Employment Specialist OMH- Employment Services

Enjoy making a difference? Join the team at FREE, enriching the lives of others, one individual at a time.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.

Flex hours M-F
Job Title: Employment Specialist (10393)
Department: FREE SEMP-Employment Specialist
Location: Oakdale, NY; travel required
Reports To: Senior Director – Community Services
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Pay Range: $21.50 - $23.48
Last Revised In: January 2025
ORGANIZATION SUMMARY
Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.
POSITION SUMMARY
Exciting opportunity to assist adults with developmental disabilities learn about work, explore career interests and ultimately gain competitive employment. This is a full-time position ideal for those with flexible schedules. Must have excellent communication skills, be a self-starter, reliable, patient and able to work independently. The position is mostly community based with significant travel across Long Island (car provided) and requires significant interactions in employment settings with employers where the individuals are placed for internships as well as employment opportunities.
DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide employment services to adults and students receiving ACCES-VR and OPWDD support services. Services may also include vocational training and intensive coaching, situational assessments and referrals for active job development and placement.
• Provide curriculum and/or relevant services in an individual and group setting to teach soft skills which are vocationally relevant. Other areas addressed are resume building, interviewing skills, transportation, establish linkages to benefit counselors, coping skills and stress management.
• Assist with orientating individuals to new environments i.e. new job sites, assessment/internship sites and job fairs.
• Must become familiar and assist individuals with Job Zone, ONET, Ticket to work, and ACCES-VR.
• Ensure individuals are familiar with all means of Public Transportation and provide information to assist individuals in securing SCAT and ABLE ride. Travel Training may be provided by the specialist on a case by case basis.
• Ensure documentation meets quality and compliance thresholds and complete required documentation within mandated time frames.
• Effectively communicate and support the organization’s mission, vision and values
• Always communicate in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community
• Prevent, recognize and report abuse toward the people we support
• Adhere to the organizations Code of Ethics
• Maintain confidentiality
• Other duties as assigned

Responsibilities of All FREE Employees

• Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support,

supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.

• Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all

information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients,
providers, contractors, and employees.

• Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all

unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a
safety or health risk.

• Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/

committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.

• Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
• Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and

Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.
Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and
may be changed by FREE at any time, with or without notice to the employee.
QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Associates Degree required; Bachelor’s Degree highly preferred
• Experience: At least 6 months to 1 year of relevant work experience required, previous work

experience with individuals with mental health diagnoses.

• Specialized Training, Licenses, Certifications:

o OPWDD Eleversity trainings required annually

• Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities:
• Other Requirements: Travel to site is required, valid driver’s license is required. Must be able to

meet all the criteria to be a valid driver for the agency

• Must be able to adhere to a flexible work schedule that may include early hours, evening hours

and weekends. Scheduling is dependent upon the needs of the persons served.

• Must have excellent communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
This role is performed in-person. Some travel required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours).
• Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones,

photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets.

• Employee is required to reach with hands and arms.
• Employee is required to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch or stand on a stool as needed.
• Employee is required to be able to lift 50 pounds at a time.

Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide
reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position,
provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE.
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The Pay Range for this job is $21.50 - $23.48. This range is based on what FREE reasonably
believes it will pay an employee as for said position at the time of the posting. Individual
compensation will ultimately be determined based on a variety of relevant factors, including, but
not limited to, an individual’s experience, qualifications, services provided, geographic location,
relevant skills, and other factors permitted under federal, state, and local laws.
FREE is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all
employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender,
gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected
characteristic. In addition to federal law requirements, FREE complies with applicable state and
local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in all of its locations. This policy applies
to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring,
placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
This job description has been approved by all levels of management.

FREE is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected characteristic. In addition to federal law requirements, FREE complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in all of its locations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises’ affirmative action efforts related to protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are set out and described in our affirmative action plan for protected veterans and individuals with a disability. If you have any questions or would like to view the affirmative action plan, please visit our website www.familyres.org

Salary : $22 - $23