Job Coach

Purpose

To provide direct support to persons who are employed by community businesses. S/he will establish and maintain positive working relationships with persons served, their circle of support, and employers. Provides on-the-job training/teaching and supervision to persons served who hold a variety of jobs in the community.

Essential Functions

• Movements of the wrists, hands, and fingers to operate a variety of equipment and machinery.
• Ability to perform duties associated with job training and support.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide whatever support is wanted or needed to ensure employment success.
• Understands and practices the philosophy and values of Supported Employment Services, including the core values of Inclusion, Access, and Self-Determination.
• Consistently maintains a positive attitude which is imperative to successfully supporting each individual.
• Affords assistance to each person served to be viewed as valuable to each respective business.
• Develops techniques and strategies for entering into partnerships with persons served, their circle of support, and businesses in order to maintain community employment opportunities for service recipients.
• Understands and then utilizes each business's culture and norms to the greatest benefit of each person served.
• Trains, coaches, prompts, and motivates individuals in an effort to support them to maximize their potential as employees.
• May provide transportation to individuals served as appropriate.
• Acts as a role model at all times and in all manner.
• Supports individuals served with personal care support needs as appropriate.
• Completes required documentation in a timely and complete fashion.
• Obtains work schedules where appropriate and communicates them to program manager and job developers.
• Asks for assistance as needed.
• Attends individuals team meetings and participates on behalf of their expressed wishes and interests.
• Adheres to all agency policies, procedures, and standards.
• Performs all other job duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• A high school diploma or equivalent.
• An undergraduate degree preferred.
• Understanding of and experience with general business needs required.
• Incumbent must be sensitive to the needs of and barriers encountered by persons with support needs as well as the needs and concerns of employers.

Additional Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Good overall computer skills; proficient with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Exceptional people skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills including the ability to convey information orally and in a well-written format.
• Ability to transfer job activities to the worker in a systematic manner and at a pace appropriate to the worker in order for the worker to reach optimal job functioning.
• Ability to converse knowledgeably on employment issues and trends.
• Ability to work well with individuals with various labels and support needs.
• Ability to create and maintain positive working relationships with employers.
• Ability to support individuals served with adjusting to the ways employment affects other aspects of their lives (SSI, SSDI, Transportation, Clothing, Scheduling, Etc.).