Employment Specialist OMH- Employment Services
About The Position
Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) is hiring an Employment Specialist to help adults and students with developmental disabilities explore career interests, develop vocational skills, and obtain competitive employment. The role provides employment services to people receiving ACCES-VR and OPWDD support services, including vocational training, intensive coaching, situational assessments, referrals, job development, and placement. The specialist also teaches vocationally relevant soft skills and supports resume development, interview preparation, transportation, benefit-counselor connections, coping skills, and stress management. The position is full-time and primarily community-based, with significant travel across Long Island; a car is provided. The specialist works with individuals in employment settings, including internships and potential job sites, and helps them orient to new environments such as job sites, assessment or internship locations, and job fairs. The role is performed in person and requires a flexible schedule that may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and events outside standard working hours, based on the needs of the people served. The specialist must complete documentation within required time frames and meet quality and compliance standards. All employees are expected to communicate respectfully, protect confidentiality, meet safety and training requirements, follow FREE’s ethical standards and applicable laws, and prevent, recognize, and report abuse. FREE may change the listed duties, responsibilities, and essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for physical requirements unless they cause undue hardship.
Requirements
- Associate degree required; bachelor’s degree highly preferred.
- At least 6 months to 1 year of relevant work experience required.
- Previous work experience with individuals with mental health diagnoses required.
- OPWDD Eleversity trainings required annually.
- Valid driver’s license required; must meet all agency criteria to be a valid driver.
- Must be able to travel to sites and adhere to a flexible schedule that may include early hours, evenings, and weekends.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
- Must be able to work independently and be self-starting, reliable, and patient.
- Must be able to sit, walk, and stand for prolonged periods of at least 8 hours; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, or stand on a stool as needed; and lift 50 pounds.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Familiarity with Job Zone, ONET, Ticket to Work, and ACCES-VR.
Responsibilities
- Provide employment services to adults and students receiving ACCES-VR and OPWDD support services, including vocational training, intensive coaching, situational assessments, and referrals for job development and placement.
- Teach vocationally relevant soft skills individually or in groups, and address resume building, interviewing, transportation, benefit-counselor linkages, coping skills, and stress management.
- Help individuals orient to new work environments, job sites, assessment and internship sites, and job fairs.
- Become familiar with and assist individuals in using Job Zone, ONET, Ticket to Work, and ACCES-VR.
- Help individuals become familiar with public transportation options and provide information about securing SCAT and ABLE rides; provide travel training on a case-by-case basis.
- Complete required documentation within mandated time frames and ensure it meets quality and compliance standards.
- Communicate and support FREE’s mission, vision, and values.
- Communicate respectfully with the people supported, supervisors, colleagues, and community members.
- Prevent, recognize, and report abuse toward the people supported.
- Maintain confidentiality and adhere to FREE’s Code of Ethics and applicable policies and regulations.
- Meet safety training requirements, follow safety policies, report unsafe conditions, and take steps to prevent accidents and health or safety risks.
- Coordinate, support, attend, and participate in required events, meetings, reviews, and committees, including those outside standard working hours.
- Meet job requirements, maintain compliance, and perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Associate degree
