Employment Specialist - Job Coach Acess-VR

Position: Employment Specialist/Job Coach

Program/Department: Supported Employment/Services for People Living with Disabilities

Reports to: Director of Supported Employment

Hours: 35 hours per week (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) Must be available evenings and weekends

Salary Range: $40,000 - $50,000

Position Summary:

Brooklyn Community Services is one of Brooklyn’s first and largest non-sectarian social services agencies. BCS, which presently serves more than 20,000 individuals annually, is committed to a broad and diverse range of services including education and child care; services to strengthen families; and services to foster self sufficiency for adults.

The Supported Employment Job Coach assists individuals with disabilities with job matches that meet their interests and strengths through task analysis, as identified on their IPE’s (Individualized Plan for Employment) and psychological evaluations. The Job Coach supports these individuals in finding and retaining employment through active, individualized job search and preparation, and post-employment job coaching at the work site. The Job Coach meets with employers in the community and educates them about individuals with disabilities to develop employment opportunities.

Responsibilities:

• Assist clients by evaluating their employment goals, needs, and interests, including situational assessments and accompanying clients to interviews, job fairs, etc.

• Develop positive working relationships with employers. Directly assist employers in communicating with clients, to clarify job duties, to provide safety information, and to facilitate productivity, client motivation, and good client attendance.

• Provide job coaching and proactive, Intensive support services to employed clients, both at and away from the job site, to assist them in maintaining employment. Can include occasional evening and/or weekend work depending on client’s employment schedule, and travel within NYC as required.

• Provide travel training, counseling, case management, and other supportive services needed to maintain employment.

• Advocate for clients’ possible need for accommodation on the work site.

• Communicate placement information and progress/needs/employment barriers to external stakeholders on a regular basis.

• Complete required chart documentation in a timely manner and ensure accuracy and completeness.

• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience in providing ACCES-VR and/or OPWDD services to individual with disabilities

• Ability to interface effectively with staff across programs and community agencies

• Knowledge of the job market

• Excellent judgment and sensitivity to the needs of clients

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Must undergo OPWDD Fingerprinting, Child Abuse Registry, and Background Check

BCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.