Disability Employment Specialist: Supporting Kamloops And Chase

Under the general supervision of the Associate Program Director or designated coordinator/manager, as the Disability Employment Specialist (DES), you will assist clients with a disability to successfully acquire education, work, or play (leisure/recreation) in the community by determining appropriate interventions required to meet individual needs and situational requirements.

You will provide a variety of day-to-day emotional and social support; coaches, demonstrates, and supports clients to acquire employment readiness, essential, leisure/recreation, and employment skills; facilitates community, education and/or job placements; provides onsite community/education/employment coaching; provides advocacy, information, and access to community resources.

Duties:

• Evaluates client eligibility for programs and services; distributes financial supports necessary for client/candidate participation in programs and services.
• Engages in goal setting and case planning activities with clients by performing duties such as interviewing clients to 1) identify and understand previous experience and 2) determine needs/wants, including supporting informal, self-reporting Disability Related Needs Assessments (DRENA); document client’s needs, wants, and progress; assist clients to develop realistic goals; and identify and determine appropriate interventions, programs, or resources to help support clients to achieve their goals.
• Supports clients through the completion of the customized employment discovery process and prepares discovery profiles, vocational plans, and disability management plans for review and approval by Vocational Consultant colleagues.
• Meets regularly with Vocational Consultants and other relevant colleagues, to review customized client files and progress.
• Observes clients, identifies, and assesses potential emergency situations, and develops short-term strategies to deal with such situations. Reports medical, behavioral, and other problems as required.
• Provides supportive counselling and behavioral management techniques to assist clients in establishing strategies to seek, obtain, and maintain employment.
• Teaches client and and provide coaching using a variety of instructional methodologies to enable the development of skills necessary for increased employability, personal independence, and/or participation in community education/leisure/recreation programs and services.
• Assist clients to become ready for further education and/or self-employment. Assist in researching and applying for funding to support in the payment of education and/or self-employment.
• Ensure clients have access to the necessary skills and resources to engage in a job/community search process.
• Facilitates the placement of clients by performing duties such as directly approaching community agencies and/or employers to identify and secure opportunities, explain wage subsidy information and placement terms to clients and community agencies/employers.
• Follow up with employers and community providers to ensure education, community/work experience, employment/recreation/leisure placements and agreements are established and maintained, and to monitor the quality of placements.
• Ensure the sustainability of community and employment placements by performing duties such as onsite community/job coaching; access to supportive counselling and further skills building; and access to government incentives, i.e., wage subsidies.
• Builds and maintains relationships with various community networks including contractors, employers, and clients.
• Completes and maintains accurate related records, documentation, and reports on client and job candidate progress.
• Responsible for ensuring that relevant statistical, program and student/participant reports are processed accurately, reflect professional quality, and adhere to established deadlines.
• Achieves monthly and annual goals and objectives and maintains acceptable standards of service quality.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Diploma in Social Sciences or a relevant discipline.
• Valid B.C. driver's license and use of personal vehicle during working hours. Must be able to travel throughout the province.
• Or other Qualifications determined to be reasonable and relevant to the level of work.

EXPERIENCE

Recent, related experience of two years in supporting people with disabilities or complex barriers to employment, in a helping profession and/or in providing employment readiness, essential skills, or employment services.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated ability to apply a person centered, strength-based approach to service delivery. Ability to observe and recognize changes in clients.
• Demonstrated ability to meet the demands of a varied and large client load.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in cooperation with others.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Demonstrated ability to instruct and to analyze and resolve problems.
• Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills.
• Knowledge of disability issues and resources.
• Ability to accurately maintain client files and ability to proficiently use Microsoft Office programs and/or government databases.

Special Conditions of Employment

• Required to pass a criminal history background and/or fingerprinting.
• Must have the ability to work on a computer for an extended period.
• As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Officer Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Open Door Group must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

Open Door Group values diversity and is committed to providing an inclusive work environment. We are looking for qualified individuals who represent, at all job levels, the diversity of the people we serve and encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, individuals of all genders and sexual orientation, origin and ethnic affiliations, disability, age, and religion. Priority consideration for people with experiential knowledge of disabilities.

We strive to ensure an accessible experience for candidates. If you require an alternative method to submit your application, please contact us toll-free at 1 866 377 3670 and ask to speak with an HR representative, or you can email us at humanresources@opendoorgroup.org

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Thank you for your interest in joining the Open Door Group team!