Job Title: Disability Employment Specialist
Location: Vancouver, Kamloops, Kelowna & Sechelt
Positions to Fill: 4
Pay Grid 34 ($30.64 per hour to start)
Date Posted: September 14, 2023
Posting Closes: September 21st, 2023
Open Door Group is a CARF-accredited, not-for-profit organization and registered charity providing employment services to thousands of individuals a year across Canada. We work with all individuals who are interested in preparing for, finding, and keeping meaningful employment. In addition to employment services, we provide unique support programs for individuals living with mental illness in Vancouver and Kamloops.
Our vision is a world where all people have access to opportunities that give them purpose, prosperity and belonging. We pride ourselves on modeling a culture of authenticity, transparency and inclusion. Our values are based on the genuine belief that all individuals can succeed and are the drivers of their own success. We're committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement.
We are looking for Disability Employment Specialists in Vancouver, Kamloops, Kelowna & Sechelt to join our team.
As a Disability Employment Specialist you provide a variety of day-to-day emotional and social support; coaches, demonstrates, and supports clients to acquire employment readiness, essential, leisure/recreation, and employment skills; facilitates community, education and/or job placements; provides onsite community/education/employment coaching; provides advocacy, information, and access to community resources.
Duties:
- Evaluate client eligibility for programs and services; distributes financial supports necessary for client/candidate participation in programs and services.
- Engage in goal setting and case planning activities with clients by performing duties such as interviewing clients to 1) identify and understand previous experience and 2) determine needs/wants, including supporting informal, self-reporting Disability Related Needs Assessments (DRENA); document client’s needs, wants, and progress; assist clients to develop realistic goals; and identify and determine appropriate interventions, programs, or resources to help support clients to achieve their goals.
- Support clients through the completion of the customized employment discovery process and prepare discovery profiles, vocational plans, and disability management plans for review and approval by Vocational Consultant colleagues.
- Teach clients and provide coaching using a variety of instructional methodologies to enable the development of skills necessary for increased employability, personal independence, and/or participation in community education/leisure/recreation programs and services.
- Assist clients to become ready for further education and/or self-employment. Assist in researching and applying for funding to support in the payment of education and/or self-employment.
- Ensure clients have access to the necessary skills and resources to engage in a job/community search process.
- Facilitate the placement of clients by performing duties such as directly approaching community agencies and/or employers to identify and secure opportunities, explain wage subsidy information and placement terms to clients and community agencies/employers.
- Ensure the sustainability of community and employment placements by performing duties such as onsite community/job coaching; access to supportive counselling and further skills building; and access to government incentives, i.e., wage subsidies.
- Build and maintain relationships with various community networks including contractors, employers, and clients.
- Completes and maintains accurate related records, documentation, and reports on client and job candidate progress.
- Achieves monthly and annual targets and objectives and maintains acceptable standards of service quality.
KEY BENEFITS:
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Municipal Pension Plan
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Annual Professional Development Allowance
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Health Spending Account
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Extended Medical and Dental
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Hybrid working opportunities
QUALIFICATIONS
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Diploma in Social Sciences or a relevant discipline.
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Valid B.C. driver's license and use of personal vehicle during working hours. Must be able to travel throughout the province.
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Or other Qualifications determined to be reasonable and relevant to the level of work.
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Must provide a satisfactory criminal background check.
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As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Officer Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Open Door Group must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required
EXPERIENCE
Recent, related experience of two years in supporting people with disabilities or complex barriers to employment, in a helping profession and/or in providing employment readiness, essential skills, or employment services.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
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Demonstrated ability to apply a person centered, strength-based approach to service delivery. Ability to observe and recognize changes in clients.
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Demonstrated ability to meet the demands of a varied and large client load.
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Demonstrated ability to work independently and in cooperation with others.
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Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
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Demonstrated ability to instruct and to analyze and resolve problems.
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Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills.
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Knowledge of disability issues and resources.
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Ability to accurately maintain client files and ability to proficiently use Microsoft Office programs and/or government databases.
Open Door Group values diversity and is committed to providing an inclusive work environment. We are looking for qualified individuals who represent, at all job levels, the diversity of the people we serve and encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, individuals of all genders and sexual orientation, origin and ethnic affiliations, disability, age, and religion.
