Employment Specialist

Employment Specialist

Dynamic Diversity – Caring Collaboration – Individual Integrity – Community Connection

Full Time

New Haven, CT, US

Requisition ID: 1972

Salary Range: $23.15 Hourly

Schedule: 40 hours per week, with a flexible schedule that includes some evenings. Shifts are 9am-5pm, 10am-6pm, or 12pm-8:30pm on some days.

 Chapel Haven Schleifer Center is an award-winning nonprofit company devoted to empowering adults with disabilities to live independent and self-determined lives.  We believe self-advocacy supports the growth of our individuals and collaborate with them to create services that foster independence. In 2022, we celebrated 50 years of excellence in the field of disabilities and continue our dedication to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If you share our core values of dynamic diversity, caring collaboration, individual integrity, and community connection, we want to hear from you!

Why consider a career at CHSC?

• Comprehensive benefits: Full-time employees receive a complete benefits package, including paid time off and tuition reimbursement.
• Flexible Opportunities: Part- time employees enjoy a flexible schedule, valuable hands-on experience, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the individuals we support. Select Benefits may also be available. 
• Room for growth: We offer a professional yet warm and welcoming workplace with opportunities for career advancement
• Staff longevity and Development: over 50% of our staff have been with us for 5+ plus years, many of whom started in entry-level roles and have grown into fulfilling, long-term careers spanning 10 plus years.
• A culture of Community and Compassion: We take pride in our strong sense of community, teamwork, and dedication to making a difference in the lives of those we serve.

Join us and become part of the team that values professional growth, meaningful work, and a culture of care!

The Role:

CareerAbility at Chapel Haven Schleifer Center, Inc. was founded to meet a vital element of Chapel Haven's mission: meaningful employment for the individuals we serve. Meaningful employment is predicated upon an individual's choice, contributes to their quality of life, and allows them to earn a competitive wage for their work. CareerAbility's employment services are the core of what we do, ensuring individuals are matched with opportunities that fit their interests, skills, and needs, receive the necessary support to acclimate to the work environment, and are set up for long-term success.

The Employment Specialist is a lead job coach responsible for supporting CareerAbility in all aspects of employment supports, including employment, job retention, training, volunteering, and discovery. The Employment Specialist typically supports individuals in customized employment settings but may also support others who are building pre-vocational skills or who are in individual or group supported employment or volunteering. Building relationships with employers to ensure successful placements is a key part of the role, as is building positive rapport with individuals. The Employment Specialist uses job coaching strategies to support success on the work site and completes reports, task analyses, vocational progress notes, and other required documentation.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Provides job coaching, on-the-job training, and stabilization support to individuals, one-on-one and in small groups, to help them achieve their personal and career development goals and to support job retention.
• Teaches and models the skills individuals need to perform job duties, helps them adjust to and transition into the work environment, and upholds their vocational goals and job interests.
• Maintains effective communication with employers, individuals on their caseload, and key stakeholders.
• Advocates with employers and coworkers regarding an individual's strengths, accommodations, and needs, when needed.
• Provides assistance with transportation, including travel training and arrangements, so individuals can engage in services. Provides transportation when public transportation cannot be arranged.
• Supports Employment Services by working with Career Transition Specialists on job coaching and employment support.
• Completes progress reports and required documentation, including SETWorks entries and billing. Documents all activities and outcomes consistently and accurately. May support administrative tasks for the department.
• Attends and actively participates in progress and planning meetings.
• May support site development efforts for the assigned caseload or general public relations.
• May support the training of Job Coaches.
• Performs other job-related duties assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, ABA, Human Services, or a related field and/or a minimum of 2 years of related job coaching or industry experience.
• Ideal candidates are endorsed by ACRE in Customized Employment and have an active credential in this capacity, with familiarity with customized employment as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor/Office of Disability Employment Policy, APSE, and Employment First principles. Knowledge of state employer incentives and other incentive programs is beneficial.
• Excellent communication and writing skills, teaching ability, and empathy toward individual needs, with the ability to balance numerous relationships.
• Knowledge and understanding of adults with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders and the employment challenges and opportunities for this population. Experience as an employment support professional (CESP) preferred.
• Ability to balance the needs of both the employer and the individual seeking employment to ensure effective placements.
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, independent problem solver who prefers variety in their work assignments.
• Computer skills, including Word, Excel, web-based applications, and database experience.
• High level of integrity and commitment to Chapel Haven's values.
• Openness to learning and willingness to give and receive feedback.
• Valid driver's license, acceptable driving record, and daily use of an insured, reliable personal vehicle. Public Service License (PSL) preferred or eligibility to obtain one.

Do not meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women, LGBTQ+, and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly, we encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles at Chapel Haven!

Dynamic Diversity – Caring Collaboration – Individual Integrity – Community Connection