Vocational Support Specialist

Job Description:

The Vocational Support Specialist (VSS) is responsible for providing on/off site training and support for clients during skill development, career planning, and employment retention. A VSS will conduct instructional activities related to soft, work, and independent living skills. A VSS may be responsible for locating competitive job sites in the community, contacting employers, and conducting job site analyses. A VSS completes necessary reports and paperwork, as assigned.

Essential Job Functions:

* Treat all clients, referral sources, stakeholders, and team members with dignity and respect.

* Adhere to all confidentiality, CARF, and contractual standards during provision of services.

* Maintain flexibility in work availability including evenings, weekends and overnight shifts.

* Develop and maintain a working knowledge of disabilities and potential assistive technology/accommodations that can support individuals with disabilities to meet personal and employment goals.

* Compile and review vocational, medical, psychological and educational information, and utilize this information to assist clients with skill development, career planning and employment retention.

* Contribute to and/or develop individualized service plans with clients.

* Conduct activities identified within clients' individualized service plans.

* Coordinate paid, work-based learning experiences with participants to include orientation, new hire paperwork and timesheets, in individual and group settings.

* Transport clients to carry out goals and objectives identified in their individualized service plan.

* Monitor and report on progress toward individualized service plan goals.

* Ensure authorizations for services are current and services provided fall within date ranges of authorizations.

* Track and report units of service relative to clients' authorizations to ensure utilization does not exceed authorized services (daily, monthly or overall).

* Complete daily, weekly, monthly and activity based reporting as required for function being performed.

* Instruct and facilitate clients' pre-vocational/vocational, social and independent living skill development.

* Develop strategies, lessons and/or curriculum necessary to facilitate skill development based on clients' individualized service plans.

* Establish community-based sites for carrying out skill development and career planning activities.

* Assist clients to determine what they learned about themselves regarding strengths, needs, abilities and preferences as it relates to their personal and employment goals.

* Provide onsite job supports to assist clients with learning and performing their job duties, interacting with co- workers, and developing natural supports.

* Implement a variety of job support techniques to accommodate learning styles and unique needs of clients being supported, including physically assisting with completion of job duties when necessary.

* Serve as a liaison between employers, clients and co-workers by assisting clients to acclimate to the requirements, culture and social/behavioral expectations of their work environment.

* Educate employers regarding benefits of hiring persons with disabilities and facilitate job accommodations (e.g., assistive technology adaptations, job carving, etc.).

* Provide off site job supports such as coordinating additional services, benefits and financial planning/reporting, transportation/bus training and other essential supports as identified in the individualized service plan.

* Facilitate long-term employment success by implementing on site/off site job supports adhering to the support type, frequency, location and method of contact with clients identified in the Extended Services Plan.

* Respond to crisis situations that may occur with clients at their worksite.

* Maintain frequent contact with referral sources for the purpose of discussing shared clients and identifying potential referrals.

* Teach and reinforce job seeking and job retention skills with clients.

* Create employer relationships and provide customer service to all employers designed to develop competitive, integrated employment opportunities.

* Serve as an…