Employment Specialist

POSITION PURPOSE: Provides individual and/or group job coaching services. Designed to assist persons with disabilities in adjustment to work in community settings in order to obtain and maintain successful, gainful employment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Maintains a positive and enthusiastic attitude.

• Provide task and behavior skills training to participants in community settings, as assigned.

• Requires a valid drivers license and vehicle insurance to implement job duties. Driving is also necessary to transport participants to and from specific activities.

• Conduct job and task analysis of community sites.

• Coordinate work site training with participant families, caregivers, employers, staff and other agencies.

• Provide ongoing support to participants, employers, significant others and maintain participants in community jobs.

• Maintain records and reports and general program procedures in compliance with funding sources, CARF and agency requirements.

• Conducts job development activities, as necessary, to generate and secure employment opportunities.

• Will follow all agency policies and procedures regarding the use and release of confidential information and confidential PHI (protected health information).

• Will adhere to all agency policies and procedures regarding ethics, participants rights and dignity of persons served.

• Adheres to Universal Precautions for all functions, uses protective equipment as necessary.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Attends meetings, training, case conferences and professional development activities as necessary.

2. Conducts pre-employment and habilitation skills training to prepare participants for community

work experience and/or maintain community placements.

3. Shall perform any other job-related function as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Ability to prioritize tasks to organize time and duties. Good interpersonal skills. Knowledge of work skills training techniques for tasks and behaviors. Knowledge of good job getting and keeping behaviors. Knowledge of disabilities and the impact functional limitations present in work setting.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

CONTACT NATURE OF CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

Client Daily contact in person or on telephone to provide counseling, guidance and work site assistance.

Employers Monthly contact in person or on telephone to follow-along employee progress and employer expectations.

Families/Caregivers Periodic telephone or personal contact to coordinate case management needs, annual conferences, etc.

Staff Periodic personal contact to coordinate services and work as a team to maximize job readiness and retention.

Funding Sources Periodic personal contact to coordinate services and work as a team to maximize job readiness and retention.

Supervisor Weekly personal contact to communicate need for assistance with duties and assigned duties and assigned weekly schedule, job priorities and participants goals.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Speaking, hearing and visual ability to communicate.

• Bending, stooping, reaching, lifting and carrying to demonstrate job tasks at a variety of job sites.

• Sitting and standing as required.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

• Other tools may vary with job sites assigned; would learn from employers tools necessary to train the job to the specific participants

• Personal vehicle.

• Computer/Tablet

• Copy Machine.

MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to observe, synthesize and record pertinent data and write reports independently.

• Work with minimum supervision.

• Maintain deadlines and timelines.

• Ability to work as a team and facilitate service delivery.

• Patience and diplomacy with participants, employers, staff and other agencies.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS/JOB EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma (GED) and prefer 1-2 years work experience in social services and/or working with people with disabilities but will train the right individual.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Must have a working cell phone

• Flexible schedule to meet needs of participant/employers. Must utilize personal vehicle to implement job duties and to transport participants to and from specific activities.

• Must adhere to all safety requirements.

• Must provide Paladin, Inc. with up-to-date proof of insurance and valid drivers license and keep this information up to date.

• Responsible for the safety of all staff and participants under his/her supervision.

• May be designated to perform job with specific disability group(s).