Community Employment Specialist - Team Leader

About the role

This is a full-time position 40+ hours a week. This position is directly responsible to the Quality Assurance & Safety Specialist.

Responsibilities

• Career Exploration: Provide Career Exploration activities to individuals of all ages receiving services. Meet with individuals and families/guardians to introduce supported employment, as well as explore the individual’s employment goals. Work with individuals to develop a formalized career plan. This will be accomplished by utilizing discovery techniques, business tours, job shadowing, informational interviews, work site assessments, and other job exploration activities. Work with individuals to develop soft skills. This may include working on interviewing skills, conducting/organizing mock-interviews, working on co-worker relations, how to communicate with supervisors, and improving customer service skills. Work with Individuals to explore topics on and improve financial literacy. Document individual performance daily. Keep all charts and daily reports up to date and accurate. Submit data to supervisor as requested. Develop relationships with local business and industry in order to offer a variety of career exploration options to individuals receiving services. In order to offer a good sample of career options, employers must be willing to allow Nishna Productions, Inc. staff and clients into their business to observe and interact with employees. As needed, manage transportation for individuals receiving Career Exploration services.
• Job Development: Implement marketing strategies for Community-Based Employment services. Complete job development based on inclusion, commensurate wages, benefits, consumer choice, and employer needs. Maintain regular contact with community employers. Oversee completion of all placement forms and documentation of on-going performance. Make arrangements for job coaching for individuals placed. Work with agency Program Coordinators or outside professionals, i.e. Community Case Managers, IVRS Counselors, School Personnel, etc., in developing and coordinating any other services that consumers might need. Act as a liaison with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Medicaid Case Managers, HHS Social Workers, and local school systems. Coordinate referrals from these referral sources.
• Workplace Readiness Assessment-WRA: As requested, assess individuals participating in Workplace Readiness Assessment. For Workplace Readiness Assessments, complete the following: Develop job exploration, job shadowing, and on-site assessment sites in the communities where the individuals have expressed a desire to work or to secure further training. Provide 100% supervision and support to individuals while being assessed on community job opportunities. Complete a timesheet with stated wage for payment through NPI for individuals involved in on-site assessment. Complete all forms required for the Workplace Readiness Assessment. Complete a final report summarizing the results of the assessment and addressing the supports needs of the individual in order to be successful in community employment or additional training. Conduct an exit staffing. Complete Case Activity Logs to document activities pursued with the individual. Complete all paperwork as required for each service. Responsible for maintaining CARF accreditation.
• Job Coaching: Provide direct training and support to individuals on community job sites. Implement goals and objectives, and methods for achieving them. Carry out instructional activities consistent with individual training objectives. Document individual performance daily. Keep all charts and daily reports up to date and accurate. Submit data to supervisor as requested. Attend and participate in any staff meetings. If requested, handle transportation to and from job sites at the beginning of each placement. Learn tasks of community job sites in order to train individuals. Be available as needed to provide support and follow-up. Communicate with supervisor regarding the development of any necessary behavior intervention data. Integrate the individual with his/her co-workers. Provide models for others for appropriate ways to interact with the individual. Assist the employer in working through any employment problems, encouraging employers to deal directly with the individual as much as possible. Work with the employer in completing regular performance evaluations with the individual. Handle any other duties assigned by the Executive Director or the Quality Assurance and Safety Specialist as specified and within the timeframe given. Complete employment advocacy with employers, co-workers, and customers.
• Community Employment: Implement marketing strategies for Community-Based Employment services. Complete job development based in inclusion, commensurate wages, hours, benefits, consumer choice, and employer needs. Maintain regular contact with community employers. Make arrangements for job coaching individuals placed. Work with agency Program Coordinators or outside professionals, i.e. Community Care Managers, IVRS Counselors, School Personnel, etc., in developing and coordinating any other services that the consumer might need. Act as liaison with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Medicaid Community Care Coordinators, DHS Social Workers, and local school systems. Coordinate referrals from these referral sources. Coordinate with other Community-Based Employment staff to ensure completion of placements and all duties associated with placements. Responsible for maintaining CARF accreditation.
• Other Duties and Job Responsibilities: Provide directions and supervision to all Community Employment Services Staff. Complete performance evaluations according to required schedule. Hire and fire for these positions. As requested, assist with marketing and public relations activities for the agency. Participate in scheduling and facilitating planning meetings for enrollment in all community-employment related services. Complete intake paperwork for all referrals. Coordinate the implementation of service delivery directly or provide the services. Ensure that funding approvals are in place prior to the initiation of services. Be familiar with the varied funding sources. All other duties as assigned by the Executive Director or Quality Assurance and Safety Specialist. Track the client wages and hours on a quarterly basis with a spreadsheet showing data. Track completion of drills monthly on a spreadsheet on a monthly basis. Complete Employment reporting when MCO’s request for it to be completed. Complete IVRS reports when request has been made for it to be completed. Complete auditing on all CE staff on a daily basis. Complete billing each month with those that receive IVRS funding each month and send to billing department. Complete Quality Indicators bi-annually or when requested.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in human services or marketing fields or equivalent experience.
• Prioritize having five (5) years of experience working with individuals with disabilities.
• Prioritize having previous supervisory experience.
• Maintain insurability with agency vehicle insurance carrier.
• Must possess leadership skills.
• Must be willing to work with individuals who have behavioral disorders, which may result in the display of an aggressive outburst of a physical nature.
• Must have the ability and desire to work with other employees as a team.
• Must have good verbal and written communication.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid Iowa Chauffer’s license and maintain an acceptable driving record.
• Must exercise good judgement when the situation requires immediate decision-making when dealing with staff or individuals receiving services.
• Must not have been legally convicted of any type of assault, abuse, or bodily injury.
• A professional and personal image and attitude is needed to represent those served and the agency itself.
• All agency staff are required to participate and cooperate with agency investigations.
• Confidentiality will be respected.