ition: ASD Career Advancement Specialist Reports To: Director of Autism Services Hours: M-F, 40 hrs. per wee k w/flexibility for 1 -2 evenings per week Overview Triangle has an immediate opening for an Employment Specialist at the Main Street site . The qualified candidate will equip adults with disabilities to achieve the ir career and personal goals by maximizing their participation in supported employment and progressing towards competitive employment in the community. Triangle’s Expectation of Employee
Adheres to Triangle policy and procedures.
Fosters a positive, solution-oriented culture consistent with Triangle’s mission.
Promotes employment, self-advocacy, and independence across programs and participants.
Acts as a role model within and outside of Triangle
Maintains a positive and respectful attitude towards participants, staff, and community partners.
Communicates regularly with supervisor.
Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload.
Consistently reports to work on time prepared to perform duties of position, with a willingness to flex hours as needed.
Primary Responsibilities
Equip s neurodiverse participants with job readiness skills to secure potential employment or collegiate pathways.
Supervises & supports groups of participants in a program and variety of settings including social gatherings, volunteer sites, recreational outings, and other community related outings.
Create s an inviting, exciting, innovative, learning environment.
Take s lead in developing and implementing activities and employment /collegiate opportunities focused on personal and professional development.
Aids in the development & implementation of new and engaging career and social experiences to meet program/participant driven goals.
Produces weekly supported employment schedule /monitors utilization of contracts.
Consistently connect s with community employers in order to identify or create employment opportunities /collegiate supports for individuals.
Facilitates and implements after hours social opportunities and community engagement.
Establish es opportunities for trai ning and job shadowing with local community businesses.
Develop s job leads and cultivates employer relationships to enhance community partnerships.
Monitor s individual job performance, attitude, and behavior for appropriateness.
Implements independent living, self-advocacy, and soft skills into daily activities and programmatic offerings.
Provide s individualized support to participants, when necessary , both during programming and 1:1 job /collegiate pathway coaching
Conducts initial/ongoing assessments for personal growth.
Proactively communicate s with families over employment /collegiate progress and needs.
Provide s supports to participants and assist s in developing natural supports to ensure integration and increased or maintained independence in the community.
Train s and develops independent skills related to employment and collegiate pathways , such as travel training, hygiene, self-advocacy, etc.
Provide s transportation for groups or individual career seekers to interv iews, employment assessments, job searching , and other employment activities in the community.
Communicates in a professional manner with employers /collegiate stakeholders and trouble shoots issues at supported sites with all relevant parties.
Participates in biweekly team meetings driven by participants.
Works with Case Management team to ensure individual’s ISP /Life Plan goals are being met.
Participates in ISP /Life Plan meetings with Department of Developmental Services, participants, and their families or other members of their support team as needed.
Takes direction from Site Manager to collect accurate data as needed for ISP /Life Plans , behavior plans, monthly progress notes, etc.
Submit s billing and related progress notes on a daily basis utilizing Penelope software.
Contribute s to monthly ISP /Life Plan goal tracking notes.
Other duties as assigned.
Daily
Perform s 1:1 job development with or on behalf of participant and complete d ocumenting/ billing in database.
Adjust supported employment schedule as needed.
Provide s direct care/group site supervision when necessary.
Prepare s and execute s lessons to foster personal and professional growth.
Know s and adhere s to all safety policies and emergency procedures. Know basic emergenc y facts regarding participants.
Maintains up to date case notes, employment records, schedules, etc.
Weekly
Provides services and bills necessary contract hours on a weekly basis.
Plans and facilitates job clubs /events for groups of participants and bills accordingly.
Checks in with appropriate parties on a weekly basis to share applicable progress, challenges, and ISP /plan progress and behavior data.
Yearly
Reach es department placem ent/ annual goals set by Site Ma nager and Department
Participates in progress meetings (ISP, behavioral etc.) as requested .
Qualifications
Commitment to supporting a Neurodiverse population.
High School Diploma required ; additional Education preferred.
Two to Four year s of Human Services /ASD experience preferred.
Some Marketing and/or Sales experience preferred.
First Aid / CPR and Safety Care or willingness to become certified .
Massachusetts Driver's License and clean driving record required.
Personal vehicle required.
Must clear a st ate and federal background check.
Language Skills
Ability to verbally communicate.
Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and write documents.
Ability to respond and navigate common inquiries or complaints from regulatory agencies, or family members.
Americans with Disability Specifications
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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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, talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
W ork Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment should be adapted to meet the sensory needs of a neurodiverse population.