Employment Support Specialist

COMHAR, Inc.; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 25,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

COMHAR, Inc. in Philadelphia seeks an Employment Support Specialist to work in the Day Program, assisting adults with disabilities with employment skills, career interests, and community integration.

The role focuses on on-the-job training, job development, and assessments to promote independence, with collaboration across community employers and COMHAR staff.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required
• ACRE certification within 60 days of hire
• Experience with individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities preferred
• Valid driver's license, insurance, and access to own vehicle
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Flexibility in scheduling including weekends and holidays
• Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds

Responsibilities

• Provide on-the-job training, counseling, resources, job development and supports that are person-centered and promote independence
• Deliver services that engage and challenge each individual to increase independent functioning and community participation
• Create opportunities for assessments, internships, or paid employment to align with interests and skills
• Provide on-the-job training and supports with a deliberate plan to fade assistance
• Collaborate with COMHAR staff, consumers, and employers in alignment with core values
• Coordinate with funding sources and referral agencies to support program goals
• Participate in activities and projects that support the unit, agency, and community needs
• Seek training and professional development to enhance service quality

Skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Independence

Adaptability

Interpersonal skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

ACRE certification within 60 days of hire

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

Location: 3825 Whitaker Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124

Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30AM-4:00PM

Rate: $18.00/HR-$19.00/HR

The Employment Support Specialist will work within COMHAR’s Day Program and with businesses and employers in the community to bring awareness to the benefits of competitive integrated employment. Through collaboration and a community focused approach, this position will provide individualized opportunities for adults with disabilities that enhance their employment skills, identify career interests, maintain work, while developing new learning and employment opportunities. This position will deliver quality services that include on the job training, job development, assessments that promote independence, community integration and a person-centered approach. This position seeks a candidate who is flexible and brings enthusiasm to the growing team and program.

The Employment Support Specialist will work within COMHAR’s Day Program and with businesses and employers in the community to bring awareness to the benefits of competitive integrated employment. Through collaboration and a community focused approach, this position will provide individualized opportunities for adults with disabilities that enhance their employment skills, identify career interests, maintain work, while developing new learning and employment opportunities. This position will deliver quality services that include on the job training, job development, assessments that promote independence, community integration and a person-centered approach. This position seeks a candidate who is flexible and brings enthusiasm to the growing team and program.

COMHAR offers three different training programs to meet individuals’ varying level of need and setting preference. Programs include developmental training to teach basic skills, facility-based vocational training, community-based instruction, and supported employment.

Responsibilities

• Provide consumers with on-the-job training, counseling, resources, job development and supports that are person-centered, promotes independence, encourages community participation, and prioritizes paid employment.
• Deliver services in a manner that actively engages and challenges each individual to increase their independent functioning, self-esteem, self-sufficiency, and towards more independent adult living.
• Create opportunities and supports for assessments, internships, or paid employment aimed at helping individuals fine-tune their employment interests and skills.
• Provide on the job training and supports to individuals of a nature, intensity and duration that enhances success, integration, and independence on the job. Create a deliberate plan fade support that balances risk against gain.
• Work cooperatively with COMHAR staff, supervisors, consumers, team members associated with the consumers enrolled in the Employment program, and employers and in a manner that is consistent with core values.
• Work cooperatively with funding sources and referral agencies in a manner that is consistent with core values.
• Actively participate in and contribute to activities/projects/teams that serve the broader unit, agency, and community needs or interests.
• Seek out and participate in training and professional development to satisfy requirements to heighten the quality of services, build and strengthen business and community resources, and prioritizes Employment First.
• Follow all policies and procedures established by COMHAR, federal, state and county laws and funding entities.
• Maintain an active exchange with supervisor or issues and/or needs. Offer a deliberate responsiveness to supervisory directives, instruction, and feedback. Observe the unit’s and the agency’s chain of command.
• Maintain professional and on-going relationships with case managers, local, state, and federal funders.
• Conduct and coordinate service provision and documentation in a timely, cost-conscious manner.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear others and accurately interpret speech and sounds. Frequently required to stand; walk; climb and descend stairs. Required to use hands and arms to reach, hold and carry objects. Required to sit; stand, maintain balance; occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Vision requirements include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception & ability to adjust optical focus for reading, driving, general observation and for all safety needs.

Requirements

Level 1

• High School Diploma or GED
• Must be ACRE certified within 60 days of hire.
• Experience w individuals having a developmental, intellectual disability or commensurate experience is preferred
• Must maintain valid driver's license, insurance, and have access to own vehicle.
• Must have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office and be proficient with standard office equipment.
• Must be flexible in scheduling including weekends and holidays.
• Must be available to perform other duties as assigned or needed.
• Position requires occasional lifting on a average weight of 50 pounds

Level 2

• Bachelor's degree
• Must be ACRE Certified
• Successful completion of Adult Autism Waiver PA state trainings- Goal Attainment Scaling, Skill Building, Spectrum 2.0
• Experience w individuals having a developmental, intellectual disability or commensurate experience is preferred
• Must maintain valid driver's license, insurance, and have access to own vehicle.
• Must have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office and be proficient with standard office equipment.
• Must be flexible in scheduling including weekends and holidays.
• Must be available to perform other duties as assigned or needed.
• Position requires occasional lifting on a average weight of 50 pounds

Skills Required

Must have excellent verbal/written communication skills and work well with people; good, creative problem solving skills; excellent clinical nursing skills including assessment, knowledge of behavioral health systems, community resources; ability to work independently, and be flexible/adaptive in handling changing priorities in a fast paced work environment; computer skills required.

We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug‑free workplace. COMHAR, Inc. is a not‑for‑profit community based health and human service organization founded in 1975. We do not discriminate in services or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, past or present receipt of disability‑related services or supports, marital status, veteran status, or any other class of persons protected by federal, state or local law.