Employment Specialist for People with Disabilities
About The Position
Brooklyn Community Services (BCS), one of Brooklyn’s first and largest non-sectarian social services agencies, serves more than 10,000 individuals annually through services that include education and child care, family support, and programs that foster self-sufficiency for adults. Reporting to the Director of Supported Employment, the Employment Specialist provides individualized support to help people with disabilities obtain and maintain paid, competitive employment in the community. The role includes job development and placement, job search and preparation, on-the-job coaching, and continued support for employed clients. The position is based at 151 Lawrence St., 4th floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, and is scheduled Monday through Friday for 35 hours per week. Occasional evening or weekend work may be needed depending on clients’ employment schedules, and travel within New York City is required.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree.
- At least one year of experience in rehabilitation placement or a related field.
- Enrollment in a specialized course approved by ACCES-VR.
- Must be vetted by ACCES-VR.
- Knowledge of employer performance expectations and employee behaviors.
- Knowledge of the local job market.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent judgment and sensitivity to clients’ needs.
- Must undergo pre-employment screenings, including the OPWDD-required criminal background check.
Responsibilities
- Meet with community employers and educate them about individuals with disabilities.
- Develop employment opportunities in the community.
- Help individuals with disabilities find and retain employment through individualized job search and preparation and post-employment coaching at the work site.
- Develop positive working relationships with employers.
- Assist employers in communicating with individuals, clarifying job duties, providing safety information, and supporting productivity, motivation, and attendance.
- Provide job coaching and proactive, extended support services to an assigned caseload of employed clients, at and away from the job site, to help them remain employed in the integrated labor market.
- Provide travel training, counseling, case management, and other supportive services needed to maintain employment.
- Advocate for clients’ accommodation needs on-site and provide off-site advocacy as needed.
- Help individuals who have lost jobs return to employment by reassessing their goals, needs, and interests and assisting with interviews.
- Enlist assistance from parents and other natural supports.
- Complete required chart documentation and monthly reports in a timely manner.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
