Job Description

This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Department for the Blind.

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and Selective Requirements (listed below) will be placed on the eligible list.

The Department for the Blind (IDB) is seeking applicants for the position of Employment Supports Specialist. As a member of the Vocational Rehabilitation team, this position will be based in Des Moines, Iowa and requires travel to serve clients statewide. This position will provide services to clients with the most significant disabilities, in addition to providing training and outreach to community partners to ensure quality services are provided to IDB clients. Ideal candidates will possess strong relationship, communication, organization and time management skills in addition to having solid documentation skills.

Duties and responsibilities to include the following areas:

Client Services

• Engage clients and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive and integrated employment in community job settings.
• Collaborate with VR counselors to identify the supports individual clients need to engage in successful and meaningful employment.
• Use a Customized Employment process (Discovery, Job Search Planning, Job Development and Negotiation, and Post-Employment Support) to direct, assist and support a client in obtaining and maintaining successful employment.
• Assist clients to identify and explain their qualifications, interests, strengths, and accommodation needs to their employer, co-workers, and services providers to facilitate job success.
• Identify and discuss employment barriers with applicants and counsel clients about possible solutions to employment barriers and available supportive services.
• Identify needed training in non-visual techniques and rehabilitation technology that will allow client to be more independent and successful in employment settings.

Capacity Building

• Conduct employer contacts weekly to learn about the needs of businesses.
• Provide education and support to employers, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact with the employer.
• Work closely with employers to coach clients and provide appropriate interventions.
• Negotiate with employers to develop training positions including salary and training elements. Prepare and monitor on the job activities.
• Provide training related to customized employment strategies, supported employment services, rehabilitation technology services, and short-term services to IDB staff and community partners and providers.
• Conduct work-site assessments and job analysis at clients' workplaces or potential workplaces across the state of Iowa in order to identify potential barriers and resources.
• Provide ongoing support and technical assistance to community rehabilitation providers.
• Monitor customized employment services, supported employment services and short-term services being provided to IDB clients, including reviewing and analyzing reports.

Caseload Management and Coordination:

• Participate in face-to-face meetings with vocational rehabilitation counselors at least once a month to coordinate services for clients who are blind.
• Schedule time to spend 55% or more of scheduled work hours in the community. For example, meets clients at community locations such as home, workplace, coffee shop, meeting with potential employers, library, One-Stop, VR office, family home, etc. or takes clients to apply for jobs, investigate local GED or colleges, etc.
• Document placement activities (e.g., develop and maintain case notes regarding job placement activities and services, citing employer contacts, job leads provided, and job development activities) and provide written reports of job placement results activities for the client VR case record.
• Provide consistent vocational assessments to assist clients to be successful in a job/jobs.
• Research and develop community contacts that help with appropriate job placements.
• Complete data/reporting pertaining to program measurements and submit reports to the VR program administrator.

It is the policy of the Department for the Blind to conduct background checks on all finalist candidates prior to any offer of employment

Selectives

752 Vocational Rehabilitation
6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both that specifically relates to employment and training services for individuals with disabilities. That knowledge base will include an awareness of the unique needs of this population, laws relating to discrimination or reasonable accommodations, assistive technology, and an understanding of employment and training systems and services, especially as provided in Iowa.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in human service-oriented sciences, education, marketing or business and experience equal to three years of full time professional work;

the equivalent of three years of full-time experience as a rehabilitation counselor or teacher shall be considered as qualifying provided the employee has successfully completed training to meet the certification criteria established by the agency; an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time professional work experience for each year of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description. (Download PDF reader)

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