Transition Specialist

I. SUMMARY

Divides time between providing customized and comprehensive transition and autism services to school age students at various schools throughout Otsego County and providing job coaching supports to individuals who receive supported employment services within community job sites. This includes preparing for, obtaining, and maintaining employment by providing on the job training and support.

II. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides information about Transition and Autism Services as well as other available Community Employment Services and community resources to school personnel, families, businesses and community agencies through meetings and formal presentations.

• Completes intakes for students referred for Transition/Autism Services and gathers all necessary documentation and reports. Develops student files and keep up to date.

• Attending transition planning meetings, IEP meetings, develops student's transition plan and assists in the writing of transition goals for the IEP. Assists school with documentation and experiences for CDOS credentials.

• Administers interest inventories and job preference assessments.

• Develops, plans for, and delivers group lessons to students in a classroom setting, usually regarding work related skills, soft skills, and independent living.

• Provide assistance and guidance in linkage to services through ACCES-VR and OPWDD to students and families.

• Responsible for developing worked based learning placements in community businesses/organizations and accompanying students on job shadowing experiences and assessments.

• Develops internship opportunities, both paid and unpaid. Provides oversite and training to the student, maintains communication with the employer and supervisor.

• Assists students in the development of a resume, completing applications and mock interviews.

• Completes classroom observations, provides support to classroom teachers and parents, when appropriate. At times, completes in home student observations.

• Maintains follow-up contact with students, their families and their teachers providing them with accurate and consistent communication regarding the student's progress.

• Maintains documentation regarding student progress through progress notes, semester summaries and emails. Maintains files for students receiving services. Documents billable services according to agency policy. Ensures that appropriate confidentiality is always maintained.

• Provides ACCES- VR youth services and community-based assessments as assigned by Assistant Director of Employment Services.

• Maintains open communication with supervisor regarding school districts, students, and family contacts.

• Assists students in finding summer employment opportunities, Provides oversight and training to students during summer employment, Maintains ongoing communication with the student's employer and supervisor.

• Provides job coaching and support for a designated caseload, which include: on site assessments, job training, soft skills training, skills training, job retention skills, mobility training, coworker support and advocacy.

• Provides job development services for individuals currently seeking employment. This includes assisting individuals with searching for jobs, applying for jobs, preparing for and attending interviews and following up with employers after a job interview and/or offers of employment.

• Initiates and maintains ongoing relationships with businesses, sets up and maintains employer profiles and contact logs.

• Assists students with the transition from high school to college. This includes, but not limited to, post-secondary career counseling, job exploration, college supports, work readiness training, and self-advocacy trainings.

• Reviews potential barriers to employment with individuals and create plans for ways to overcome barriers.

• Assesses the skills and abilities of individuals in community employment settings to provide professional guidance and recommendations on the most appropriate employment services.

• Explains and conveys to employers any special requirements that candidates may have to perform a job optimally.

• Maintains ongoing contact with employers to ensure they are satisfied with all aspects of the services provided as well as the performance of the employee.

• Attends meetings for individuals as well as participates in required departmental meetings, special projects, and in-services or other trainings.

• Maintains and assures security of all confidential files and information on individuals receiving services, provides documentation in accordance with State and Federal regulations.

• Documents services provided with daily notes and monthly reports.

• Informs the Director of Employment Services of concerns with worker placements, employer issues, or sensitive situations pertaining to individuals receiving services.

• This position requires two week notice of voluntary resignation.

III. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND COMPETENCIES

Knowledge Areas:Strong communication skills (verbally and written), adaptability/flexibility, personal accountability, compliance with policy/procedures/regulations, build and maintain collaborative relationships, ability to work with students with varying ability levels, business ethics, employee/employer relations (coaching, training, motiving), safety programs and training, strong time management skills, works well as part of a team, problem solving, record keeping procedures, various computer programs and applications, adherence to training requirements, maintains confidentiality, safety and security.

Skills:Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events. Changes approach/method to best fit the situation; Manages difficult or emotional situations, while keeping one's own emotions under control; Follows instructions and responds promptly to needs; Solicits feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for assistance; Meets commitments; prioritizes and plan work activities; uses time efficiently, organizes schedules. Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Maintains confidentiality; Sound decision making and judgment, interpersonal skills, planning/organizing, strategic thinking. Includes appropriate people in decision making process. The ability to work independently. Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups, individuals receiving services, school districts, employers, and support team members. Identifies and resolves problems timely, works well in team problem solving situations. Must be knowledgeable about various software programs; Become trained in the use of Therap for plan writing, event reporting and ongoing communication.

Competencies:

• Customer Service: Provide exceptional customer service by going “above & beyond.” Ensuring Individuals' needs are fulfilled in an accurate, complete, and timely fashion by demonstrating courtesy, efficiency, and professionalism; Consistently exceeds Individuals expectations; keeps Individuals well-informed, listens to them attentively, and addresses their concerns; enacts a personal approach to customer service; projects a professional image; Maintains composure and preforms to Agency standards in high-pressure situations.

• Record Keeping: Maintains various Agency files, paperwork, and documentation to ensure compliance with standard business procedures and local, state, and federal law; retains documentation using hard copy and electronic formats; is well organized, accurate, and current.

• Organization and Planning: Maintains an accurate schedule of events; prioritizes activities correctly to ensure deliverables are produced on time; electronic and hard copy files are systematically arranged and easily retrievable; understands the departmental and organizational calendars.

• Interpersonal Skills:Treats others with respect, collaboration, and support in such a way that work relationships are improved so morale and job satisfaction are increased; discusses interpersonal disagreements and conflict and assists individual to problem solve; is approachable, helpful, and trustworthy; communicates well with others.

• Efficiency:Demonstrates highly efficient time management skills; adept at multi-tasking to accomplish goals; performs activities in an orderly, efficient, and cohesive manner; plans schedule in a way to improve productivity and efficiency.

IV.SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

V. QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree (BA or BS) from an accredited University/college required. Experience in delivery of services to people with developmental disabilities or related experience required. Associate's degree may be considered with year or more years of relevant work experience.

Certifications, Licenses, Registration: Must possess a valid NYS driver's license.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.

• The employee is required to sit and use hands to ginger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls.

• The employee is occasionally required to walk, reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

• The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

V. WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of the job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Americans with Disabilities Act: Reasonable accommodations will be made in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and ADAAA of 2008.

Occupational Safety and Health Act: Exposed to human body fluids, airborne agents, household chemicals. May be exposed to contagious diseases.