Frederick County Youth & Employment Coordinator

Spectrum Support Inc

About The Position

Spectrum staff provides support for many aspects of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their goal is to assist individuals in understanding their WHY. WHY is our purpose, cause, or belief-the driving force behind everything we do. Youth and Employment Coordinators will take tangible action to work towards one or more individual's WHY and help them Live their Best Life with as much independence as possible. Staff will make a difference in the lives of the individuals they support by building strong relationships, trust, and successful participation in their community. In the Coordinator position, this will be done by facilitating vocational services for youth and adults with disabilities, and by providing meaningful opportunities for individuals to gain employment experience. As a Youth and Employment Coordinator, you will support our mission through four key activities: Forming Relationships: Recruit interested individuals and their family members, engage them in a trusted relationship and connect them with potential employers and other community stakeholders by building strong partnerships in the business and nonprofit community. Case Management: Work with individuals to develop personal life goals to include an emphasis on employment. Use discovery tools and other best practices, to include employment assessments, to assist individuals in identifying meaningful activities to support the discovery of their individual talents and build upon areas of necessary growth for competitive integrated paid employment opportunities. Work with their team to assist individuals with addressing employment barriers such as transportation, benefits counseling, and reasonable accommodations. Direct Supports: Provide customized services to individuals as needed by providing training and support to individuals exploring careers by facilitating various skill building activities. Job Development: Work collaboratively with other staff and businesses to seek both subsidized and competitively paid job opportunities for individuals served.

Requirements

Documentation: The ability to use technology to capture in written form the events of the day using objective, detailed observations, and authenticity in the electronic database in a timely manner. Daily notes approved by management are key to meeting quality programming and funding requirements.
Professionalism: Maintaining a professional atmosphere by modeling positive behavior which includes but is not limited to being on time, dressing appropriately, addressing others with respect and meeting deadlines is necessary. When meeting with employers, staff are expected to dress according to the requirements of the job site. When staff are meeting with individuals and/or families they are expected to dress professionally.
Ability to readjust to new activities and environments: A Day in the life of a Youth and Employment Coordinator is never the same. With different activities come different demands. You are expected to adjust to new activities and environments, but to acknowledge individual moods and actions will likely fluctuate as well. We all have good and bad days. In these moments, staff need to adapt to the situation.
Ability to remain calm and composed: It is important to be able to remain calm and think through solutions especially in stressful moments.
Dependability and punctuality:Being on-time is important both for coworkers and for the individuals we support. For most individuals (whether you have a disability or not!), a routine is key to staying balanced and comfortable.
Attentiveness: Individuals count on you to show up on time to scheduled shifts so that they can participate in their planned activities for the day. Individuals will be grateful for a Youth and Employment Coordinator who is present and attentive to their needs. This will help to build the relationship and make for better outcomes.
Interpersonal skills and a strong sense of teamwork:Providing support for individuals with disabilities is a team-oriented task that requires a lot of coordination and flexibility.
Sound Judgment: Having moral principles, character, and honesty.
Sense of Compassion: The ability to "walk in another person's shoes" allows a Youth and Employment Coordinator to engage in actions that benefit other individuals.
Advocacy: In partnership with individuals they support, a Youth and Employment Coordinator will advocate for justice, inclusion, and full community participation, especially in the job application process and at the job site.
Education: Bachelor's degree within human services or related industry is required. Consideration given to internal candidates who have demonstrated competence and relevant experience, including assisting youth and adults with obtaining post-secondary certifications and/or degrees.
Experience: Previous experience working with federal, and state regulated and funded programs, such as of the Division of Rehabilitation Services and/or the Veterans Administration, is preferred.
Technology Skills: Must have systems access skills, basic computer skills and competency in Microsoft Word at a minimum.
Communication Skills: Basic written and verbal English skills are required. Excellent in-person communication, demonstrated with a history of training, case management, and/or employment development for persons with disabilities or other barriers to employment required. Must demonstrate ability to administer 1:1 and small group curriculum.
Ability and willingness to regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Must be willing to assist persons with ambulatory limitations to transfer in/out of vehicles and to use the restroom. This position may require up to 80% walking or standing daily.
Flexibility to work weekends or evenings as needed is required.
Valid driver's license: with no more than 2 points.
Reliable vehicle: with adequate insurance.
Two employment recommendations.
Ability to pass background check and List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) check.
Ability to pass the FBI fingerprinting search.
Ability to obtain/retain CESP certification within 1 year of starting in this position.
The ability to pass and retain the Resume Writing Certificate.

Nice To Haves

Experience: Previous experience working with federal, and state regulated and funded programs, such as of the Division of Rehabilitation Services and/or the Veterans Administration, is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist individuals to participate in the Living Your Best Life service model.
Conduct an intake and orientation for the employment services program for newly enrolled individuals to determine appropriate services, and to assist individuals to develop appropriate goals for person-centered plans.
Provide the tools and support individuals need for greater independence, full inclusion, achieving a successful transition, and active participation in their homes and in their communities.
Provide meaningful opportunities for individuals to gain employment experience by supporting them to discover individual talents and build upon areas of necessary growth for competitive integrated paid employment opportunities by:
Helping individuals to identify paid and nonpaid volunteer and work experience opportunities.
Supporting individuals to write and/or update resumes, submit job applications and prepare for job interviews.
Providing pre-vocational training to include appropriate work attire, time management, and conflict resolution.
Working with team to assist individuals with addressing employment barriers such as transportation, benefits counseling, and reasonable accommodations.
Providing on-site and off-site job coaching to support individuals to reach independence within their work setting.
Working with school personnel and partnering organizations to ensure consistency with joint initiatives.
Assist individuals to identify individual interests and personal abilities by completion of functional assessments such as the community-based assessment (CBA) to create a Positive Personal Profile and/or Discovery milestones.
Assist individuals in need of community resources with appropriate referrals as needed.
Facilitate transportation to support community activities that will help the individual meet their desired outcomes and supports inclusion within the local community by:
Transporting individuals to and from planned destinations that help the individual meet his/her desired outcomes
Transporting individuals to and from scheduled activities
Coordinating trips into the community to include using public transportation
Develop employer paid and/or DORS funded jobs for youth and adult Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLE) and individual competitive jobs for individuals in any funding source by:
Providing outplacement and recruitment services to local businesses
Conducting informational interviews, job tours and job analyses to aid in advocacy of customizable employment for jobseekers with disabilities
Developing volunteer and experiential learning opportunities with community partners for youth and adults with disabilities
Ensure timely and accurate completion of documentation requirements, assuring all documentation is of a high quality that reports conclusive measurable results.