Job Coach in Waterloo, Illinois at CHRISTIAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF ILLINO

Welcome to your opportunity to change the world! If you have a servant’s heart and want to be part of something truly special, then Caritas Family Solutions needs you. We have been serving the people of Illinois since 1947 and have over 500 committed and mission-driven team members. At Caritas, we do not hire people for jobs, we find new team members for rewarding and life-changing careers that make the world better.

If you are kind, patient, and ready to make a difference, we would love to meet you!

Full-time employees are offered the competitive benefits outlined below:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid training
• Health Insurance
• Dental and Vision
• Life insurance
• 403(b) with company contribution up to 5%
• Tuition reimbursement

Job Title: Job Coach

Department: Employment Services

Status: Full-Time, Nonexempt

Reports To: Employment Services Manger

Starting Compensation Pay: $18.35/hr

PURPOSE: The Job Coach is directly responsible for providing supervision, training and support to people receiving employment services in community businesses and job sites. Assist people receiving services in achieving their employment/occupational outcomes by implementing person centered employment plans. Promoting self-advocacy and self-determination of the people served.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Follow Illinois State and Federal Rules and Regulations, Caritas policies and procedures and the protection of individual rights. Maintain sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Orientate assigned new clients and significant others to the services and procedures of the Employment Services program, documenting all such orientation.
• Evaluate person's performance to determine training needs.
• Communicate effectively with Caritas employment team, employers, and others to ensure a clear understanding for each supported person and the progress made.
• Problem solving skills, interpersonal skills, making reasonable accommodations, breaking down and analyzing job tasks are all necessary skills.
• 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. Ensure all required documentation is complete, timely, accurate and professional.
• Serve as an advocate for clients with other community resources. Emphasis should be placed upon providing supports and services in accordance with the individual’s strengths, talents, and interests.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Please note that the Responsibilities and Qualifications provide a general overview of the primary duties for this role and the basic qualifications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must demonstrate the ability to support people with developmental disabilities in achieving employment and vocational goals while promoting independence, self-advocacy, and community inclusion. The individual must be able to work effectively with employers, community partners, families, and persons receiving services while maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, and appropriate boundaries. The employee must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIRED/PREFERRED:

Degree/Field Required: High School Diploma or GED

Degree/Field Preferred: Bachelor's Degree in Social Work or in Human Services (Related fields will be considered.)

Additional Fields of Knowledge Important for the Role:

• Employment services and supported employment practices
• Developmental disabilities and person-centered planning
• Vocational training and job coaching techniques
• Workplace accommodations
• Documentation and recordkeeping
• Advocacy, self-determination, and self-advocacy principles

Experience Preferred: One or more years of working with adults with developmental disabilities

Licenses/Certifications Preferred: Direct Support Professional training recognized by IDHS and ILHCWR portal

SKILLS REQUIRED:

Manager-Specific: N/A

Basic: Strong written and verbal communication skills, organization, documentation accuracy, active listening, and attention to detail. Ability to maintain accurate records, complete required documentation, and follow agency policies, procedures, and employment service standards.

Social: Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with individuals receiving services, family members, employers, coworkers, and community partners. Demonstrates professionalism, patience, advocacy, and effective interpersonal communication skills.

Problem Solving/Decision-Making: Ability to identify barriers to employment success, analyze job tasks, implement accommodations and supports, exercise sound judgment, and respond appropriately to workplace concerns. Ability to adapt training strategies to meet individual learning needs.

Proficient Computer Skills In: Outlook, Word, database management software, electronic documentation systems, and data entry platforms.

Expert Computer Skills In: N/A

Resource Management: Ability to coordinate employment support, manage schedules, track individual progress, and utilize community resources to support employment outcomes and vocational goals.

Technical: Ability to complete vocational assessments, implement job coaching techniques, collect and analyze performance data, develop training strategies, and maintain required employment service documentation.

Trauma-Informed: Must display a willingness to adopt trauma-informed interventions, principles, and practices and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development in trauma-informed care. Recognizes the impact of trauma on individuals, families, staff, and communities and applies trauma-informed principles when supporting individuals receiving services and interacting with employers and community partners.

VEHICLE RELATED REQUIREMENTS:

Access to reliable transportation: Required.

Access to a reliable automobile: Required.

Proof of continued auto insurance: Required.

Valid driver’s license: Required.

DRUG-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Caritas Family Solutions is dedicated to maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive environment for our clients and employees. As part of this, a strict drug-free workplace policy is maintained.