Career Solutions Specialist

Job Title: Career Solutions Specialist

DSL Team: Programs: Career Solutions

Reports to: Waiver Services & Adult Programs Director

Status: FT

Hours: Varied

Position Summary:

The Career Solutions Specialist assists individuals with Down syndrome in preparing for, securing, and maintaining meaningful paid employment; and provide short-term and long-term

support based on their goals and objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare DSL participants for successful employment

• Facilitate a career that matches the person's skill, interests and parameters for work.

• Provide support to participants to assist them in maintaining competitive employment in the community

Essential Duties:

• Prepare DSL participants for successful employment by following a proven process of assessments and job skills training.

• Establish relationships with community partners to develop potential employment

opportunities for members.

• Facilitate the job development process and assist the participants in obtaining paid employment that matches the person's skill, interests, and parameters for work.

• Provide needed on-the-job support to participants to assist them in maintaining paid competitive employment in the community, and to help individuals become increasingly independent.

• Serve as a consult and continual resource to participants employers and provide any requested training for their staff (e.g., disability training).

• Assist with Pre-Ets classes.

• Complete all necessary OVR paperwork (i.e. Activity notes, invoices, extended service plans etc; and submit to appropriate OVR counselor in a timely manner.

• Write contact notes as required for recipients of Medicaid waiver services, which outline the participants' progress toward goals on Oasis.

• Attend planning meetings (e.g., Plan of Care, IEP or transition) and any other collaborative team meetings regarding employment services. Complete LTSP and PA paperwork for case managers before POC meetings.

• Attend all trainings as directed by the Director of Waiver Services and Compliance.

• Complete the KY SETP within six months of hire.

• Maintain mileage and expense records for personal reimbursement and expect to use personal vehicles.

• Provide outreach to contiguous school districts for recruitment and grant purposes

• Update calendar weekly with visits for the week.

• Maintain communication with parents and OVR counselors and act as a liaison between employers and parents/guardians.

Qualifications, Certifications, Education, Experience, and Skills:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

• One year of professional experience working with individuals who have developmental

disabilities.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Excel and other computer programs.

• Good written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to be a contributing team member.

• Excellent professional boundaries.

Physical Demands:

The 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. 

To perform this job successfully, the employee is frequently required to communicate with others; listen; remain in a stationary position, often sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time; walk; use hands to grasp, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Note:

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.