HSS a private, non-profit community resource agency founded in 1973, providing confidential COA-accredited services in Monroe County seeks a full-time Employment Specialist / DRS Liaison.

The Mission and Vision of Human Support Services is to help all people live their best lives and we envision a community in which all abilities are embraced and everyone is encouraged to pursue their greatest potential.  

This position professionally represents HSS and the people supported to school districts, employers, business owners and the community at large. Strong communications skills are necessary. Continued awareness of general employment needs in community jobs, including health and safety standards. 

HSS offers competitive benefits for full-time employees including:

• Pay rate of $20.85 per hour
• Generous Paid Time Off (over 4 weeks of PTO)
• Paid training
• 100% Paid Health Insurance Premium
• $1,250 towards Medical Benefits
• Dental and Vision
• 100% paid life insurance
• 401(K) with company contribution 4%
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee Referral Bonus
•  By working for a state funded Community Behavioral Health Care/Human Services organization, you are eligible to apply for Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Programs https://www.isac.org/students/after-college/forgiveness-programs/  

JOB DUTIES INCLUDE:

• Maintaining a survey of the community to identify potential jobs, compiling a list of businesses willing to employ individuals with disabilities, as well as contacts within those businesses.
• Conduct job analysis of targeted job sites.
• Identify job specific work performance skills, including the need of necessary job modifications.
• Restructure program to the needs of the consumer, as well as to the employer/educator
• Evaluate person's performance to determine training needs.
• Develop a plan to maintain acceptable levels of employee performance required through on-the-job training.
• Develop a direct systematic training strategy using tasks analysis, modeling, cueing, and natural supports.
• Maintain data to determine acceptable levels of performance and initiate fading.
• Complete necessary paperwork regarding consumer's progress and interactions with the Supervisor and co-worker.  Make sure that travel is available and, if necessary, provide it so that the consumer can be successful in his job.
• Use behavioral intervention strategies.
• Complete all forms and participate in activities to assess the vocational aptitudes and abilities of the consumer through home visits, outings, and situational assessments at the appropriate site.
• Participate in writing the individualized Service Plan.
• Obtain feedback from employers/Supervisors through work performance evaluation.
• Facilitate communication between consumer, school district, employer, and other relevant parties.
• Computer proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work with individuals age 17 and up.
• Meet with DRS when necessary.

• Must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services related field.  
• Must have a flexible schedule, be willing to work evenings and weekends when necessary to support the individual at his/her workplace.  
• Must be able to work independently and to use advanced knowledge to perform work which is predominantly intellectual in character and which includes the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment to analyze, interpret or make deductions from varying facts or circumstances. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prefer a candidate who has on-the-job experience in a similar position, and/or experience with consumers with MI and IDD disabilities in a community/employment setting.
• Familiarity with Monroe, Randolph, and St. Clair counties businesses and community resources.

Physical Requirement:

• Maintain a proper license at all times and ability to operate Agency vehicles.  
• Have normal or corrective appliances that make normal hearing and eyesight, as well as clarity of speech in order to be understood.  
• Be able to lift at least 50 pounds, have the strength and agility to climb at least two flights of stairs, the constitution to handle (with proper protection) clients' body excrements, emotional stability enough to react in a prescribed manner to a client in crisis and the flexibility to work in multi-facet environments.