Employment Specialist (Part Time)

The Employment Specialist is responsible for helping consumers find employment, job trainings, and/or educational programs that meet their short and long term career objectives. This position must be able to mentor and support the individuals that we serve by providing skill based instruction. Using positive behavioral strategies to encourage growth and development that will prepare the individual for employment through providing systematic instruction, interviewing preparation, job training, follow along supports, discovery activities, volunteer work, internships, travel training, and civic involvement. The Employment Specialist is also responsible for identifying and developing businesses who will partner with WORK Inc. to hire and promote individuals with disabilities in their companies. Efforts will include developing internship sites, and working with companies to adopt or develop ways to promote, encourage, and accommodate individuals with barriers to employment on their workforce. The Employment Specialist will need to have communication skills combined with critical thinking techniques are vital prerequisites for this job. This position is Mondays-Fridays from (1:00pm-3:45pm or 9:00am-12:45pm) a total of 18.75 a week. Shift hours are dependent on client need.

  Essential Functions Responsible for include:
Documentation:
1. Communicate with clients to understand their goals and ambitions notating interests in Career Development Plan
2. Monitor, document and evaluate the progress of clients via case notes and use of salesforce
3. Keep records and prepare the appropriate reports for billing hours
4. Develop an Individual Service Plan with the consumer.
5. Upkeep of client files for a caseload of individuals with accurate and up to date case records within the time frame detailed by your supervisor as required.
6. Maintain accurate and up to date case records in both an electronic and binder format.
Vocational Support:
7. Developing and facilitating the implementation of all programming related to an individual’s career goals.
8. Intake of new referrals: assessing consumer’s career interests and preferences and helping them achieve their career goals
9. Identify internal (individual based) and external (systems based) barriers to employment and identify and assist in implementation of strategies to overcome them.
10. Facilitating the transition of appropriate referrals and ensuring adequate assessment of individuals.
11. Meet with businesses to: Conduct a business site analysis and develop a business profile including unmet needs, work area observations and corporate culture analysis and workplace expectations. To develop internship and employment opportunities.
12. Conducting career exploration/ employment related groups on trainings and topical issues (transportation, job readiness, job exploration, advocacy, grooming etc…)
13. Work with consumers on job selection, resume writing, and interviewing skills.
14. Help consumers conduct job searches using all available resources including on-line searches.
15. Work with consumers on job retention, job development and advancement.
16. Manage the ongoing relationship with each business contact.
17. Guide clients in learning to complete job tasks by using systematic instruction training to ensure that all participants are trained in all aspects of the job title.
18. Provide education to employers about the needs of people with developmental disabilities and provide on-going liaison/advocacy/instructional intervention.
19. Provide education about hiring/working with developmental disabilities to employers as well as training the host company personnel to function as natural supports.
20. Provide continued 1:1 training/retraining at the job site initially and as job changes.
21. Assess consumer satisfaction through formal assessments and informal feedback.
22. Participate in interagency planning to ensure consumer’s needs are met.
23. Provide on-going training and support in identifying and applying to educational programs.
24. Will be the liaison between the individual and the employer as necessary to solve problems, improve performance and address any other issues related to the individual’s employment.
25. Identify and cultivate natural supports within employment environments.
26. Assure the safety of the individual served under your supervision.
Case Management:
27. Serve as liaison to families, funding agencies, and ancillary agencies.
28. Identify and cultivate natural supports within educational and employment environments.
29. Communicate on a regular basis with all members of an individual’s team, including representatives of funding agencies.
30. Conducting individual and family satisfaction surveys. Using data to improve the services for the individual.
31. Assist all team members whenever possible.
32. Providing crisis intervention as necessary.
33. Attend all appropriate meetings such as team meetings, ISP meetings, consults.
34. Assure the safety of the individual served under your supervision.
(The essential functions listed in this section are not limited only to the tasks indicated and may include other duties as assigned)
Qualification/Education/Experience:
1. Bachelors of Arts Degree in Human Services, Psychology, Social Work, Rehabilitation or related field.
2. Two years of full-time experience providing supported employment services to people with disabilities, one year of experience working with people with disabilities, and a willingness to engage in direct supported employment services.
3. Ability to relate to a broad range of individuals including clients, colleagues, and corporate decision makers.
4. Commitment to high quality customer services
5. Strong interpersonal, organizational, analytical, written and oral communication skills.
6. Great time management, attentiveness, problem solving abilities, reliable, adaptable, attention to details, effective decision making and prompt response time to deadlines/ documentation
7. Team player and proactive mentality
8. Valid driver’s license required
9. Experience may be substituted for education.

10. Bilingual preferred. 

Salary : $25