Regular: Part Time-30 hours/Non-Exempt
Where: Howard, Baltimore, AA & Prince Georges Counties
Overall Function: ACIDD Maryland has immediate opening for Employment Specialists/Job Coaches to work with people who have severe mental illness and with individuals who have dual diagnoses of Intellectual Disability and mental illness. ACIDD in Maryland has a CARF accredited Employment program that meets higher standards and provides quality service to high functioning individuals. The Employment Specialist helps our individuals in the programs prepare for, obtain, and maintain competitive employment in the community that is consistent with their vocational goals.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Engages individuals in vocational skills development and establishes a trusting, collaborative relationship directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community settings.
- Completes and maintains a career profile for each new individual with information from the individual, professionals, and with permission, family members or past employers.
- Assists individuals in learning how their benefits will be affected by their earned income. After employment is achieved, assists them with individualized plan for reporting earnings to Social Security Administration or other sources of benefits.
- Discusses individual’s preference for disclosure of disability status to employers, including possible costs and benefits, as well as specific information.
- Provides assistance with the job search through resume-building, interview skills, and soft skills development.
- Helps individuals with career development, including finding jobs that are more desirable, helping them ask for raises and promotions, and also helping with education and training programs that are available to the general public.
- Conducts employer contacts each week to learn about businesses and employer needs, to talk about specific individuals who are looking for work, and/or to talk about employer services offered, as well as maintains a database of employment contacts and job openings to connect individuals to.
- Provides individualized follow-along supports to assist individuals in maintaining employment.
- Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by program individuals, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact with the employer/educator.
- Completes contact notes for each encounter with an individual, as well as monthly progress notes, DORS progress Notes and other reports meeting state,licensing and funding agencies’ standards.
- Collaborates with individual’s Resource Coordinator, DORS counselor, health professionals and their direct support staffs in related programs to coordinate services.
- Assists the program Coordinator with updating the individual’s vocational plan every 6 months or when there is a change in employment or education status.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Minimum High School Diploma. Undergraduate degree in social services, health or business preferred. One year experience working with people with serious mental health issues and individuals with co-occurring developmental disabilities and mental disorders; experience providing employment services, and knowledge of the work world are desirable. Organizational skills and ability to work as an effective team member are essential.
Rate of pay: $13- $15/ hour.
