What are the responsibilities and job description for the Employment First Specialist - Pueblo Regional Center position at State of Colorado Job Opportunities?
Department Information
Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
This position will receive a short-staffing temporary pay differential of 3.17% from
Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!
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CDHSCareers
About the Work Unit:
assisting to attain the highest level of independence.
Description of Job
About the Position:
This position exists to support acquisition, retention or improvement in self-help, socialization and adaptive skills in a non-residential setting. Activities and environments are designed to foster skills acquisition, appropriate behavior, greater independence, and personal choice. This work unit provides behavioral, social, and vocational training services for individuals with developmental disabilities to assist them in attaining the highest level of independence, with the purpose of Community Integrated Employment (CIE) ,Specialized Habilitation and Supportive Community Integration. This position is responsible for supporting each individual in their specific goals to obtain life skills.
Duties in this position include:
Day Hab/ Job Coaching Hybrid:
Community Integration works with PRC individuals to help them learn job tasks, develop necessary skills, and adapt to the work environment. These duties will include:
- identify the individual's skills and talents in order to facilitate a job/career of choice (Discovering Personal Genius)™
- assist the jobseeker in identifying interests and overcoming personal barriers, which lead to a job of choice in the community
- train and guide workers (residents) to perform and complete work tasks at job sites to employer specifications
- transport or train residents to access alternative means of transportation or access public transportation as necessary
- write tasks analyses for job tasks to be trained
- modify tasks required as needed to meet the residents abilities
- maintain current and accurate documentation required for case records, and working files by providing thorough notes in Therap(date, hours, and notes of support provided)
- communicate with the employer and check in as needed to ensure they are satisfied with the workers ‘ (residents) work progress
- begin to back away and allow workers (residents) to become independent in the tasks required (this is the entire goal of this function, more hours on the front end, less as they gain a routine and skills set for the required duties
- Provide proactive follow along support
These duties will include:
- provides individual therapeutic and habilitative services and supports to an assigned caseload of individuals, and implements and documents Individual Service and Support (ISSP) related objectives as identified by the SP of persons served
- develops, organizes, and maintains day hab activities that promote a level of developmental growth in individuals in support of the SP
- participates in Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) and SP pre-planning process, discussing individual's assessments, needs, goals and ISSP objectives
- ensures formulation of accurate information for assessments, team notes, and formal reports for inclusion in the team process and ISSPs
- assesses individuals' ongoing progress, keeps the Team informed of status, and submits written documentation
- ensures facilitation of the safe transportation of participants to work area, program area, medical appointments, and community activities as well as taking an active part in vocational training
- transport individuals to their day hab site, medical appointments, court hearings and/or community activities
- provide medication administration and performs physical intervention and redirection techniques (Colorado Approved Intervention Techniques, Verbal Defense and Influence, appropriate lifting techniques)
This position works with the residents’ team members in planning, development, and implementation of the residents plan for employment.
These duties will include:
- conduct assessments of individuals to determine appropriate vocational services
- provide residents the appropriate, ongoing support necessary for success in a competitive work environment within their community to earn money alongside peers without disabilities
- apply behavior management principles to individuals
- coordinate with all parties involved (workers, guardians, the Employment First Navigator, Residential Coordinator, Service and Support Coordinator, etc)
- counsel and provides training in vocational, personal and social skills development
- provide ongoing employment support for workers (residents) while remaining in compliance with CDHS policy, HCPF and CDPHE’s regulations and applicable Department of Labor regulations
- participate in interdisciplinary Team (IDT) and SP pre-planning process, discussing residents’ employment assessments, needs, goals and objectives.
- facilitate and coordinate arrangements/scheduling for workers (residents) to attend medical appointments
- provide medication administration and perform physical intervention and redirection techniques (Colorado Approved Intervention Techniques, Verbal Defense and Influence)
- assist residents with personal care (grooming, eating, hygiene, toileting, etc) as necessary
- attend/participate in training, seminars, etc to ensure skill level and policy/procedure knowledge is maintained
This position works with the residents’ team members in the planning, development, and implementation of the resident's plan for employment.
These duties will include:
- conduct assessments of individuals to determine appropriate vocational services
- provide residents the appropriate, ongoing support necessary for success in a competitive work environment within their community to earn money alongside peers without disabilities
- apply behavior management principles to individuals
- coordinate with all parties involved (workers, guardians, the Employment First Navigator, Residential Coordinator, Service and Support Coordinator, etc)
- counsel and provides training in vocational, personal and social skills development
- provide ongoing employment support for workers (residents) while remaining in compliance with CDHS policy, HCPF and CDPHE’s regulations and applicable Department of Labor regulations
- participate in interdisciplinary Team (IDT) and SP pre-planning process, discussing residents’ employment assessments, needs, goals and objectives
- facilitate and coordinate arrangements/scheduling for workers (residents) to attend medical appointments
- provide medication administration and perform physical intervention and redirection techniques (Colorado Approved Intervention Techniques, Verbal Defense and Influence)
- assist residents with personal care (grooming, eating, hygiene, toileting, etc) as necessary
- attend/participate in training, seminars, etc to ensure skill level and policy/procedure knowledge is maintained
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Minimum Qualifications:
- 2 two years (2) of experience working with the developmentally disabled population
Your experience must be clearly documented in your application. Part-time experience will be prorated.
Substitution:
Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis, but not for the license/certification requirements or computer proficiency requirements.
Special Qualifications:
-
must posses an ACRE (Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators)
OR earn within 1 year of hire into this position and
-
an LPT, LPN, or QMAP OR earn a QMAP registration and
be checked off by PRC Nursing within 90 days of employment. Licensure/certifications must be kept valid, current, and unrestricted and remain so throughout employment
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working with MH/ IDD
Experience writing programs for individuals to gain life skills
Experience coaching individuals job skills/ work related skills
Great computer skills to include google analytics
Team player and flexible to change
Conditions of Employment:
- pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges. Additionally, you will be required take a drug screen.
- shift Work – PRC is a 24/7 facility. Primary shift if 1st shift
-
training- Must demonstrate the ability to lift 100 lbs. , bend, kneel, squat, etc., and
Perform Behavioral interventions proficiently throughout employment. - COVID vaccination as required by program and facility.
- drivers License - license must be valid and unrestricted and remain so throughout employment. Inability to drive a state vehicle, could result in a loss of employment.
- travel -position must transport workers (residents) to remote work sites and must utilize a State vehicle, if available
- former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.
An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.
For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.
Supplemental Information
The Assessment Process
About Us:
- Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
- Medical and dental health plans
- Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
- Paid life insurance
- Short- and long-term disability coverage
- 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
- BenefitHub state employee discount program
- Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
- Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more
Our Values:
We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.
Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.
We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.
~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~
