Employment Specialist

The Employment Specialist is responsible for providing direct services, including Job Development, Job Coaching and Case Management. Employment Specialists have responsibilities for record keeping and for other tasks that contribute to the successful maintenance of the agency, as well as any special assignments as directed by their supervisor.

This position is located in Carmel, New York, which servers Putnam, lower Dutchess and upper Westchester county. 

Essential Job Functions

Job Development

• Assist people receiving support to prepare and send resumes and cover letters as needed.
• Seek out potential employers and visit potential job sites.
• Support people to develop interviews skills.
• Attend interviews with people receiving support.
• Maintain contact with ACCES-VR to update on progress of people receiving support.
• Maintain contact, at least weekly, with people receiving support and, when appropriate, their advocates.

Job Coaching

• Participation in employer's training with person receiving support.
• Provide people receiving support with continued training until job skills have been mastered.
• Conflict resolution on behalf of people receiving support.
• Teaching positive work ethics to people receiving support.
• Providing advocacy on behalf of people receiving support.
• Assisting people receiving support with any work-related issues.

Case Management

• Offer support or advice to people receiving support and their circle of support as needed.
• Make referrals for other programs and services, such as counseling services or recreational programs, as appropriate.
• Daily documentation regarding contact and work on behalf of people receiving support.
• Complete monthly ACCES-VR reports.
• Complete phase sheets/individual hours of service documentation.
• Monthly filing of case notes.

Additional Job Duties

• Travel Training: finding methods of transportation, helping clients to learn travel route, travel with them for training if needed.
• Attend staff meetings.
• Participate in professional training as directed.
• Other duties as directed.

Qualifications

• High School diploma
• Valid Driver's License
• Minimum of six months related work experience and/or training in working with special populations (i.e.; ID/DD, TBI, elderly, medically frail).

Physical Requirements

• This position is a non-sedentary role; requires frequent standing and walking.
• Ability to travel to multiple locations to support the employment of people receiving support.
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• This position operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Some filing is required, entailing the ability to move files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary.

Hourly Rate: $20.00 - $22.00, Compensation will be commensurate with job qualifications and work experience.

Opengate is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, domestic or civil union partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, transgender status, predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, education, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. The Company promotes inclusion and acceptance of all protected classes.  

In order to promote and maintain a community culture, employees hired to work at Opengate must legally reside and perform their work in the state of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania.