Community Employment Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Community Employment Specialist is responsible for coordinating, planning, scheduling and implementing programs for their assigned employment caseload. This person must have the ability to work independently, problem solve on the spot, and think critically without on-site supervision. This person ensures delivery of Community Based Prevocational, Supported Employment (SEMP), ETP, ACCES-VR and other OPWDD employment programs. This person provides direct supports to people enrolled in a variety of employment programs based on their interests and desires. This person implements a variety of training techniques, interventions and teaching procedures aimed at providing employment opportunities to people receiving supports. This person is responsible for the safety of each person and provides training to facilitate inclusion into community employment related settings. This person documents and verifies detailed daily data collection, monthly notes and other required documentation as outlined by regulatory bodies. Depending upon specific assignment, this person may be required to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Education: High School Diploma or Equivalency Exam required; Two years of College a plus.

Minimum Experience: One year of experience relevant to assigned location.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Monitor skills and abilities of people supported in a variety of community based volunteer and employment related environments while adapting teaching styles to accommodate different learning styles.
• Provide job coaching, systematic training, and planning within varied work environments to assist with obtaining and maintaining employment.
• Implement teaching techniques in a variety of community based employment related environments to provide the most appropriate learning environment.
• Assist people supported with adapting to the social demands of the workplace and development of natural supports and other workplace support services that the person supported to be successfully integrated into the job setting.
• Adhere to the professional training requirements as set forth by OPWDD for Innovations training (24 hours during first year of hire and 6 hours each year thereafter).
• Become well versed with the specific regulatory documentation requirements associated with Community Based Prevocational, SEMP, ETP, ACCES-VR and other employment programs.
• Complete detailed electronic documentation according to guidelines as set forth. This includes, but is not limited to, daily narratives, monthly notes, and regulatory information specific to each funding source addressing progress toward employment goals.
• Enter multiple schedule blocks each day in Medisked based on the appropriate staff to person ratio and verify service delivery time blocks.
• Manage and track daily service delivery hours to maximize billing.
• Acquire knowledge of multiple funding sources and the ability to transfer between cost centers throughout the course of the day based on funding sources.
• Become familiar with many different business policies and practices based on caseload and worksite.
• Act as liaison between The Arc Rockland and community employers.
• Work flexible schedule based on program and caseload needs. Schedule may vary daily and weekly.
• Ability to work independently, problem solve on the spot, and think critically without on-site supervision.
• Provide transportation and travel training skills to people receiving employment services to increase independence. Become familiar with local transit system in order to teach people supported how to navigate the community as independently as possible.
• Perform travel training assessments to and from worksites.
• Use personal vehicle to travel from one worksite to another throughout the day based on assignment.
• Operate Agency vehicles for transportation to and from worksites of the people receiving supports as assigned.
• Attend to personal hygiene needs of program participants, which may include toileting, changing, and monitoring dietary requirements as the situation warrants.
• Participate in Life Plan, IDT team and other planning meetings as assigned.
• Write case notes, reports incidents, and provide information on incidents as required by 624 Regulation in a timely manner.
• Responsible for health, welfare and safety of program participants while in the community with program participants.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings, mandatory trainings and other meetings as assigned.
• Address any problems that may be occurring and report incidents in a timely manner as required.
• Ensure that services are delivered in a manner that is responsive to interests and desires of each person.
• Provide support/coverage other than assigned worksite as needed.

The Arc Rockland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.