Employment Specialist

NEPA INCLUSIVE•Pittston, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Employment Specialist manages a caseload of staff and clients, providing direct care services and actively marketing agency services to Support Coordinators, OVR Counselors, families, and other external entities to drive referrals. A core responsibility is ensuring compliant case management for OVR and ODP using HCSIS and CDWS systems, including maintaining updated files. The specialist assists individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, or mental health disabilities in preparing for and obtaining competitive integrated employment in the community, which involves job finding, job coaching, employment assessment, and teaching employment duties. This also includes implementing assistive work tools and selecting accommodation strategies to ensure job success. The role involves supervising Direct Service staff, maintaining positive client relationships, documenting monthly touch-base meetings, and blending time allocation across various agency business areas such as employment services, in-home and community supports, and community participation supports. The specialist works collaboratively with various internal departments (Therap health Record systems, billing, training, QA, Compliance, and administration) to ensure effective service delivery and compliance. Regular attendance at meetings (ISP, Intake, agency meetings) is required, as is developing and reporting client success stories weekly. The position demands flexible hours, 24/7 on-call availability, and serving as a member of the agency leadership team.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED
Ability to obtain state and agency required employment certifications including, but not limited to, APSE CESP, ACRE, and/or Discovery.
Effective communication and presentation skills.
Computer knowledge.
Strong documentation and organizational skills.
Valid Drivers License.
Clean Driving Record.
Must Pass Child Abuse History and Criminal Record Check Clearances.
Must not be excluded from State of PA Exclusion Lists.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree preferred
2 years experience working with people with intellectual disabilities, autism, or mental health disabilities preferred.
Transferrable skills in coaching, teaching, mentoring, or similar experiences preferred.
ACRE Certification highly desirable.
Experience managing staff/caseloads.

Responsibilities

Manage assigned caseload of staff and clients.
Lead assigned caseload, including assisting in scheduling, recruiting, hiring, and supervising assigned caseload staff.
Provide Direct Care services to individuals and/or fill in for open shifts as necessary.
Market agency services to Support Coordinators, OVR Counselors, families, and other external entities to grow referrals in all territories under your employ.
Ensure compliant case management for OVR and ODP using HCSIS and CDWS systems, including keeping updated files and other compliance matters as directed.
Assist individuals in preparing for and obtaining competitive integrated employment in the community to include job finding and job coaching/employment assessment and teaching employment duties.
Obtain training/certification according to ODP and agency requirements and Inclusive Academy training programs.
Promote said programs to Supervisors, DSPs and Job Coaches.
Assist individuals in preparing for their job, including going through orientation, development with the company plans for work, reinforce work responsibilities and task lists and communicate with employers to determine the nature and scope of position responsibilities.
Implement assistive work tools and select accommodations strategies to ensure success on the job.
Supervise Direct Service staff in assigned territory.
Maintain positive relationships with clients on caseload, including informing clients of agency activities and checking in on satisfaction with services, notifying clients of schedules and schedule/staff changes.
Document Monthly touch base meetings with clients in Therap or assigned system, including informing of schedules, staffing, agency activities, service satisfaction reviews, and other pertinent and timely information.
Blend time allocation as per directed by supervisors in other areas of agency business, when needed, including, but not limited to, employment services, in home and community supports, and community participation supports.
Work collectively with Therap health Record systems, billing, training, QA, Compliance, and administration to effectively deliver services and compliance at all times.
Attend meetings as required, including ISP, Intake meetings, attend agency meetings and others as necessary.
Develop and report success stories of clients. At least one story with picture each week.
Work flexible hours and be on call 24-7 and/or have assigned staff who are.
Serve as a member of the agency leadership team.
Other related duties as assigned.