Job Description

This Employment Specialist (Follow-Along) position focuses on providing ongoing support to individuals who have successfully exited Vocational Rehabilitation Services and are now employed.

• Develops consumer employment opportunities, contacting employers throughout the community, reviewing job advertisements, educating local businesses about program, and following up on possible leads.
• Assists consumers with application and interview process, assisting consumer in completing application and attending job interview with consumer as needed.
• Provides job coaching to consumers at the job site, assisting consumer in becoming independent while promoting natural supports within work site culture.
• Develops and performs situational assessments in the community, taking consumers to different work sites to determine how well they perform a particular job, how well they like the position, how they compare to other employees and the supports they will need.
• Maintains daily documentation of job coaching and development; prepares written progress reports for funding sources as required.
• Serves as a consumer advocate to local employers, ensuring that consumer's work performance meets expectations and negotiating possible solution to raise consumer's performance to employer's level of expectation.
• Assists consumers in coordinating daily methods of transportation to and from work. Provides training on accessing public transportation if needed.
• Prepares progress reports for all consumers as required by funding source; performs post placement follow-up surveys and contacts.
• Attends and schedules appointments for staff meetings, contacting vocational rehabilitation, consumers, families and superiors.
• Maintains records and files, prepares necessary correspondence, and updates materials as needed.
• Maintains communication with various governmental agencies, such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services and Social Security, to secure funding for programs and assist consumers with any benefit issues.
• Operates a motor vehicle to travel to job sites, develop jobs, and perform ongoing assessments.
• Performs related duties as assigned, assuring the best interest of both the agency and the consumers' welfare.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of and ability to perform situational assessments of consumer work performance and determine ability to perform essential functions of the position. Must possess a high school diploma or its equivalence.
• Working knowledge of and ability to deal with the needs of mentally and physically challenged individuals; two years of work experience in the field recommended.
• Must obtain/maintain CPR and basic first aid certification.
• Knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling, and punctuation, with ability to maintain daily documentation of job coaching and development and prepare progress reports.
• Knowledge of methods and ability to develop employment opportunities, including contacting employers throughout the community and following up on possible leads.
• Ability to attend staff meetings, contacting vocational rehabilitation, clients, families and superiors as needed.
• Ability to maintain and continually update accurate and orderly records and files.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with ability to establish effective working relationships with consumers and employers.
• Ability to follow all personnel policies and rules of both the Hopewell Center and organizations that employ program consumers. Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Flexibility to work around clients’ schedules, including days, evenings, nights, and weekends.
• Effective time management and organizational skills (weekly schedules provided to the coordinator).
• Proficiency with technology for logging time, billing, mileage, and utilizing software systems.
• Willingness to cross-train and assist with coverage and transitions within the department.
• Possession of a valid driver's license and a demonstrated safe driving record.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.