Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.·Old Bethpage, New York
The Employment Specialist provides direct care, job coaching, and vocational counseling to individuals with disabilities to help them secure and maintain employment. They also manage caseloads, develop employer contacts, and ensure all required documentation meets quality and compliance standards.
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Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.
Under the supervision of the Sr. Director of Employment Services, the Employment Specialist will provide direct care and personal adjustment services for individuals participating in the ACCES-VR intensive caseload and for individuals hired under TRI's New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID). This includes job development, job coaching, skills training, assessment, counseling, intervention, advocacy and creating employer contacts in the community. Case management, documentation and employer contacts are also required along with other services needed to maintain the employment of our participants. DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Identifies suitable jobs or businesses consistent with the applicants’ desires and limitations.
Determines which potential workers are best suited for placement into an existing job opening.
Develops employment proposals for job candidates and negotiates schedules, pay rates, benefits, etc.
Provides vocational counseling and guidance to individuals.
Instructs vocational candidates in resume writing, job search and interview techniques.
Assists individuals with job applications, job interviews, and orientation programs.
Provides services with monthly follow-ups until individuals reach stabilization at a new job.
Interviews and evaluates applicants to determine eligibility for services.
Assesses individuals for job readiness through observation and testing.
Develops and implements instructional plans to train workers to perform all required job duties accurately and efficiently; re-assesses and alters the strategies and plans as needed.
Ensures the provision of services makes employment more obtainable/maintainable for the consumer.
Promotes and develops employment and on-the-job training opportunities.
Orients individual to new environments, provides job orientation, and job assessment.
Ensures individuals can accurately manipulate equipment at work.
Monitors production levels as expected by the employer.
Ensures individuals are safely transported to/from work site, provides/arranges transportation, including in personal vehicle as needed, and provides travel training as needed.
Provides ongoing training in community awareness.
Converses with clients to reinforce positive behaviors and promote social interaction.
Models appropriate behaviors and interactions for the consumers.
Ensures that the individual's rights are respected, needs are met and intercedes on their behalf as necessary.
Advocates with coworkers and employers to promote acceptance of workers in natural process of the work site.
Collaborates with employer regarding client’s needs and progress and to address and resolve any problems or concerns.
Performs job duty analysis and creates personalized accommodations to benefit and improve the learning process of people supported.
Acts as a liaison from the community to the program for the individual.
Reports ongoing problems and suggest solutions to improve working environment/conditions.
Establishes positive working relationships with co-workers, management, clinicians, and collateral providers.
Reports all violations and/or accidents in Agency or personal vehicle in accordance with NYS regulations and Agency policy.
Prepares reports to ACCES-VR as specified to ensure people supported obtain their vocational services that promote individual choice and will maximize their success in an employment setting.
Ensures that all required documentation (paper and electronic) is completed /processed appropriately, in a timely manner, and meets quality and compliance thresholds.
Performs other duties as assigned. Responsibilities of All TRI Employees
Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
Complies fully with TRI’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
Adheres to TRI’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations. Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and may be changed by TRI at any time, with or without notice to the employee.
Family Residences and Essential Enterprises’ affirmative action efforts related to protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are set out and described in our affirmative action plan for protected veterans and individuals with a disability. If you have any questions or would like to view the affirmative action plan, please visit our website www.familyres.org
Candidates must have a high school diploma with two years of experience or an associate degree with one year of experience in a human services field. A valid driver's license and the ability to travel to various work sites are required.
Market context
Employment Specialist roles in vocational services are often tied to community-based programs in New York, where demand can be steady for candidates who can support job placement, coaching, and follow-up services. These positions are competitive because employers typically look for a mix of human services experience, reliable transportation, and the flexibility to travel to multiple work sites. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this platform to save research time, and confirm your experience level, driver’s license status, and travel readiness before applying.
Employment Specialist - Vocational Services
Workforce Development Specialist - Community Based