Employment Specialist

Advocates; Shrewsbury (MA); Hybrid; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking an Employment Specialist who will assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining and keeping jobs. This hybrid role involves providing support, helping develop job skills, and navigating the employment process. The ideal candidate will have a High School Diploma and preferably experience in a behavioral health environment, promoting teamwork and communication.

Qualifications

• One year experience in developmental disabilities or behavioral health area preferred.
• Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving status.
• Reliable vehicle, seating two passengers.

Responsibilities

• Assist individuals with disabilities in attaining and maintaining employment.
• Provide tailored support and teach essential job skills through sessions.
• Document and maintain privacy standards as per agency policies.

Skills

Problem Solving

Respect

Interpersonal Skills

Oral Communication

Written Communication

Planning/Organizing

Dependability

Adaptability

Quality Control

Safety and Security

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Starting Rate: $21.50/hour

As an Employment Specialist with the TRACS team, you will play a pivotal role in assisting individuals with disabilities in attaining and maintaining employment. Through a combination of group and one-on-one sessions, you will provide tailored support to help participants develop essential job skills and navigate the employment process with confidence. In this role, you will experience professional growth and skill development, be exposed to clinical skills including mental health support, and gain hands-on experience in a rewarding and impactful field.

This position is hybrid and will support Charlton, Worcester, Northbridge, Milford and surrounding towns.

Minimum Education Required

High School Diploma/GED

Shift

First Shift

Additional Shift Details

Monday-Friday with flexible hours

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and commitment to, agency mission and values.
• Demonstrate respect for, and provide information to, individuals regarding human rights, privacy, and confidentiality.
• Follow agency policies and procedures, including work schedule, use of time off and transportation schedule.
• Interact verbally in a professional manner with the individuals supported, families, coworkers, supervisors and community members.
• Demonstrate the ability to set a side personal prejudices and fears to support individual(s) in taking risks and making informed decisions.
• Maintain agency standards of confidentiality.
• Complete required documentation in a timely and professional manner.
• Identify local community resources and ensure individual(s) access to needed local resources on a consistent basis.
• Maintain a respectful manner and tone of voice with others.
• Promote teamwork and open communication among staff members and individuals supported by the program.
• Appropriately implement teaching strategies for ISP goals and behavior plan.

Competencies:

• Problem Solving- identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Respect –shows respect for self, coworkers and the individuals supported.

• Interpersonal Skills- maintains confidentiality, remains open to others’ ideas and exhibits willingness to try new things.
• Oral communication- speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations demonstrates group presentation skills.
• Written Communication- is able to read and write information to communicate.
• Planning/organizing- prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently and develops realistic action plans.
• Quality control- demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and monitors own work to ensure quality.

• Adaptability- adapts to changes in the work environment and deals with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Dependability- is consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction and solicits feedback to improve performance.
• Safety and security- actively promotes and personally observes safety and security procedures, and uses equipment and materials properly.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• One year experience in developmental disabilities/behavioral health area preferred.
• Valid driver’s license along with an acceptable driving status.
• Use of a reliable vehicle, which seats two passengers.
• Additional specific experience may be required.

Advocates is committed to cultivating a diverse and welcoming community where everyone feels respected and valued. Advocates fosters a culture of inclusion that celebrates and promotes diversity along multiple dimensions, including race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, partnered status, age, national origin, socioeconomic status, religion, ability, culture, and experience.