Birch Family Services · 1 month ago
Employment Specialist
New York, NY
Full-time
Hybrid
New Grad, Entry Level
$24/hr - $28/hrBirch Family Services is dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve competitive employment. The Employment Specialist will provide support, training, and coaching to program participants, helping them develop necessary skills and secure job opportunities in integrated work settings.
ChildrenFamilyNon ProfitTrainingWellness
Responsibilities
Participating in the screening of applicants for supported employment or pre-vocational training services
Developing key questions or learning experiences to assess present levels of skills with a potential program member
Providing feedback/ input to Birch leadership on appropriateness of Birch services for the individual
Developing assessment opportunities and experiences to better understand top strengths and areas for growth
Developing a scope and sequence (a learning plan) for the individual that will help drive skill development for the individual to meet their life plan goals
Working with and seeking out feedback from your direct manage to ensure your plan, tactics and approach are effective for helping drive results for the program member
Devising internal learning plan goals and monitoring progress towards meeting those goals by an established date
Teaching skills and creating learning experiences for the program member that will lead to greater independence in the job search process
Proactively sharing plans and seeking feedback from your direct manager/ coach to ensure that your plans, strategy, approach, and tactics are as effective as possible
Completing a discovery report for the Employment Training Program (ETP) within the allotted timeframe that will yield a clear plan of top strengths, areas of growth and best fit job opportunities for the program member
Developing volunteer experiences in a field of interest, internship opportunities, situational assessment sites that meet ETP program requirements and paid work opportunities in an integrated, competitive setting
Contacting and convincing potential employers and work experience sites (going in-person, calling, emailing, leveraging other sites like LinkedIn), helping modify existing jobs to better meet the program member’s needs (customization), provide information on incentives and supports available to employers
Maintaining personal organization systems that ensure you meet all deliverables for your position
Maintaining your calendar to clearly identify all billable time (direct and indirect hours) worked
Task/ to-do lists for work with your supervisor/ coach and with each program member (e.g. next steps after a meeting or observation)
Completing data collection (progress notes) within 48 hours of providing services
Reminders for drafting Staff Action Plans (SAPs) within 2 weeks after a Life Plan meeting and completing monthly progress reports (along with any additional required documentation that is asked of your position at the time)
Assisting program participants in securing work opportunities
Supporting individuals in applying for paid employment
Serving as a liaison between a potential employer, program member and other supports/ stakeholders
Assisting an employer, as necessary, with position modifications
Providing training and intermittent/ongoing monitoring of the participant’s general work skills and specific to the job
Ensuring the person is learning their work requirements
Learning new skills to seek out career advancement opportunities
Continuing to develop the social skills necessary to perform their work and an integrated setting
Providing travel training and/or assist in securing alternative means of transportation to and from worksite
Fostering a relationship with and maintaining ongoing contact with employer to identify any problems which arise and assist the individual in identify and addressing concerns in order to successfully maintain the work opportunity
Maintaining necessary contact with family members, residence managers and service coordinators for the individual
Participating in and sending a recap/ notes for Life Plan meetings
Drafting Staff Action Plans
Writing detailed data collection notes to Precision Care
Writing thorough monthly updates
Completing ACCES-VR billing forms (if needed)
Completing Pre-Voc annual assessments and/ or ETP discovery documentation
Meeting with a coach/ supervisor at least once per week
Identifying what’s on track and not on track and proposing solutions and next steps that will help you meet goals and intended outcomes for the position
Participating in all required/mandated trainings, maintaining all certifications related to job responsibilities
Qualification
Required
High School or GED
Preferred
Experience working with individuals with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities
Background, passion and proven results for teaching other people
Passion for helping make the job landscape more equitable for people with disabilities
Demonstrated effective written and oral communication skills
Basic computer proficiency
Company
Birch Family Services
Birch Family Services offers support, welfare, education and counseling for families and individuals regarding autism and other ailments.
Founded in 1975
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Matt Sturiale
President and CEO
Josh Scher
Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
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