Mercy Project SEARCH Skills Trainer

Access Group, Inc.•Fort Smith, AR

18h•Hybrid

About The Position

Provide training and support for interns to ensure success during internship rotations and/or a competitive job. This role involves providing individualized support at worksite rotations or competitive jobs, including job coaching, building natural supports, identifying job accommodations, and assistive technology. The Skills Trainer will communicate effectively with various stakeholders, perform job analysis, and implement job coaching plans. They will also train interns in areas such as grooming, hygiene, communication, interviewing, and behavior, and provide travel training as needed. The position requires collaboration with the Project SEARCH Instructor/Coordinator for decision-making regarding intern success and participation in professional development activities to stay updated on supported employment best practices. Follow-along services for interns in competitive employment may extend beyond typical work hours, including evenings and weekends, requiring schedule flexibility. The role also involves completing necessary paperwork accurately and meeting deadlines, aiding with instruction and daily planning, and transporting interns for various appointments. Adherence to host business standards and promoting job productivity are key. The Skills Trainer must recognize and act on legal responsibilities concerning consumer safety and welfare, demonstrate accountability for assigned hours, punctuality, and attendance, and participate in appropriate training. Flexibility, adaptability, effective role modeling, enthusiasm, a positive attitude, sound judgment, and effective communication skills are essential.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent
Experience in working with children or adults with developmental disabilities preferred
Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with a wide variety of people.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
Ability to work with programming team to develop and implement behavior plans for the members when necessary.
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out programming effectively.
Must have valid driver’s license, current auto liability insurance and registration, a clean driving record, and physical ability to drive to local locations throughout Arkansas.
Must maintain a personal vehicle in safe operating condition, as required.
Must have a driving record that meets ACCESS’ policy and the insurance carrier underwriter guidelines and required, as required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in working with children or adults with developmental disabilities

Responsibilities

Provides individualized support for interns at the host business worksite rotation or competitive job, which includes: job coaching, building natural supports, identifying job accommodations, assistive technology, etc.
Communicates effectively with Project SEARCH® Instructor, other job coaches, employers, co-workers, family members and agency personnel as it relates to the interns being trained.
Perform specific job analysis, task analysis and job matching activities.
Carries out steps of job coaching plan with interns and other parties as appropriate.
Work with interns, employers, families, job placement specialist, agency personnel and other appropriate parties to problem solve issues related to training and employment.
Practice positive reinforcement techniques with interns, co-workers, and other staff.
Trains interns in the areas of grooming, hygiene, communication, interviewing and behavior as they relate to successful employment.
Provides travel training to job site if necessary.
Communicates with Project SEARCH instructor/coordinator to make final decisions regarding any issues that may affect intern’s success at a worksite rotation or competitive job site. These decisions may be related to continued job coaching, fading, behavior, job tasks, etc.
Attends training provided to become knowledgeable of strategies and current “best practices” in the field of supported employment.
Participates in decision making process to identify and implement training strategies and/or services with other Project SEARCH staff and host business staff.
Provide follow-along services to interns once they have found competitive employment. Provide this service during the graduate’s work hours, which may fall outside of staff’s typical work hours. This may include work at night and during the weekends. Staff will be asked to adjust normal work hours to accommodate for schedule changes.
Complete necessary paperwork adequately and meets set deadlines.
Aid with instruction, daily planning, job development, day-to-day tasks, etc.
Transport interns in personal vehicle to field trips, interviews, orientation, drug test, etc.
Provide follow-along services to newly employed interns. These services may be needed outside of normal work hours (evening and weekend hours)
Adheres to and promotes standards of the host business and/or competitive work site in order to promote job productivity and efficiency.
Submits and completes appropriate job coaching paperwork.
Recognizes and acts on the legal responsibilities concerning the safety and welfare of the consumers.
Demonstrates daily work assignment responsibilities: is accountable for all hours assigned, is punctual and regular in attendance and attends appropriate training activities.
Must be flexible and able to handle many changes.
Participates in professional growth activities such as conferences, in-services, etc.
Is an effective role model.
Shows enthusiasm and a sense of humor.
Exhibits an overall positive attitude.
Utilizes sound judgment and decision-making skills.
Uses Standard English in oral and written communication.
Works as a productive team member with families, host business and program partners.
Is adaptable in dealing with individual and cultural differences.
Protects the privacy of individuals and the confidentiality of information unless disclosure services a professional purpose or is required by law.
Avoids action that could result in conflicts of interest.
Ensures a positive and supportive relationship with interns, families and staff.
Uses effective management and behavior strategies with interns and graduates
Ensures interns safety at all times by following established procedure and using common sense both on and off campus.
Collaborates with all members of the team, including the funding partners (ARS, ACCESS, host business, parents, co-workers) effectively.
Ensures that all necessary paperwork is complete and timely.
Transport interns and graduates in personal vehicle (examples include - to job fairs, job interviews, orientations, etc.). Must have valid driver’s license, current basic liability coverage on personal vehicle and proof of insurance and current vehicle registration, as required.
Must maintain a personal vehicle in safe operating condition, as required.
Must have a driving record that meets ACCESS’ policy and the insurance carrier underwriter guidelines and required, as required.
Be able to maintain a flexible work schedule (examples include – be available to work after program hours and on the weekends to support interns/graduates in job searching and, on the job,)
Attend all Project SEARCH Professional Development meetings
Attend host business orientation and meet all requirements of host business (examples include – hair color requirements, nail length, tattoos, piercings, smoking guidelines, drug free, etc.)
Protect and maintain intern privacy
Must pass background checks required by host business and ACCESS
May need to provide immunization records, complete a TB Skin test, annual flu shot, and other tests/screening as needed
May perform other related or non-related duties, as assigned