Employment Specialist

Summary

Join Accord, a company serving individuals with disabilities, as an Employment Specialist in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. You will remove barriers and build relationships to help individuals find employment success. The role involves flexible work, both remotely and in person, with occasional evenings and weekends. Responsibilities include case management, providing individualized employment support in exploration, development, and maintenance phases, and advocating for clients. You will need strong communication and time management skills, a valid driver's license, and a clean driving record. Accord offers a competitive compensation package including benefits.

Requirements

• Demonstrate good written and oral communication skills as well as time management skills
• Must have a valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and a vehicle
• Must pass a Department of Human Services background study
• If you hold a Social Work degree, you must be currently licensed as a Social Worker as required by the Minnesota Board of Social Work

Responsibilities

• Hold a caseload of individuals whom you get to know, support, and champion
• Provide flexible, individualized employment supports, offering employment services in three different areas
• Exploration/Discovery : Help a person gain a better understanding of competitive, integrated employment opportunities in the community. Exploration activities and experiences strengthen a person’s knowledge, interests and preferences so he/she can make informed decisions about competitive employment. Employment exploration includes individualized educational activities, learning opportunities, work experiences, and additional related services identified in the person’s coordinated services and supports plan (CSSP)
• Development : Provide individualized services designed to help a person achieve competitive, integrated employment, become self-employed or establish a microenterprise business in his/her community
• Support : Provide individualized services and supports that help people maintain paid employment in community businesses/settings. Employment support services occur in integrated community settings
• Engage in communication with support teams, planning, and represent Accord
• Attend meetings, advocate for the person you serve, and provide them with training
• You will become credentialed in the MN Employment Services field
• Go to the job sites and support the person when needed
• Organize the details- help schedule, set up transportation (which could include driving people supported in your own vehicle), talk with employers, etc
• Write reports, and maintain licensing requirements
• You will explore, develop, and use your creative talents to help people find work

Preferred Qualifications

• You need passion to make a difference, and the desire to learn
• As outlined by Minnesota statute Chapter 245 D section 8 you must meet one of the qualifications listed below (and provide documentation of them including a copy of the degree earned and your transcript showing the date awarded and the degree earned and a resume which documents the year(s) of direct care experience and populations supported)
• A four-year bachelor’s degree in a field related to human services and one year of full-time work experience providing direct care services to persons with disabilities or persons age 65 and older; OR
• An associate degree in a field related to human services and two years of full-time work experience providing direct care services to persons with disabilities or persons age 65 and older; OR
• A diploma in a field related to human services from an accredited postsecondary institution and three years of full-time work experience providing direct care services to persons with disabilities or persons age 65 and older; OR
• A minimum of 50 hours of education and training related to human services and disabilities and four years of full-time work experience providing direct care services to persons with disabilities or persons age 65 and older under the supervision of a staff person who meets the qualification identified above

Benefits

• PTO
• 9 paid holidays
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• NO COST short & long-term disability insurance
• Retirement savings plan options
• Employee wellness program
• Tuition assistance program
• Career advancement
• Mileage reimbursement for providing direct services