Employment Specialist

Opportunity House; Sycamore (IL); On-site; USD 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Job summary

Opportunity House in Illinois is seeking a Direct Support Professional to provide support and supervision while teaching clients work skills for community employment. You will assist the Vocational Coordinator with general operations of the vocational department.

The role involves promoting client independence, evaluating client skills at job sites, creating client resumes, and educating employers about the Vocational Program. Evening or weekend hours and local travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and patience when working with clients.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours and be available on call as needed.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Attend work as required and supervise clients.
• Teach and supervise clients while promoting independence and community integration.
• Evaluate client skills and vocational needs at job sites; develop resumes.
• Learn workplace culture and job duties to ensure employer satisfaction.
• Teach interpersonal skills and work habits; ensure client success.
• Educate potential employers about the Vocational Program.
• Provide direct care and transportation for clients to worksites as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Record keeping

Judgment and patience

Interpersonal skills

Flexible hours

MS Office

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate or Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Description

Summary

Provide support and supervision while teaching clients work skills for community employment. Assist the Vocational Coordinator with general operations of the vocational department.

Essential Functions

• Attendance is required.
• Teach and supervise clients while promoting client independence and integration into the community.
• Evaluate client skills and vocational needs at job site, develop job modifications as needed. Create and update client resumes.
• Learn the culture of the workplace and job duties to assure the employer's job satisfaction during the initial training or a re-training period.
• Teach interpersonal skills and work habits.
• Learn the client’s job tasks and employer’s quality and quantity standards to assure client has the maximum opportunity for success.
• Monitor and teach clients personal care skills.
• Teach job safety to clients at each job site.
• Educate potential employers about the Vocational Program.
• Advocate and protect clients' health, safety, financial, and personal well-being.
• Provide direct care in our Community Support Services by assisting clients who live in their own home or with family, including helping with cooking, cleaning, medical appointments, shopping, laundry, recreation and leisure activities and personal care support.
• Provide transportation for clients to and from worksites or other community locations as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and patience when working with clients.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours and be available on call as needed.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee works partially in an office environment and other job sites that are quiet to moderately loud, depending on the work area. Some additional local, county, or state travel may be required, including overnight stays. Employees are required to sit, use hands, stand, stoop, walk, talk, and listen while performing duties.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel; crouch or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 20 pounds. Requires normal range of hearing/vision. Able to negotiate stairs at certain job sites where clients are employed. Must be able to assist mobility-impaired individuals.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work/Travel

It is a support level position requiring the exercise of discretion and independent judgment and is required to work a full-time work week, as designated by the OH Employee Handbook, with periodic longer hours, including potential evenings, weekends, and odd hours. Occasional travel of distance may be required.

Required Education and Experience

• High school diploma or G.E.D. required, Associate or Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Valid Illinois driver’s license, auto insurance ($300,000/$100,000/$50,000), and vehicle for business use.
• Personal cell phone.
• Be registered as a Direct Support Professional within three months of employment.

AAP/EEO Statement

OH provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, OH complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

OH expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of OH’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

ADA Statement

The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.