Meaningful Day & Employment Services Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nBenefits:401(k) matchingBonus based on performanceCompetitive salaryOpportunity for advancementPaid time offTraining & developmentCompany: Helpful Hearts Health Services Inc.Location: Owings Mills, Maryland, with regular travel to community and employment locationsEmployment Type: Full-TimeSchedule: Monday through Friday, with flexibility based on participant and program needsAbout Helpful Hearts Health Services Inc.Helpful Hearts Health Services Inc. provides person-centered services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Maryland. Our mission is to empower individuals with developmental disabilities to live comfortable, impactful, and fulfilling lives enriched with purpose, belonging, and meaningful connections.Position SummaryHelpful Hearts Health Services Inc. is seeking an organized, dependable, and compassionate Meaningful Day & Employment Services Coordinator to coordinate Community Development Services, Day Habilitation, and Employment Services.This is a hands-on position that combines program coordination, staff oversight, community engagement, and direct Employment Specialist responsibilities.The Coordinator will develop participant schedules, organize meaningful community activities, oversee assigned staff, review documentation, monitor program outcomes, and personally perform employment-related duties such as Discovery, career exploration, employer outreach, job development, interview preparation, job placement, and employment follow-up.This is not solely an office-based position. The selected candidate must be willing to work in agency, community, volunteer, and employment settings.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesMeaningful Day Services CoordinationCoordinate the daily operation of Community Development Services, Day Habilitation, and Employment Services.Develop weekly and monthly schedules based on each participant’s Person-Centered Plan, goals, interests, preferences, abilities, and support needs.Plan meaningful, age-appropriate activities that promote independence, community membership, social connections, skill development, self-advocacy, and personal growth.Ensure community activities are purposeful and connected to participant goals rather than being selected solely for staff convenience.Provide participants with opportunities to make informed choices about their activities, services, and employment goals.Coordinate staffing assignments, transportation arrangements, participant attendance, and authorized service hours.Ensure services are provided according to approved authorizations, staffing ratios, schedules, and individual support needs.Monitor services in agency, community, volunteer, and employment settings.Regularly speak with participants to evaluate their satisfaction with services and identify concerns.Participate in Person-Centered Plan meetings, team meetings, progress reviews, and other participant-related meetings.Communicate with participants, families, Coordinators of Community Services, employers, and interdisciplinary team members.Identify and address barriers that may affect participant progress, community participation, or successful service delivery.Track participant progress and recommend changes to goals, schedules, activities, or support strategies when necessary.Employment Specialist ResponsibilitiesComplete Employment Discovery activities to identify each participant’s strengths, interests, skills, talents, support needs, employment preferences, and ideal working conditions.Gather information through participant interviews, observations, community-based activities, family input, and team collaboration.Develop Employment Discovery profiles, visual or traditional résumés, employment plans, and recommended next steps.Assist participants with career exploration and making informed decisions about employment.Help participants complete job applications, prepare résumés, practice interview skills, and develop workplace readiness.Identify competitive integrated employment opportunities that match participants’ interests, abilities, and preferred working conditions.Conduct individualized employer outreach and job development.Build professional relationships with local businesses, workforce programs, community organizations, and other potential employment partners.Meet with employers to understand their workforce needs and identify opportunities that may benefit both the participant and employer.Assist participants during interviews, onboarding, orientation, and workplace training when needed.Support participants in negotiating appropriate job duties, work schedules, accommodations, and workplace supports.Coordinate job placement and ensure appropriate supports are available before employment begins.Provide or coordinate Ongoing Job Supports and Follow-Along Supports.Support participants in learning job duties, workplace routines, professional communication, attendance expectations, time management, and problem-solving.Monitor participant satisfaction, work performance, attendance, workplace relationships, and employment retention.Address concerns involving participants, employers, coworkers, transportation, assigned staff, or workplace supports.Develop and implement fading strategies that reduce paid staff support when appropriate.Promote natural workplace supports through supervisors, coworkers, and other workplace relationships.Support Self-Employment Development and Co-Worker Employment Supports when applicable and authorized.Maintain accurate records of employer contacts, job leads, applications, interviews, placements, workplace supports, fading activities, and employment outcomes.Promote Employment First principles and ensure employment is meaningfully explored for each participant.Staff Coordination and OversightCoordinate and provide daily direction to DSPs assigned to Meaningful Day and Employment Services.Assign staff according to participant needs, schedules, staffing ratios, service authorizations, and staff qualifications.Ensure staff understand each participant’s Person-Centered Plan, goals, preferences, health and safety needs, and required support strategies.Clearly explain the skills staff are expected to teach and the outcomes they are expected to support.Train and guide DSPs assigned to provide workplace support or job-coaching functions.Ensure staff have completed applicable employment, participant-specific, and Meaningful Day training before independently performing assigned duties.Observe staff performance in community, volunteer, and employment settings.Provide coaching, feedback, and corrective guidance when service delivery does not meet agency expectations.Monitor staff attendance, punctuality, professionalism, communication, and completion of assigned responsibilities.Assist with onboarding and participant-specific training for newly assigned employees.Report ongoing performance, attendance, conduct, or compliance concerns to agency leadership.Promote professionalism, accountability, teamwork, respectful communication, and participant-centered service delivery.Documentation and ComplianceReview service notes for accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and connection to approved participant goals.Ensure documentation clearly describes the service provided, activity completed, skills taught, participant response, progress made, and follow-up needed.Return vague, copied, inaccurate, incomplete, or noncompliant documentation for correction.Monitor participant attendance, electronic visit verification, service activity records, employment records, and other required documentation.Maintain organized participant and program records in the agency’s electronic health record system.Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual progress summaries and program reports as assigned.Collect and organize data used to measure participant progress, community participation, employment outcomes, and program performance.Ensure services are provided according to Person-Centered Plans, approved authorizations, agency policies, and applicable DDA requirements.Immediately report incidents, suspected abuse or neglect, rights violations, health and safety concerns, and other reportable events according to agency policy.Participate in internal audits, quality assurance reviews, corrective action activities, licensing reviews, and regulatory inspections.Follow all agency confidentiality, privacy, documentation, incident-reporting, and records-management requirements.Community and Employer EngagementResearch safe, accessible, meaningful, and age-appropriate community opportunities.Develop relationships with employers, volunteer sites, educational programs, libraries, recreational programs, workforce organizations, and other community resources.Identify opportunities for participants to build skills, develop natural supports, and establish meaningful community connections.Attend job fairs, employer meetings, networking events, outreach activities, and community events as assigned.Professionally represent Helpful Hearts when communicating with employers, families, stakeholders, and community partners.Educate employers and community partners about inclusive employment, individualized workplace support, and the value that employees with developmental disabilities can contribute.Required QualificationsBachelor’s degree in human services, social work, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, education, business, or a related field is preferred.An associate degree combined with significant relevant experience may be considered.At least two years of experience supporting individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.Experience in Employment Services, vocational support, job development, job coaching, Community Development Services, Day Habilitation, or a related area.Understanding of person-centered planning, community integration, Employment First, and competitive integrated employment.Ability to complete Employment Discovery, employer outreach, job development, employment planning, and workplace-support activities.Strong written communication and documentation skills.Strong organizational, leadership, time-management, and problem-solving abilities.Ability to coordinate multiple participants, staff assignments, community activities, and employer relationships.Ability to provide direction, coaching, supervision, and accountability to assigned staff.Ability to communicate professionally with participants, families, employers, staff, Coordinators of Community Services, and other stakeholders.Proficiency with email, Microsoft Office, electronic documentation systems, and scheduling platforms.Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and an acceptable driving record.Ability to travel regularly to participant homes, community locations, volunteer sites, employment locations, and agency offices.Ability to pass all required background checks, exclusion checks, credential verifications, and pre-employment screenings.Required Employment Services TrainingThe selected candidate must possess documentation of completed training or successfully complete all applicable Maryland DDA Employment Services training within the required timeframe.Required training includes:Basics of Employment FirstBasics of Customized EmploymentFacilitation of Natural Supports and Principles of FadingThe Role of the Job CoachBasics of Benefits AwarenessBasics of Self-EmploymentAssociation of Community Rehabilitation Educators training and/or Certified Employment Support Professional competency requirements applicable to the assigned Employment Specialist dutiesAll additional Employment Services training designated by Maryland DDABecause this position performs Employment Specialist functions, including Discovery and Job Development, the employee must obtain and maintain the employment-related training, certification, or proof of competency required by current DDA policy.Candidates who do not possess the applicable employment credential at the time of hire must be willing and able to complete the required training or certification within the DDA-established timeframe. Until all required qualifications are completed, employment-related work must be performed under the supervision and approval structure established by Helpful Hearts and current DDA requirements.Additional Required TrainingThe selected candidate must also complete and maintain all general, Meaningful Day, agency, and participant-specific training required for the position, including, as applicable:Person-centered planning and individual-directed supportsCommunity integration and inclusionFundamentals of participant rightsSupporting participants and families in making informed choicesCommunication skillsIncident identification and reportingMandt trainingSeizure disordersAging process and special needs of older adultsBloodborne pathogensCPR and First AidEmergency preparednessParticipant-specific health, behavioral, nursing, and safety trainingAny other training required by Maryland DDA, Helpful Hearts, or the participant’s Person-Centered PlanThe employee is responsible for maintaining current training credentials and promptly providing copies of certificates and other proof of completion to Helpful Hearts.Preferred QualificationsPrevious experience providing services under the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration.Current ACRE training, CESP certification, or other DDA-recognized Employment Services credential.Experience completing Employment Discovery profiles and employment plans.Experience conducting individualized job development and employer outreach.Experience supporting competitive integrated employment placements.Experience coordinating Meaningful Day Services.Experience supervising or directing Direct Support Professionals.Knowledge of Maryland’s Person-Centered Plan process and LTSSMaryland.Current CPR and First Aid certification.Physical and Work RequirementsAbility to work in office, community, residential, volunteer, and employment settings.Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and accompany participants during community and employment activities.Ability to respond appropriately to emergencies and unexpected service situations.Ability to work flexible hours when participant employment schedules, meetings, or program needs require it.Ability to transport participants when authorized and assigned.What We Are Looking ForWe are looking for someone who is proactive, organized, compassionate, dependable, and committed to quality.The successful candidate must be willing to remain actively involved in services. This includes visiting service locations, observing participant activities, meeting with employers, completing Discovery and job-development activities, supporting staff, reviewing documentation, tracking outcomes, and following through on assigned responsibilities.Compensation and BenefitsCompetitive salary based on education, credentials, and experiencePaid time offPaid sick leave