We are looking for a part-time, dedicated Employment Support Specialist for our Supported Employment program for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The position is located in Raleigh, NC.
The Employment Support Specialist works directly with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities to enable them to maintain long-term, competitively paid employment.
KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
1. Monitor the individualized, person-centered service plan for each consumer as necessary in order to ensure their vocational goals are being met.
- Develop relationships with consumers, individuals who are important in their lives, and other interested stakeholders, and work collaboratively toward ensuring service plan outcomes are being achieved.
- Ensure all activities identified in the service plan are goal-directed and consistent with the consumer’s vocational goals.
- Regularly review the provision of services as compared to each service plan: recommend when service plan needs to be updated to reflect changes, as necessary.
- Notify appropriate officials of health, safety, and welfare concerns regarding the consumer, as required.
- Coordinate and/or facilitate staffings and/or other meetings as necessary.
2. Assist and enable consumers to maintain long-term, competitively-paid employment by providing appropriate follow-up support and monitoring work performance/progress.
- Maintain regular contacts with consumers and employers.
- Facilitate social interactions between consumers and their co-workers to foster natural supports in the workplace.
- Provide vocational training on job/task performance (using coaching and one-on-one instruction, etc.) to ensure that the consumer is able to maintain employer’s required level of proficiency (or reach proficiency for new job task requirements).
- Provide other support for consumers (i.e., support during performance reviews, pay raises, schedule changes, resources for transportation to and from work, etc.) as necessary.
- Crisis management as needed.
- Provide technical assistance to employers, including consultation and education.
3. Advocate for, and promote the full inclusion of, individuals with disabilities in all opportunities in the community.
4. Document program activities as required.
5. Build relationships with area employers and other interested stakeholders in the community in order to promote the benefits of employing supported employment consumers.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Education—Associates degree or some college coursework in human services, psychology, or related degree is required. Bachelor’s degree in human services, psychology, or related field is preferred.
Experience— Minimum of one (1) year of experience working with people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Vocational training or other human resources experience is preferred. Experience with crisis management is required. CPR/First Aid Certification required.
A valid driver’s license and driving are required for this position.
