Employment Specialist III - Direct Support Professional

Overview

Starting pay is $30.59 / hr plus eligibility for incentive pay. $1,000.00 sign-on bonus. Paid in increments of $250.00 each quarter (3, 6, 9 and 12 months of employment).

The Employment Specialist III (ES3) provides support, assistance, and guidance to individuals with disabilities to help them develop skills and engage with their community, specifically through employment. The ES3 generates referrals from state Vocational Rehabilitation counselors and local Community Services Board Case Managers in Virginia and develops job opportunities at commercial and governmental sites across the Loudoun area. The ES3 primarily provides short-term, individualized employment services (Situational Assessment, Job Development, and Placement / Training) to secure stable employment for people with significant disabilities. ES3s may also provide Follow Along services to support long-term employment goals; however, responsibilities for follow-along may be transferred to an ES2, when appropriate. Target applicants from Loudoun County are encouraged.

Direct Service

• Conducts in-person situational assessments, job development, placement / training, and follow-along support to individuals with significant disabilities.
• Situational Assessment : a vocational evaluation conducted in a real work setting in a commercial or government setting.
• Job Development : supporting consumers through the process of obtaining employment, including resume writing, applications, interviewing, and follow-up with potential employers.
• Job Placement and Training : structured, one-to-one support to assist with learning the job and developing natural supports necessary to maintain job stability.
• Follow-along services : routine and ongoing contact post-job placement to assess job performance, employer satisfaction, and levels of training and / or support needed.
• Develops and implements strategies for training, instruction, and supervision of consumers.
• Creates and maintains all required planning and documentation for providing direct service.
• Monitors and records the progress of consumers toward established goals / objectives identified in the planning phases of service through assessment, in-person support, on-site observation, consultation with the employer / supervisor and rehabilitation staff, families, and natural support systems, with ongoing review of progress summaries and assessment data.
• Provides training and guidance to empower supported employment consumers to be self-advocates and develop strong natural supports on the job.
• Provides travel training and appropriate assistance to maximize safety and mobility of all consumers.
• Coordinates transportation resources as necessary, which may include providing transportation for consumers during assessment and job development, and potentially during job placement when needed.
• Conducts job orientation on-site at commercial or government worksites.
• Provides rehabilitation training and employment support to consumers of service.
• Provides crisis intervention.
• Implements the use of assistive technologies and identifies environmental modifications needed.
• Independently manages direct services caseload by working varied hours to meet consumer needs.
• Coordinates authorizations from funding agencies and secures approval before service implementation.
• Conducts intake of applicants.
• Maintains contact with rehabilitative counselors and other referral sources to communicate progress and case progression, request additional authorizations, or change case status.
• Collects data, writes and maintains documentation in accordance with accreditation standards and regulations (CARF, DARS, DMAS, DBHDS, SSA / Ticket to Work) and Didlake policies.
• Provides information and resources to families, guardians, and / or natural supports as appropriate.
• Coordinates the use of assistive technology and environmental modifications.
• Ensure Group Supported Employment services comply with Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Regulations, including integration into the community, person-centered planning, privacy and autonomy, and individual-rights protection.

Pre-Employment Transition Services

Administrative

Marketing / Public Relations

Didlake, Inc. is a non-profit rehabilitation services organization. At Didlake, creating opportunities that enrich the lives of people with disabilities is our mission. Since 1965, Didlake has served thousands of people with significant disabilities by providing training, job placement, employment opportunities and day support services. We provide rewarding and purposeful work.

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