Washington County Mental Health Services
Location
Barre, VT | United States
Job description
Division: Community Developmental Services (CDS)
Position: Employment Counselor
Directly Responsible to: Coordinator
Summary of Employment Counselor: Provide supported employment and modified case management services to individuals with intellectual disabilities and ASD (autism spectrum disorder). Utilizing the models of person-centered planning and self-determination the Employment Representative performs a broad range of activities designed to assist individuals in accessing, engaging, achieving, and maintaining successful career and competitive employment.
Qualifications: Preference given to individuals with supported employment experience, and or experience in the business community. BA preferred, but a combination of education and experience will be considered. Candidates must have a clean driving record and access to a safe, insured vehicle. Some work outside of the normal work schedule will be required, evenings and weekends. Access to internet and phone service in the home is essential.
Duties and Responsibilities: - Initiates and maintains ongoing contacts and relationships with a variety of business, industry, internship and training representatives to develop and promote competitive job access and placement for individuals.
- Work with individuals to obtain employment through interest and skill assessment, career exploration, job carving, and job matching.
- Effectively utilize job search and placement methods, tools, and resources to assist individuals with their employment goals and outcomes. (Progressive employment, volunteer opportunities, and work/internship experience trainings).
- Assist in development of job seeker resumes, interviewing and job seeking skills.
- Provide follow along services such as evaluation for adaptive accommodations, employer check ins, benefits counseling, unemployment access, social security payroll reporting.
- Develop the employment plan in coordination with ISA implementation.
- Provide supervision to consumers who are agency employees.
- Provide initial job placement training for the individual and employer.
- Provide full case management services to individuals not assigned a case manager including financial, living, health, crisis, guardianship, etc.
- Collect data and provide required paperwork for medical records billing system, as well as other administrative duties needed to meet state and agency requirements.
- Day to day training and supervision responsibilities for employment specialists.
- Collect and track job placement data; compile data and prepare reports and correspondence regarding job development, placement, and job maintenance efforts.
- Coordinate weekly staff and program scheduling in coordination with employment rep and coordinator.
- Coordination of employment services in conjunction with case managers, individual teams, other service providers, employment sites and other community and agency partners.
- Maintain currency with industry trends; updates labor market information by researching online resources, attending meetings, and maintaining contacts with regional employment support networks.
- Participate in ISA team, CWS, VR, School, and State employment meetings.
- Design and implement diverse coaching approaches training for CDS staff whose responsibilities include vocational support.
- Research and incorporate job development best practices to integrate into the program.
- Assist in developing brochures, flyers, power points and other methods of marketing and instruction materials for the program.
- Direct service coverage of employment sites as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned by program coordinator to support the programs activities and success.
Duties are performed in an office setting, local communities, job sites, individual’s homes where services are provided. Reliable transportation needed to perform essential functions of the position. Travel required for employer outreach, attend meetings and to respond to individual needs. A Successful Employment Counselor will have the following skills: - Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Creativity and excellent problem-solving skills
- Ability to multi-task
- Team player
- Strong interpersonal skills with ability to elicit trust and listen effectively.
- Ability to work with a diverse population of job seekers and staff.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and to understand personnel policies, e.g. workplace harassment, conflicts of interest.
- Knowledge of issues confronting the employment of people with disabilities and other diverse and vulnerable populations.
- Open, direct, honest, and clear communication style with ability to exercise discretion and tact.
- Flexibility with openness to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variations in work environments.
- Take initiative and work autonomously.
- Ability to deal with conflict.
- Proponent of continuous improvement and strategic thinking.
- Values include holistic orientation, excellent customer service, strengths-based outlook and results oriented.
- Ability to accept and deliver constructive feedback.
- Availability and flexibility to work based on consumer and program needs and schedules.
- Excellent oral and written communication needed.
- Supervisory skills are advantageous.
WCMHS Benefit Package: - Competitive salary and opportunities for additional hours, if desired.
- Generous medical, dental, vision, life and accident insurance – WCMHS covers 82.5 – 92% of premium costs.
- Matching 403(b) – match begins at 4.25% and increases based on years of service.
- Employee assistance plan.
- Generous sick and vacation accruals. Full- and part-time regular positions receive 12 days’ vacation and 12 days sick time annually - prorated based on standard hours.
- 12.5 paid holidays annually.
- Mileage reimbursement for agency related travel.
- Fun and engaging environment and the ability to give back to the local community.
Job tags
Salary
