Employment Specialist

Intellectual Disabilities (North and West Vancouver) Society (IDS) is a non-profit organization that has been supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities for over 69 years.

Our mission

• To support families and serve children and adults living with intellectual disabilities by:
• Providing quality programs and services which support the development, the independence and the empowerment of adults, children and families
• Working in partnership with adults, children, families, Society members and members of the community
• Advocating for and developing a full range of community-based services to meet the unique needs of each person and family

• Primary job goal
• Under the direction of the Lead Manager of Community Services, the Employment Specialist supports individuals with a disability to acquire the education, skills, training, and support required to secure and maintain competitive employment. This position works in partnership with individuals, local employers, and other service providers to plan and make decisions which result in job placements for individuals with disabilities.

• Key duties and responsibilities
• Support clients to locate and access employment and work experience opportunities that meet their unique and evolving vocational needs
• Interview clients to ascertain interests, skills, vocational preferences, and job readiness.
• Provide pre-employment training to clients in various areas related to employment (e.g. resumé preparation, interview skills, job search skills).
• Locate potential employers to provide the clients with employment opportunities. Market the program and the clients to the community and local employers to achieve job placement.
• Work with employers to effectively support those clients who have been placed through the program. Offer the education, on-the-job training, coaching, and follow-up support necessary to sustain the placement.
• Maintain good working knowledge of current vocational trends and labour market. Actively research service agencies, community services organizations, and training opportunities which compliment the Employment IDS program.
• Provide accurate reports on clients to the manager in charge and for the funder. Report on client’s skill levels and progress made towards goals and objectives. Advise on goals, if they need to be modified, depending on client’s progress and specific needs and/or labour market trends.
• Advocate and act as a role model for the meaningful inclusion and broader participation of people with developmental disabilities within the community.
• Work with the Employment IDS team to identify areas of concern and improve quality of service. Provide constructive input and recommendations to improve existing policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Respect each individual’s right to privacy and confidentiality.
• Put the Values, Beliefs, and Future Directions of IDS into practice in an ethical, caring, and professional manner.
• Perform other duties as requested.

• Education, training and experience
• Degree, Diploma and/or Certificate in career development, social work, counselling, or vocational rehabilitation (equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered)
• Completion of some professional training, such as Career Development Practitioner program or registration with the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada is preferred.
• Minimum two years of directly relevant experience and proven track record in a vocational setting

• Job skills and abilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, proficient in business-level English
• Strong interpersonal and people skills
• Working level of knowledge and skills in MS Office suite, other office software, and Internet browser
• Ability to identify and assess employment barriers and to develop a strategy to address the barriers to employment
• Current knowledge of BC Employment Standards, relevant employment regulations, labour market trends, and available resources
• Demonstrated ability to train and coach clients, educate on skills and knowledge, and motivate people under pressure
• Continuous development and learning about career development theories, principles, and current best practices
• Ability to prioritize, plan, and manage workload and assignments, and to work on feedback with a positive attitude
• Strong capability to perform with professionalism and work ethic, think critically, make sound decisions, and generate expected outcomes
• Ability to recognize various stakeholders’ needs and collaborate with others by handling multiple concurrent demands

• Other requirements
• Criminal Record Check
• Valid First Aid and Non-violent Crisis Intervention (NCI) training
• Medical approval
• Tuberculosis clearance
• Satisfactory reference checks
• Access to a reliable vehicle and a valid BC Driver’s Licence (Class 5)
• Successful completion of IDS orientation
• Vehicular Business Insurance
• Other requirements as detailed in the IDS Personnel Policy Manual

• Hours of work
• 37.5 hours per week
• Hours of work vary depending on work demands
• This position requires you to be in the office and in the community
• This position may require some evenings and weekend hours