Employment Specialist - Vocational Services

Monday-Friday Flexible 

Job Title: Employment Specialist (11194)
Department: FREE SEMP-ACCES-VR Employment Specialist
Location: Oakdale, NY
Reports To: Senior Director of Community Services
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Pay Range: $21.50-$23.48
Last Revised In: December 2024
ORGANIZATION SUMMARY
Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.
POSITION SUMMARY
Under the supervision of the Sr. Director of Community Services, the Employment Specialist will provide direct care and personal adjustment services for individuals participating in ACCES-VR authorized services. This includes job development, job coaching, skills training, assessment, counseling, intervention, advocacy and creating employer contacts in the community. The Employment Specialist will also be responsible for case management, client documentation and employer outreaches to employers in addition to other services needed to maintain the employment of our participants.
DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Provides employment services to adults and students receiving ACCES-VR support services. Services may also include vocational training and intensive coaching, situational assessments and referrals for active job development and placement.
• Assists with orientating individuals to new environments i.e. new job sites, assessment/internship sites and job fairs.
• Ensures individuals are familiar with all means of Public Transportation and provide information to assist individuals in securing SCAT and ABLE ride.
• Ensures documentation meets quality and compliance thresholds and complete required documentation within mandated time frames.
• Effectively communicates and supports the organization’s mission, vision and values.
• Always communicate in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Prevents, recognizes and reports abuse toward the people we support.
• Adhere to the organizations Code of Ethics.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Other duties as assigned.
Responsibilities of All FREE Employees
• Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
• Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
• Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
• Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
• Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.
Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and may be changed by FREE at any time, with or without notice to the employee.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Education: Associates Degree Required; Bachelor’s Degree highly preferred
• Experience: At least 6 months of relevant work experience required, previous work experience with individuals with mental health diagnoses.
• Specialized Training, Licenses, Certifications:
o NYS CASE Trainings must be up to date while providing services (offered online)
• Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities:
• Other Requirements:
o Travel to site may be required, valid driver’s license is required. Must be able to meet all the criteria to be a valid driver for the agency
o Must be able to adhere to a flexible work schedule that may include early hours, evening hours and weekends. Scheduling is dependent upon the needs of the persons served.
o Must have excellent communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This role is performed in-person. Some travel is required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
• Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours).
• Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets.
• Employee is required to reach with hands and arms.
• Employee is required to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch or stand on a stool as needed.
• Employee is required to be able to lift 50 pounds at a time.
Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE.
***************************** The Pay Range for this job is $21.50-$23.48. This range is based on what FREE reasonably believes it will pay an employee as for said position at the time of the posting. Individual compensation will ultimately be determined based on a variety of relevant factors, including, but not limited to, an individual’s experience, qualifications, services provided, geographic location, relevant skills, and other factors permitted under federal, state, and local laws.