Career Counselor

The Ivy Street School is a small, year-round, private residential special education school committed to advancing equity and access for young people living with disabilities. We serve neurodiverse adolescents ages 13-22. We support the whole child through a student-first model that is driven by collaboration, a willingness to think big, and a commitment to knowing our students well. We believe that every student is exceptional and at Ivy Street, we work tirelessly to create the educational and therapeutic conditions for our students to thrive. As a community, we are focused on the immediate needs of our scholars with an unwavering eye on their future needs and the concrete plans to achieve it. Our multidisciplinary team works to create rich and meaningful experiences that will nurture learning and prepare our students for their transition into adulthood and independent living. While our classrooms have four walls, we consider Boston our second classroom and our students are often making meaning and deepening learning throughout the city. Job Description:

We are seeking a Career Counselor to join our team. The Career Counselor, under the supervision of the Director of Career Development, prepares students for employment using a person-centered approach. We prioritize individual goals and strive to promote self-determination and advocacy throughout the span of employment.

Students learn by doing, in a variety of hands-on employment opportunities that promote success and meet them where they are at. Where each student starts depends on their age, experience, and goals. Career Counselors use a model of fading support that connects students to the resources they need while working towards greater independence. Career Counselors provide direct career services to a caseload of students, lead career development blocks in classrooms, and support students in campus and community-based opportunities.

Responsibilities include:

• Carries a caseload of students by providing direct career services and being a part of the interdisciplinary team.
• Conducts screening of employment aged students to identify strengths, areas of growth, and need for career services.
• Meets individually with students and pushes-in to classrooms to support the development of employment related skills (career exploration, professional document writing, job search and acquisition, job maintenance, professional communication, and goal setting)
• Provides supervision, job coaching and coordination of on-grounds and community-based student employment to support skill development.
• Transports students to and from employment opportunities by driving, utilizing public transportation or via ridesharing services.
• Participates in the IEP process by assessing needs and writing goals, attending IEP meetings, providing services that address IEP goals, documenting progress, and conducting vocational evaluations.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team through monthly team meetings and weekly collaborations.
• Participates in planning for employment component of students transition to post-secondary adult living.
• Completes paperwork by deadlines including weekly documentation, IEP goals, IEP progress reports, progress reports for state agency treatment plans, etc.
• Provides support to milieu when needed.
• Attends weekly collaboration meetings for all individuals on their caseload to address employment needs/concerns
• Attend’s monthly in-service trainings to support professional development
• Initiates and maintains parent contact, as needed, for each student on their caseload
• Generates, supports, and follows-up with community connections to provide community-based career exploration opportunities to students

Supervision, support, and professional learning are provided. Ivy Street School is driven by trauma-informed care, and we use Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and Restorative Justice to support positive behavior development and deepen character. Our organization is committed to deepening its work in anti-racism and seeks team members who are committed to that fight. 

Benefits:

The Ivy Street School offers a competitive benefits package including a generous earned time package, health, dental, short and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement savings plan, and employee discount programs. Free parking is available at the school. Meals are provided during the shift by our culinary team. School employees enjoy a supportive environment and the opportunity to work, learn and grow alongside an expert multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications:

• Entry level - Bachelor’s degree
• Experience working with youth in an educational setting preferred
• Certifications in First Aid, CPR, CPI (Ivy Street School can provide these trainings)
• Valid driver’s license
• A background check, drug and alcohol test will be performed prior to start

Job Type: Full-time, in person, hourly, non-exempt

Hours: 8:30-4:30, Monday-Friday