Supported Employment Specialist

St. Louis, MO
Full Time
Entry Level

Description

Would you like to be a part of helping individuals living with disabilities work, live, and participate in the community? Challenge Unlimited, Inc. is the perfect place for you to work. Come join our team!

Challenge Unlimited, Inc., has over 60 years of experience serving individuals living with disabilities while earning a reputation as a trusted business partner to private commercial companies and federal and state government agencies.

Challenge Unlimited employs over 900 employees, of which approximately 600 are individuals with disabilities, throughout 7 states (IL, MO, WI, OH, SC, MS and TX)

Location:  St. Louis and surrounding counties and community sites
Schedule:  8:00am - 4:30p.m. which may vary depending on the needs and schedules of the individuals served
Pay:  $22.00 per hour
Travel:  Required:   locally to Community Sites or surrounding counties

Position Summary

Reporting to the St. Louis Employment Services, the Supported Employment Specialist is responsible for coordinating vocational services which provide people who have different abilities opportunities to work with integrated teams and receive work support as needed to achieve the highest level of independence possible.

Responsible for providing case coordination and conducting community discovery and exploration assessments with clients. Assists with SEP job development as well as working with the St. Louis Manager on coordination of summer work Sites for SWE program.  Maintains professional communication with community businesses, clients, funding agencies, guardians, and applicable staff to advocate for and promote the success of the clients.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Client Relations
Promote a culture of person-centered services that advances the Company’s mission to provide quality care and services in community-based settings to individuals with disabilities. Ensure a high rate of client satisfaction. Communicate regularly and effectively with clients regarding progress toward goals and program success. Review client files and determine their individual needs. Demonstrate our Company values to achieve optimum performance levels and achieve goals and objectives. Schedule and conduct Progress Reviews with the clients, funding agencies, guardians/family members at the required frequency.

Community Worksite Development
Maintain professional communication with community businesses, site supervisors,
funding agencies, clients, guardians, and applicable staff. Work with businesses in the local community to identify potential assessment and summer program work sites for individuals with disabilities. Check on progress and keep pertinent individuals updated and informed. Contact business managers and clients to obtain general satisfaction information. Demonstrate full understanding of ES program and SWE Summer program.

Client Employment, Training
Ensure quality services for participants in ES Program. Provide vocational support through regular contact based on client support needs, serve as a backup job coach for summer program students. Travel to summer program sites 1 time per week for progress checks. Provide client observation during discovery and exploration assessments to best determine community employment readiness.

Community Integration
Provide coordination of vocational exploration. Scheduling and conducting community assessments. Support SEP Program initiatives with community employers and working relationships with local businesses to provide candidates for job openings.

Documentation
Oversee documentation of services provided to clients. Complete Discovery and exploration plan and Final report. Send final reports to manager for final review, schedule necessary meetings with funding agencies for client progress.   Ensure timely and accurate records including attendance of SWE students, ES system notes. Review documentation for assigned client files to ensure accuracy and departmental procedures are followed to meet funding agency requirements.

Perform other related duties and assignments as required

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree preferred or Associate’s degree in related field, or High School diploma and Training in related field with 2 years relevant experience.
Prefer 1+ years of experience in social services role and/or Experience working with people with Developmental Disabilities, Mental Illness, and other disabilities.
CPR, 1st Aid, Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training provided by the company must be successfully completed within the first 4 months to be certified and annually thereafter for CPR, 1st Aid and CPI to maintain the position.
Must pass criminal background check.
Must pass various State and Federal registry checks.
Must pass DCFS Abuse and Neglect Tracking System check
Must pass driving history check and Company policy criteria, maintain valid driver’s license and be 21 or older to drive on Company business.
 

Benefits

  • Employee assistance program
  • Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
  • Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Holidays)
  • Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
  • Short Term & Long-Term Disability
  • Training & Development
  • 401(k)

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
 
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