Employment Specialist - Supported Employment

Brooklyn Community Services•Brooklyn - Downtown/Fulton Mall, NY

17h

About The Position

Brooklyn Community Services (BCS), a large non-sectarian social services agency serving more than 20,000 individuals annually, provides services in education and child care, family support, and adult self-sufficiency. The SEMP Employment Specialist supports individuals with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining internships and paid competitive employment in the community. The role provides job coaching and extended employment supports, career services, case management, travel training, and advocacy for clients served through ACCES-VR and OPWDD. The position reports to the Director of Supported Employment and requires occasional evening and weekend work based on clients’ employment schedules, as well as travel within New York City.

Requirements

Associate degree and one year of experience providing services to individuals with disabilities, or a bachelor’s degree (preferred) with some experience providing services to individuals with disabilities.
Ability to work effectively with staff across programs and community agencies.
Knowledge of the local job market.
Excellent judgment and sensitivity to clients’ needs.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Must undergo pre-employment screenings, including the Criminal Background Check required by OPWDD.
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends depending on clients’ employment schedules.
Ability to travel within New York City as required.

Responsibilities

Help individuals with disabilities find and retain internships and paid competitive employment.
Provide post-employment job coaching at work sites.
Develop positive working relationships with employers.
Help employers communicate with individuals, clarify job duties, provide safety information, and support productivity, motivation, and attendance.
Provide job coaching and proactive, extended support services to an assigned caseload, both at and away from job sites, to support continued employment in the integrated labor market.
Accompany clients to monthly Job Readiness Trainings and complete observational and situational assessments at various sites.
Provide travel training, counseling, case management, and other support services needed to maintain employment.
Provide full-cycle career services to ACCES-VR and OPWDD participants, including intake, discovery, job development and placement, ongoing support, job retention, and coaching.
Advocate for clients’ accommodation needs at work sites and provide off-site advocacy.
Support individuals who have lost jobs in returning to employment by reassessing their employment goals, needs, and interests and helping with applications and interviews.
Complete and submit chart documentation, monthly reports, Discovery reports, and OPWDD status updates on time.
Attend Life Plan meetings with Care Managers and maintain close contact with clients’ service providers.
Perform other tasks as assigned.