Employment Services Youth Specialist

Overall Responsibilities

The Employment Services Youth Specialist provides training and direct services to students with disabilities, specifically those students who are blind or visually impaired, ages 14-22 enrolled in the Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) program. The Employment Services Youth Specialist is responsible for the assessment and evaluation of students’ needs for Vocational Services individually or in groups, providing services in the 5 areas outlined by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) regulations: 1) job exploration and counseling, 2) work-based learning, 3) workplace readiness, 4) instruction in self-advocacy, and 5) post-secondary education counseling. All services and recommendations are made through the use of case history, interviews, orientation and observation; and the provision of instruction and/or referral services to help students achieve personal, social, educational, and vocational success.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Education or Rehabilitation required
• At least one year of work experience in the human services field

Required Skills And Abilities

• Ability to travel and work independently outside of the office up to 80% of time
• Ability to exercise discretion, confidentiality, and independent judgment
• Ability to problem solve and utilize necessary resources
• Self-motivated; require minimal supervision
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and accomplish tasks in a timely manner
• Ability to utilize video conferencing to attend meetings and trainings remotely
• Knowledge of principles, techniques, equipment, and low vision aids used in placement services is preferred
• Knowledge of state and federal laws, rules, and applicable regulations
• Ability to accurately maintain case management files, reporting, and billing
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally, both orally and in writing, to meet the needs of the organization and its customers; practical listening skills
• Ability to work in a team-oriented environment
• Receive and maintain a CPR and First Aid Certification
• Ability to travel independently to various sites to meet with students
• Ability to successfully obtain certification through an Employment Training Specialist program

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Aid school personnel in identifying and prioritizing student referrals based upon needs of students, current services received, and scheduling availability
• Obtain required documentation from schools (signed consent form and copy of IEP/504 plan) and upload into database
• Perform student intake process in approved database and administer initial assessment rubric in order to determine student’s baseline in each of the 5 areas of service identified by WIOA standards
• Additional areas of assessment include: interests, qualifications, and employment knowledge; assist students in developing educational and vocational objectives; and work with them to overcome personal and social challenges by providing guidance or referral to available community resources
• Develop individualized plan for each student with specific goals in each of the 5 service areas
• Provide services to students individually and/or in groups in order to assist the students in meeting their goals. Services occur in the schools and in the community as appropriate
• Teach program students vocational readiness skills, which include job search techniques, interview skills, and resume writing
• Meet with employers in order to develop work-based learning opportunities for students, promote Pre-ETS program, and arrange job shadows, informational interviews, and/or internships for students, as appropriate
• Supervise students while in schools and out in the community. Transport and accompany students as needed to participate in Pre-ETS activities
• Maintain case files and write reports; prepare ongoing client case reports and collect client demographics, which are retained in secure files
• Collaborate with school personnel, parents, VR, and other service providers in order to coordinate services for students
• Communicate regularly with school personnel to provide updates regarding students’ progress toward goals. Support school staff in working with identified VR personnel
• Participate in IEP meetings, at request of team and as available, to assist in effective transition planning and implementation
• Use and adapt existing curricula in order to serve the needs of students and model “best practices” to school personnel
• Document in a timely manner all services provided to students: date, minutes, category of service, and a concise but detailed note summarizing the session
• Report this information to program manager in a timely manner
• Complete billing as services are provided within an appropriate timeframe
• For exiting students, create a student portfolio containing a resume, sample cover letter, references, and other related information’ as well as, administer exit rubric in order to measure progress toward goals in the 5 areas of service
• Serve as an active member on the Student Transition and Employment Program (STEP) planning committee
• Aid in identifying and securing internship sites with community employers for STEP internships
• Aid in training of STEP job coaches and teachers
• Perform other duties as assigned

Competencies

• Action-Oriented – take strategies and ideas, develop plans and turn them into reality
• Resilient – bouncing back from difficult situations, maintaining a positive outlook and finding a way forward, requires courage and commitment

Core Values

• Opportunity – communicate in a way that makes others feel respected, valued and heard; actively listen to others when they communicate with me; work together with others to achieve our goals; be open to change as it will support the Bosma Mission and Vision; take risks when necessary
• Accountability – arrive on time for my shift and be ready to work; help my coworkers; acknowledge my mistakes and work to correct them; work on solutions to problems and communicate them to my leader respectfully and collaboratively; be willing to accept constructive feedback to improve my performance; perform to the expectations outlined in my role
• Innovation – conduct myself at work in a way that creates a positive outlook; have an open mind to changes that provide benefits and opportunities to others; challenge myself to be curious and a lifelong learner; positively collaborate with others