Employment Counselor

The Employment Counselor will align his/her scope of work with Jawonio’s Mission, while incorporating Jawonio’s Core Values as the guiding principle for all work activities. Rockland and Westchester County location.

Summary:  Provides career development services for individuals with disabilities and/or those who are economically disadvantaged.  Services provided include, but are not limited to:   vocational assessments, work readiness training, self-advocacy training, job exploration, work-based learning, exploration of post-secondary options, internship or job placement, career development, benefits advisement and job coaching.  The Employment Counselor will provide a myriad of customized support services with the goal of assisting individuals to perform to industry standards.  The Employment Counselor will also liaise with employers, to ensure that the needs of the business are being met and well as overall satisfaction with the employee. The role of the Employment Counselor is twofold, supporting both the individual and the business. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Collects, organizes, and analyzes information about participants through case records, interest inventories, interviews, and professional sources, to appraise their interests, aptitudes, abilities, and personality characteristics for employment planning.
• Conducts individual and group counseling, covering a full range of job seeking and job performance skills. 
• Carries out various training functions, delivering curricula in person and/or via online platforms. 
• Performs community-based assessments of individuals’ vocational aptitudes.
• May assist job seekers in developing resumes, completing application forms and sharpening interviewing skills. May provide support during job interviews if needed and appropriate.
• Provides on-going, person-centered support and counseling, catering to the unique needs of the individual.   Employs a myriad of approaches, teaching methods and motivational techniques to assist participants to reach their highest potential and perform to the expectations of the employer. 
• Consistently monitors the work performance of participants through regularly scheduled job site visits and/or tele-practice modalities.   Performance evaluation consists of observation, participant self-reporting, and feedback from the employer.
• Takes a collaborative approach by interfacing with other professional support staff to better evaluate and address the needs of individuals.  
• Schedules, coordinates and participates in semi-annual case conferences and Life Plan meetings to review individuals’ goals and progress and to assess needs.  Recommends additional or alternative services as needed.

• Completes all mandated documentation requirements for a variety of funding streams/regulating agencies including but not limited to the following:
  • Logging of hourly/daily service time and purpose
  • Assessment reports
  • Case notes and monthly summary notes
  • Various progress and billing reports
  • Job placement and Job termination reports
  • Semi-annual service plans/Staff action plans
  • Agency-related documentation.
• Works collaboratively with the Social Security Office, Department of Social Services and other agencies to assist with benefits issue mitigation in the realms of, but not limited to: Public Assistance, Medicaid, SSD and/or SSI.
• May conduct intake meetings of new participants; open new cases with ACCES-VR; research eligibility; process applications.
• Provides crisis intervention as needed via consultation with therapists, psychiatrists and other professionals to ascertain treatment recommendations and appropriate courses of action.
• Transport individuals to and from interviews, work or appointments as necessary and appropriate.

• Embraces team approach, attending and participating in staff meetings and mentoring new staff. 

• Models appropriate/acceptable social and work skills.
• Attends all required interdisciplinary and team conferences and special meetings both in and outside of the agency to determine appropriate programs for participants.
• Attends and completes all required trainings as required by agency and funders.

#INDEMPLOY

Education/Experience:

A Bachelor's Degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university or 1 year of experience working or volunteering with people with disabilities or some equivalent combination. 

Additional Requirements:

• Daily access to an automobile is required. A valid NY State Driver’s License and ability to drive and driving record acceptable for agency insurance coverage are required.
• Remain current in all agency and funder required trainings
• Candidates must be cleared and maintain acceptable record under the NYS OPWDD and OMH mandated criminal background check process.
• Must be clear and maintain an acceptable record under the Medicaid Fraud & Abuse
• ASL preferred.

Salary : $20