Employment Specialist for Individuals with Disabilities

Employment Specialist for Individuals with Disabilities

Location: 235 6th St E, Suite 400A

St Paul, MN 55101

Job Type: Full-time Monday-Friday

Department: Employment Services

Pay: $22 per hour

Job Description:

**This position requires you to have a working vehicle and to occasionally transport clients to/from settings in the community.

The Employment Specialist will be assisting individuals who have mental, physical, and developmental disabilities and are receiving services through a Medicaid paid waiver or through Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) to work toward employment.

As an Employment Specialist, you will be responsible for a caseload of 10-15 clients whom you will be assisting through the different stages of employment. You may be addressing client barriers to work and exploring what types of employment they would be interested in. You may be working with clients on planning for their employment by defining their work goals, completing benefits planning, and creating work portfolios and resumes. You may be actively seeking employment opportunities with the client, sending in applications and resumes, interview prepping, and bringing clients to interviews. You may also provide on-site job coaching and training, plan for transportation, and assist with communication to employers.

This position may include assisting individuals with accessing services to improve or maintain their ability to live more independently so they can focus on employment.

This position may also include helping adolescents who are transitioning from school to work, as a part of our Pre-Employment Transition Services program. This would involve teaching students the skills they will need to make a more successful and seamless transition into adulthood.

Duties of this position include but are not limited to:

• Review Community Support Plans (CSPs), MnChoice assessments, and referral documents as guides for working with your client
• Meet with clients out in the community and in their homes to review employment goals and assist them with each stage of the employment process
• Provide transportation for clients to help them apply for employment and attend interviews
• Assist clients with taking personality and work tests and assist them in exploring different areas of employment that might be best for them. This can include setting up informational interviews with different employers
• Complete person-centered documents that highlight client goals and work with clients on setting up steps to achieve goals
• Work with clients on benefits planning, calculating how earned income impacts their benefits
• Assist clients in creating resumes and adapting resumes to each job the client is applying for
• Create and modify cover letters
• Conduct mock interviews with clients to prepare them for interviews
• Assist clients with requesting adaptive equipment or technology from employers to allow the client to meet expectations of the job. Provide training with clients on how to utilize the assistive technology or equipment.
• Collaborate with clients’ support team members on ways to assist and care for the client
• Provide weekly updates to case managers and client support team members on client progress
• Provide on-the-job training and guidance once a client has secured a job
• Communicate with the client’s employer to assist in resolving any issues to allow for the client to maintain employment
• Assist clients in learning how to navigate public transportation or work with them on getting a drivers license to ensure they are able to transport themselves to and from work, once employment is secured.
• Implement strategies with clients on ways to manage their behaviors while working

Expectations:

• You will complete online 245D trainings within your first two weeks of employment. After that, trainings will need to be completed on an annual basis. First week of training is paid at $15 per hour.
• You will meet weekly with your supervisor to discuss your schedule and consult about client issues.
• Your first 90 days is a probationary period. At the end of the 90 days, you will be evaluated by your direct supervisor. Evaluations will continue to occur on an annual basis. After successful completion of the probationary period, the option to work remote 2 days per week is available.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Long-Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• HSA
• 401(K) after 90 Days of Employment
• PTO after 90 Days of Employment/Probationary Period
• Sick and Safe Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Flexible Scheduling

Required Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years or older with a High School diploma or GED.
• 1-2 years working with individuals with mental health disorders, trauma, physical or developmental disabilities, and/or 1-2 years experience working in the employment services field
• Proof of Valid Driver’s license and car insurance.
• Must pass criminal background check administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS)
• Must show proof of COVD-19 vaccination(s) or sign exemption
• Can work well with a diverse population, including people with low-income, who struggle with substance abuse, criminal backgrounds, and people with developmental, mental and physical disabilities
• Ability to manage time effectively
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Human Services or related field
• Knowledge of public programs, medical assistance and Medicaid waivers and benefits planning
• Knowledge or experience working with students in a school setting
• Experience in researching and accessing different community resources
• Conversational in more than one language.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Do you have a reliable vehicle and are you comfortable with transporting clients in your vehicle?

License/Certification:

• Driver's License and Car Insurance (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN (Required)

Work Location: In person