Employment Specialist (Fee-for-Service Job Coach)

Responsibilities

• Develops individualized vocational plans with clients in employment programs in conjunction with staff and significant others.
• Markets employment programs to the business community and referral agents.
• Assists clients in creating personal marketing tools including resumes, cover letters, letters of introduction, references, portfolios of skills and accomplishments and thank-you notes.
• Develops job placements through negotiation with staff, business and industry representatives.
• Familiarizes clients to job site, supervisors, coworkers, pay scale, production quota, personnel policies and procedures, safety requirements, etc.
• Provides systematic and consistent instruction to clients on job sequence and job tasks.
• Monitor performance and productivity and provide assistance, support and/or additional training when necessary until client reaches and maintains performance criteria.
• Teaches job-related skills as needed (use of public transportation, vending machines, cafeteria, etc.) and provides support and feedback to clients on or off the job site.
• Provides personal, social and work adjustment training utilizing behavior management techniques where appropriate; model appropriate work behaviors.
• Focus where necessary on accepted attendance standards, punctuality, proper attire, grooming and hygiene, stamina building and appropriate interactions with coworkers.
• Coordinates, as required, transportation for the client to and from the worksite.
• Assists employer in identifying, developing and implementing job modifications, adaptations, and/or accommodations as needed.
• Establishes and maintains ongoing communication with employers and co-workers and advocates for the client as needed.
• Provides information and assistance to job site employers and other appropriate staff regarding supervising and working with persons with severe mental illnesses and other barriers to employment, accessibility issues and ongoing monitoring of client’s work performance utilizing established techniques/modifications.
• Coordinates placement activities with peers; collect and maintain placement statistics and other relevant program data.
• Participates in business and professional community organizations and activities.
• Prepares chronological records, completes relevant record activities and writes case staffing reports.
• Assesses and maintains data on client’s work performance and personal adjustment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in any field (preferred fields HR, Marketing, Business, Voc Rehab, Social Work, MH, Psychology) or four years of experience in vocational rehabilitation/employment services or related experiences.
• Knowledge of mental illness and addiction preferred.
• Position requires frequent driving of own vehicle.
• Valid driver’s license, vehicle and insurable driving record are required.