Job Details
Description
POSITION SUMMARY
The Employment Specialist will screen and assess incoming referrals, develop, and maintain positive, professional partnerships with local businesses in order to promote employment opportunities for program participants. This position will provide classroom education and community-based work experiences and evaluations and job coaching supports to individuals in a work environment. The Employment Specialist must be familiar with supports to include advocacy; training in soft skills such as effective communication, problem-solving skills, work ethic, grooming/hygiene, response to supervision, etc., retention services to provide ongoing work supports, goal planning, treatment team interaction, establishment, and cultivation of natural supports at the work site and interactions with funding sources and employers. This position requires excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and collaboration with ACCES-VR and OPWDD is essential.
Compensation: $19.00 to $21.00 per hour
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Activities include but are not limited to the following:
- Screening and assessment completion of intake/screening; complete discovery phase; vocational goal planning. Each plan must be developed based upon the unique needs and circumstances of each individual and reviewed/updated every 6 months. For OPWDD participants, the plans must be written in the format of the Life Plan and require attendance and participation at Life Plan meetings.
- Provide soft and hard skill training and assessment via Employment Center, classroom and/or community-based experiences.
- Job development/placement: Develop and maintain positive, professional relationships with local businesses to build a strong base of potential employers.
- Develop and maintain effective communication with program participants, families, referents, and treatment team providers. Provide job placement services such as career counseling, assistance with applications, interview skill building and presentation of work incentives.
- Job coaching: Skill training, training in soft skills such as effective communication, problem-solving skills, work ethic, grooming/hygiene, response to supervision, etc. Coaching services are usually at the worksite, occasionally provided off-site.
- Retention/follow-along services: Provide ongoing advocacy and support to ensure long-term job retention and to facilitate career growth.
- Provide accurate, detailed, and timely documentation of support.
- Ensure compliance with all pertinent government and agency regulations and operating standards.
- Responsible for completing periodic peer reviews of program participant records.
- Participate in Kelberman activities that may include meetings, trainings, and committees.
- Ensure compliance with all pertinent government and agency regulations and operating standards.
- Establish a work environment that creates positive communication and support between supervisors and employees and applicants.
- Assimilate new employees to Kelberman's culture, values, and mission.
- Complete other tasks as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE - Associate's Degree in related field preferred. A Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Psychology or related field preferred.
- At least three (2) years' experience in employment services and/or sales or customer service.
- Travel is required. Must have a valid NYS Driver's License.
- Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances are warranted.
- Intermediate computer skills (Including all Windows program, Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, Internet Browser, Access, Word, and Excel).
- This position has regular and substantial unsupervised or unrestricted physical contact with individuals receiving services and is required by law to be fingerprinted for a criminal history record check under OPWDD (Office for People with Developmental Disabilities) and OMH (Office of Mental Health).
REQUIRED ABILITIES - Must be able to maintain focus in a very busy work environment and have a strong attention to detail.
- Must be able to manage time independently, adhering to all deadlines including unexpected demands for information and/or additional assignments which may include varied shifts, holidays, and weekends.
- Must have professionalism in all decision making.
- Use of good judgment based on regulatory and quality standards is required.
- Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
- Regularly attend scheduled shifts and meetings, being punctual.
- Exercise tact, discretion, and judgment in working with a variety of people.
- Legible handwriting.
- Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances are warranted.
- Must be able to manage and cope in sometimes stressful situations.
WORK ENVIRONMENT/HAZARDS - Minimal risk of contact with bodily fluids, communicable diseases, or chemicals used in cleaning. May have exposure to unpredictable individuals and situations when working at the sites.
- Job related tasks do not involve exposure or potential exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissue and Category I tasks are not a condition of employment. May have exposure to unpredictable individuals and situations when working at Kelberman. OSHA Exposure Category III
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS - Must have fluency in the English language. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
- The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. Must be able remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time.
- Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine, scanner, computer printer, etc.
- Ability to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 25 pounds. Climb and descend stairs.
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising work-flow and efficiency.
WORK CONTACT GROUP All staff, individuals at sites, visitors, family members, vendors, various regulatory and professional agencies.
SUPERVISED BY: Assistant Director of Employment
Position RequirementsPosition Employment Specialist
Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt
Location Rome Location
About the Organization The Kelberman Center is the leading provider of autism services for children, adults and families in the Mohawk Valley and Central New York.
We provide comprehensive programming and services for people throughout all phases of life, from early childhood through adulthood, including: Home and Community Based, Educational, Clinical, Residential and Recreation and Camp. Our goal is to meet people and families where they are in life and to support them every step of the way on their journeys navigating autism. The expert staff at The Kelberman Center empower the people we support with specialized, one-of-a-kind programs, resources, support and wrap-around services, creating a fulling, life-enriching experience for people and families.
We believe in the power of individuals, family, and community working together to maximize our collective potential.
EOE Statement We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
This position is currently accepting applications.