Don’t miss this unique opportunity to join our Vocational team without working nights, weekends, or holidays! Become our next Employment Specialist and support individuals with disabilities in achieving meaningful and valued roles in the community. We provide all needed training on-campus.

As an Employment Specialist, you'll play an essential role in enriching the lives of the individuals we support. Through fostering their social skills, promoting independence, and facilitating opportunities to be a part of the community, you'll contribute to their growth and fulfillment.

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Employment Specialist works in the community to solicit employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The Employment Specialist works with individuals from referrals made through State Agency contracts to match supported individuals to available jobs and is responsible for completing vocational assessments and assisting individuals to secure competitive employment in the community by providing and arranging the necessary job supports to ensure success.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS*

• Develop and expand opportunities for community integration to address the individual’s employment, social, and recreational interests, using Agency and personal network of contacts.

• Develop and maintain relationships with community businesses to secure employment opportunities.

• Complete assessment of employment interests, skills, and abilities.

• Develop and implement an Employment Plan by assisting individuals in making and expressing employment choices and providing career counseling.

• Place individuals in jobs in the community that are consistent with their employment service goal.

• Promote accessibility for people with disabilities in the workplaces of other entities by identifying and addressing existing and potential barriers to their employment (architectural, attitudinal, etc.).

• Establish and maintain a positive and professional relationship with community contacts, employers, co-workers and supervisors, funding sources, etc.

• Provide benefits counseling throughout the job search and placement process. Ensuring individuals or their designated representative payee are reporting their wages to Social Security. Referring to Social Security Benefits counselor as needed.

• Adhere to all funding source regulations and Cape Abilities’ policies and procedures.

• Serves as mandated reporter for suspected cases of abuse and/or neglect to the Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC).

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Understands and implements Positive Behavioral Supports (PBS) Universal Supports strategies and techniques with the individuals.

• Provide transportation to participants, when necessary, in a personal vehicle or a designated agency vehicle when available.

• Performs additional duties, as assigned.

COMPETENCIES

• Total Quality Management: Is dedicated to providing the highest quality services, which meet the needs and requirements of internal and external customers; is committed to continuous improvement through empowerment and performance management; creates a learning environment leading to the most efficient and effective work processes.

• Adaptability: Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; inspires others to be adaptable to change.

• Ethics, Values and Diversity: Promotes an appropriate and effective work environment and strives to ensure that the agency’s core values and beliefs are applied during all circumstances; genuinely cares about people; deals effectively with all races, nationalities, cultures, disabilities, ages, lifestyle choices and genders; supports equal and fair treatment and opportunity for all; adheres to and promotes the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); advocates for the rights and interests of individuals with disabilities to maximize their potential in the programs and communities of their choice.

• Integrity and Trust: Is respectful, truthful, and transparent; keeps confidences; takes ownership and responsibility for decisions and outcomes.

• Problem Solving and Judgment: Probes all useful and constructive sources to find pertinent answers; can analyze issues, identify problems and work toward appropriate solutions; collaborates with others or as part of a team; displays willingness to make decisions; makes timely decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment.

• Oral and Written Communications: Speaks clearly, appropriately and effectively with a diverse group of individuals; is an active listener and gets clarification when necessary; participates constructively in meetings; is able to write clearly and succinctly; is able to communicate clearly in a variety of settings and situations.

PREPARATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

• Minimum 2 years prior related experience preferred.

• Ability to teach and model occupational tasks.

• Must be able to effectively communicate in both verbal and written form with coworkers and supported individuals and read fluently.

• Valid driver’s license in the state of Massachusetts required.

• Successful completion of all state and Agency mandated trainings required upon hire.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• No supervisory responsibility.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Normal working conditions.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to do this job. The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

*External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case by case basis.

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