Lead Employment Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

The Lead Employment Specialist is responsible for providing direct services, including Job Development, Job Coaching and Case Management. Employment Specialists have responsibilities for record keeping and for other tasks that contribute to the successful maintenance of the agency, as well as any special assignments as directed by their supervisor.

In addition, the Lead Employment Specialist serves as a model Employment Specialist by demonstrating best practices in service delivery and documentation. This role supports the consistency and quality of services by reviewing required OPWDD and ACCES-VR paperwork for accuracy, reinforcing documentation expectations, and providing coaching and guidance to staff. The Lead Employment Specialist may assist with conducting participant intakes and support additional program needs as directed.

Essential Job Functions

1. Job Development

• Assist people receiving support to prepare, type, and send résumés and cover letters.
• Seek out potential employers and visit potential job sites.
• Support people to develop interview skills.
• Attend interviews with people receiving support.
• Maintain contact with ACCES-VR to update on progress of people receiving support.
• Maintain contact, at least weekly, with people receiving support and, when appropriate, their advocates

B. Job Coaching

• Participate in employer training with the person receiving support.
• Provide continued training until job skills are mastered.
• Support resolution of work-related challenges.
• Teach and reinforce appropriate workplace skills and expectations.
• Advocate on behalf of people receiving support as appropriate.
• Assist people receiving support with work-related needs.

1. Case Management

• Offer support or advice to people receiving support and their circle of support as needed.
• Make referrals for additional programs and services, as appropriate.
• Complete daily documentation regarding contact and work performed.
• Complete monthly ACCES-VR reports.
• Complete phase sheets/individual hours of service documentation.
• Maintain timely and organized case records.

D. Required Paperwork and Program Support

• Review required OPWDD and ACCES-VR monthly paperwork for accuracy and completeness prior to submission to the Vocational Program Manager.
• Provide coaching and guidance to Employment Specialists to support accurate and timely completion of paperwork.
• Identify errors or gaps in documentation, reinforce expectations for compliance, and communicate ongoing concerns to the Vocational Program Manager.
• Conduct participant intakes as needed and assist with gathering required information.

1. Travel Training

• Identify transportation options and assist people receiving support in learning travel routes.
• Provide travel training as needed.

F. Additional Responsibilities

• Attend staff meetings.
• Participate in professional training as directed.
• Perform other duties as directed.

Qualifications:

• High School diploma
• Valid Driver’s License
• Minimum of six months related work experience and/or training in working with special populations (i.e.; ID/DD, TBI, elderly, medically frail).

Physical Requirements

• This position is a non-sedentary role; requires frequent standing and walking.
• Ability to travel to multiple locations to support the employment of people receiving support.
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• This position operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Some filing is required, entailing the ability to move files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary.

$25.50 hourly. Compensation will be commensurate with job qualifications and work experience.

Opengate is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, domestic or civil union partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, transgender status, predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, education, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. The Company promotes inclusion and acceptance of all protected classes.

In order to promote and maintain a community culture, employees hired to work at Opengate must legally reside and perform their work in the state of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania.