Employment Services Professional

at Arizona Home and Caring Community LLC in Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Job Description

The Employment Services Professional supports individuals with developmental disabilities throughout their employment journey. Depending on the assigned DDD employment service, the employee may assist Members with career exploration, work-readiness development, job searching, workplace training, employment retention, personal-care needs, workplace behavior, or participation in a small supported work group.

Services must be person-centered and based on each Member’s Planning Document, employment goals, abilities, interests, preferences, support needs, and informed choices. The Employment Services Professional works collaboratively with the Member, employer, Support Coordinator, Employment Services Specialist, Vocational Rehabilitation personnel, family or responsible person, and other members of the planning team.

The position may be assigned to one or more of the following programs:

• Pathways to Employment
• Group Supported Employment
• Individual Supported Employment
• Employment Support Aide

1. Implement employment services according to the Member’s Planning Document, employment goals, service authorization, and provider procedures.
2. Learn each Member’s strengths, interests, abilities, communication preferences, support needs, and desired employment outcomes.
3. Teach employment-related skills using clear instruction, modeling, repetition, task analysis, visual supports, positive reinforcement, and other individualized teaching strategies.
4. Support Members in developing workplace habits such as:
• Arriving on time
• Dressing appropriately for work
• Following workplace policies
• Communicating with supervisors and coworkers
• Completing assigned duties
• Maintaining workplace safety
• Requesting assistance appropriately
• Managing breaks and work schedules
• Responding appropriately to feedback
5. Promote Member choice, dignity, independence, self-advocacy, community inclusion, and Competitive Integrated Employment.
6. Encourage the development of natural workplace supports and gradually reduce paid staff assistance when appropriate and authorized.
7. Maintain professional relationships with employers while respecting the Member’s confidentiality, rights, and employment status.
8. Communicate employment progress, concerns, changes, and recommendations to the appropriate supervisor and planning-team members.
9. Assist with identifying and resolving barriers that may affect employment, including transportation, workplace communication, attendance, interpersonal concerns, job performance, and support needs.
10. Coordinate with Vocational Rehabilitation and other employment resources when applicable and avoid duplicating services available through another program.
11. Provide general information about how employment may affect public benefits and refer Members to qualified benefits-planning resources when individualized benefits counseling is needed.
12. Complete accurate and timely service documentation, progress notes, attendance records, incident reports, employer contacts, data collection, and other required records.
13. Follow all requirements related to confidentiality, Member rights, mandatory reporting, health and safety, incident reporting, prevention of abuse and neglect, and Arizona DDD policies.
14. Provide transportation or travel training when authorized, assigned, and permitted under agency policy.
15. Participate in Member-specific orientation, staff meetings, supervision, continuing education, and competency evaluations.
16. Perform other employment-support duties consistent with the assigned service and the Member’s authorized needs.

These requirements apply to all Employment Services Professionals:

• At least 18 years of age.
• High school diploma or GED. This is an agency employment standard and is not identified as a separate degree requirement in the DDD service specifications.
• Ability to communicate effectively with Members, employers, families, coworkers, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to read and implement Planning Documents, employment plans, teaching strategies, behavioral-support instructions, and safety procedures.
• Ability to write clear, objective, accurate, and timely service documentation.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and protect confidential information.
• Ability to work independently in community employment settings.
• Ability to respond calmly and appropriately to workplace concerns, behavioral situations, emergencies, and changes in a Member’s needs.
• Ability to pass all required background and registry screenings.
• Ability to provide satisfactory professional references.
• Ability to complete all required DDD and agency training within established timeframes.