Supported Employment - Employment Specialist

Job Summary: Under general supervision, provides pre-placement assessment of job skills and interests, job-seeking skills training, assistance with job development, on-site job analysis, job training and accommodations, follow-up monitoring, and consultation.

Essential Functions: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Provides job readiness assessment and opportunities for career exploration to clients.
• Provides job readiness and job-seeking skills training to individuals and/or groups.
• Secures job placement for consumers/clients in the community. Negotiates with employers to develop suitable job(s) for consumers/clients.
• Provides counseling and support services as needed to achieve and maintain employment.
• Participates in team staffing along with other members of the consumer's/client's team.
• Collaborates with appropriate staff or service providers to ensure that accurate information on each consumer/client is documented and transmitted in a timely manner.
• Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in the field by reading appropriate books, journals, and other literature, and attending related seminars and conferences. Applies pertinent new knowledge to the performance of other job responsibilities.
• Maintains a consistent, high-quality, customer-focused orientation when conducting business and providing services or products to clients, the general public and other external customers.

Required Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrates the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse population.
• Demonstrates knowledge of PC-based software applications.
• Knowledge of State, local, and federal guidelines to modify existing programs and the development of new programs in response to changes in the guidelines.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle efficiently and safely.
• Ability to provide training and /or orientation services to participants.
• Ability to participate in supportive guidance, staff supervision sessions, program planning meetings, resident staffing and service training.
• Ability to complete evaluations to determine the functional level of participants.

Competencies:

Communication

Accountability/Responsibility

Cooperation/Teamwork

Creative Thinking

Customer Service

Dependability

Flexibility

Initiative

Investigative/Analytical Data Gathering

Judgment

Professionalism

Stress Management

Forward Thinking

Negotiating

Planning/Organization

Required Education & Experience:

Must have customer service, and community knowledge, be a self-starter and a team player. One year of experience as a training instructor or 2 years experience as either direct care service provider in a human service delivery setting (e.g. case managers, instructors) or as a production supervisor in a factory or work setting. Or completion of a bachelor's degree in management, business administration or a behavioral science at a four-year college or university. Note: some positions in this job require the possession of a valid class c driver's license.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Work Environment:

This job operates in a variable business settings with trips into the community. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. This role provides basic employment support which requires employee to perform in loud/quiet environments, outdoors/indoors, etc. Some medium travel between Gateway sites and in the community is required.

Physical Demands:

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.

Employee is frequently required to walk, sit, stand or kneel and occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop. Employees must frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Must have the ability to sit for long periods at a computer. The employee frequently uses fine hand/eye coordination, hearing, and visual acuity. Lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are no hazardous or unpleasant conditions caused by noise, dust, etc. Employees must be able to travel between Gateway sites. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Gateway CSB promotes a drug/alcohol-free work environment through the use of mandatory pre-employment drug testing.