacation
• Sick leave
• 401k plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health insurance (medical, dental, and vision)
• Life insurance

Salary : $23 - $28