Employment Specialist - Vocational Services

Employment Specialist

Enjoy making a difference? Join the team at Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), enriching the lives of others, one individual at a time. FREE benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness, and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community, and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Sr. Director of Employment Services, the Employment Specialist will provide direct care and personal adjustment services for individuals participating in the ACCES-VR intensive caseload and for individuals hired under TRI's New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID). This includes job development, job coaching, skills training, assessment, counseling, intervention, advocacy, and creating employer contacts in the community. Case management, documentation, and employer contacts are also required along with other services needed to maintain the employment of our participants.

Duties, Responsibilities, and Essential Functions

• Identifies suitable jobs or businesses consistent with the applicants' desires and limitations.
• Determines which potential workers are best suited for placement into an existing job opening.
• Develops employment proposals for job candidates and negotiates schedules, pay rates, benefits, etc.
• Provides vocational counseling and guidance to individuals.
• Instructs vocational candidates in resume writing, job search, and interview techniques.
• Assists individuals with job applications, job interviews, and orientation programs.
• Provides services with monthly follow-ups until individuals reach stabilization at a new job.
• Interviews and evaluates applicants to determine eligibility for services.
• Assesses individuals for job readiness through observation and testing.
• Develops and implements instructional plans to train workers to perform all required job duties accurately and efficiently; re-assesses and alters the strategies and plans as needed.
• Ensures the provision of services makes employment more obtainable/maintainable for the consumer.
• Promotes and develops employment and on-the-job training opportunities.
• Orients individual to new environments, provides job orientation, and job assessment.
• Ensures individuals can accurately manipulate equipment at work.
• Monitors production levels as expected by the employer.
• Ensures individuals are safely transported to/from work site, provides/arranges transportation, including in personal vehicle as needed, and provides travel training as needed.
• Provides ongoing training in community awareness.
• Converses with clients to reinforce positive behaviors and promote social interaction.
• Models appropriate behaviors and interactions for the consumers.
• Ensures that the individual's rights are respected, needs are met, and intercedes on their behalf as necessary.
• Advocates with coworkers and employers to promote acceptance of workers in natural process of the work site.
• Collaborates with employer regarding client's needs and progress and to address and resolve any problems or concerns.
• Performs job duty analysis and creates personalized accommodations to benefit and improve the learning process of people supported.
• Acts as a liaison from the community to the program for the individual.
• Reports ongoing problems and suggest solutions to improve working environment/conditions.
• Establishes positive working relationships with co-workers, management, clinicians, and collateral providers.
• Reports all violations and/or accidents in Agency or personal vehicle in accordance with NYS regulations and Agency policy.
• Prepares reports to ACCES-VR as specified to ensure people supported obtain their vocational services that promote individual choice and will maximize their success in an employment setting.
• Ensures that all required documentation (paper and electronic) is completed/processed appropriately, in a timely manner, and meets quality and compliance thresholds.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities of All TRI Employees

Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community. Complies fully with TRI's confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees. Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk. Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/meetings/reviews/committees, including ones outside of standard working hours. Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance. Adheres to TRI's standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.

Qualifications

Education & Experience: High school diploma or equivalent with two (2) years of experience in a related human services field or an associate's degree with one (1) year of experience in a related human services field. Experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health diagnoses, and substance use disorders is strongly preferred. Experience working in employment or vocational services is highly preferred. Sales/Marketing or previous job developing experience preferred.

Specialized Training, Licenses, Certifications: Not required, training will be provided upon hire as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities: Proficient computer skills. Knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Must be able to work independently. Strong problem-solving skills. Must be efficient, well organized, and have excellent communication skills. Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment with flexibility, keeping others informed and anticipating needs is essential. Demonstrates values and philosophy that support inclusion of people with disabilities in the community.

Other Requirements: Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends as needed based on individual needs. Valid Driver's License and satisfy criteria to be an agency driver required.

Work Environment

This role is performed in-person in an office setting and requires travel to community and TRI locations in Nassau and Suffolk Counties to support individuals at their jobs. Position will work in both group and individual settings.

Physical Requirements

Employee is required to sit, walk, and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours). Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing. Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets. Employee is required to reach with hands and arms. Employee is required to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch or stand on a stool as needed. Employee is required to be able to lift 50 pounds at a time. Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, TRI will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on TRI.

FREE is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected characteristic. In addition to federal law requirements, FREE complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in all of its locations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.