Career Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Bridgewell strengthens communities by providing an unmatched range of social and human services that empower people with disabilities and other life challenges to live safe, self-directed, and productive lives. Bridgewell delivers support through community housing, day programs, outpatient treatment, recovery services, education, and employment training. We're committed to helping people in need, from those with autism to people with substance use disorders, become engaged members of their communities. Bridgewell is also the industry leader in developing innovative offerings responding to unmet or emerging needs.

Our employees take pride in making every day count to its fullest. They are committed to adding value to the lives of the people we support, and they bring energy, ideas, and a passion for service. Does this describe you? Then please consider joining our incredible team!

Connecting People with Possibilities

Mission: Bridgewell inspires hope and empowers people experiencing life challenges achieve their fullest potential.

Summary: Develop and maintain positive working relationships with community employment partners for expansion of employer contracts for individual and group supported work opportunities. Provide direct and indirect job coaching support to persons served within the employment and Community Based Day Supports (CBDS) programs.

Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:00pm (40 hours per week) Will be required to work evenings and weekends as needed to support individuals in the community with their employment needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Maintain all required documentation in electronic record for individuals with competitive employment.
2. Develop and implement an individualized career development plan based on each person's needs in accordance with the goals in their Individualized Support Plan (ISP).
3. Develop partnerships and alliances within the local business community to expand the current work opportunities to Bridgewell's CBDS and group supported programs.
4. Work with Director of Employment and CBDS and Bridgewell Chief Financial Officer on contract negotiation.
5. Work with business partners to understand and maintain a working knowledge of their needs.
6. Work in collaboration with day program leadership and direct care staff to ensure quality performance and positive relationships with Business Partners.
7. Develop natural supports and promote networking and positive peer relations for long-term supervision and advocacy for all individuals placed into jobs in the community.
8. Collaborate with day program leadership to facilitate employment efficiency meetings.
9. Work with day program staff to complete and update career plans, resumes and vocational assessments for persons served receiving employment supports.
10. Complete task analysis on individuals to track individual's skill building for work in the community, understand their skill set, conducts mock interviews, etc.
11. Assess cost analysis as needed to ensure profit margin for all group employment contracts utilizing the monthly invoices.
12. Attend all Job Development Network meetings (a part of the Northeast Employment Collaborative) and complete Weekly Employment Review Survey submissions on a weekly basis.
13. Maintain and submit monthly invoices for all group employment contracts.
14. Assists people in our services in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment in order to make good decisions about employment opportunities. Refers people in our services to benefits counseling, as needed. Helps people served report earnings, as needed.
15. Develop pathways to employment and job readiness skill development for individuals in CBDS programs.
16. Maintain a flexible schedule adapted to the needs of people served on assigned caseload.
17. Provide leadership to the program by modeling and training employees on best practices for job coaching, employer business relations, and the principles of Universal Supports in the context of employment supports.
18. As needed and directed by supervisor, provide direct coverage within the day programs for group supported employment sites and skills training groups.
19. Demonstrates the core philosophy of universal supports by embracing Bridgewell's core values: dignity, respect, caring, integrity, safety and wellness
20. Maintain all mandatory training certifications including but not limited to FA/CPR, OSHA, PABC, MAP, and Driver Safety (this is not an all-inclusive list) and complete in a timely manner all in-person and online mandatory assigned trainings.
21. Other duties as assigned.

Required Education/Experience:

1. . Bachelor's Degree in a related field OR
2. Associate's degree with a minimum of 2 years' experience in a direct care role or in a community setting. OR
3. High school diploma with a minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a direct care role preferably in a vocational or community setting
4. Previous experience in a similar role will be highly preferred.
5. Working experience in understanding the clinical needs of the people served is required.
6. A valid US driver's license and one year of driving experience is required.

Required Skills/Knowledge:

1. Knowledge of DDS regulations and CARF standards.
2. Knowledge of Universal Supports and Human Rights.
3. Excellent written and oral communication skills so that writing of required documents is clear and articulate.
4. Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
5. Computer literacy to include ability to use proficiently Microsoft products (Email, Word, Excel, etc.) and web based applications used by the agency.
6. Ability to drive a large and/or wheelchair van as well as hold a valid US driver's license with a minimum of one year of driving experience in the United States.

1. Ability to set priorities for self-based on department objectives and goals.
2. Ability to work as a cohesive team member with other inter-disciplinary team members Excellent organizational skills and the ability to multi-task
3. Must be detail orientated
4. Excellent customer service skills; Ability to interact with patience and sensitivity in all contact with individuals.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands of staff working in programs assisting people with their care needs are varied and require the employee to be able to maneuver people of varying weights, and provide lifting, balance support and physical intervention in several scenarios.

Described below are essential requirements of staff to ensure the safety of employees and people served alike. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions; however, approval will be based on the needs of the persons served and consideration of safety factors related to any program or position within a program.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to be able to:

• Climb stairs, physically assist people served, often weighing more than 200 pounds, with movement, bathroom routines including toileting, assisting with entry and exit of a tub or shower, getting into and out of wheelchairs or dealing with assists that include physical, behavioral and medical interventions.
• Additional lifting or moving may be required as part of activities in the daily living of people in our services.
• Ability to drive a 12-passenger van

Bridgewell offers:

• Excellent health benefits-medical, dental, vision. We believe our benefits package is one of the most competitive.
• Generous paid time off includes your birthday (that's right, we even give you your birthday off!)
• A collaborative work environment that values new insight and personal contributions
• With over one hundred programs in the North Shore, Lowell, and Merrimack Valley we provide excellent opportunities for training and development.
• Additional compensation for on-call rotations
• Opportunities for professional development and growth

Why Should You Apply: If the top benefits alone don't sway you, our compassionate and collaborative work environment should! Bridgewell is committed to training and developing staff and provides opportunities for you to have a positive impact on the work you do.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Requires acceptable CORI results according to Bridgewell policy.

Bridgewell is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

The pay range listed for this position is the hourly rate range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, or other applicable factors permissible by law.