Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist

You’ll feel great about a career with March of Dimes Canada

At March of Dimes Canada, our collective work matters. As a leading national charity backed by a history of more than 70 years of impact, we’re dedicated to being Canada’s leading service provider, resource, and advocate, empowering people with disabilities to live and thrive in communities nationwide. Our collective efforts are rooted in our Purpose, Vision, and Mission, which inform how we drive all our work forward.

• Purpose: Champion equity. Empower ability.

• Vision: An inclusive, barrier-free society for people with disabilities.

• Mission: To be Canada’s leading service provider, resource, and advocate, empowering people with disabilities to live and thrive in communities nationwide.

Skills Development and Employment ensures that people with disabilities find and keep meaningful jobs by matching them with employers seeking qualified job candidates. In addition, they offer support with assessments, rehabilitation and child and youth programs.

BASIC FUNCTION:

The Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist provides support to people with disabilities who face employment barriers. They accept referrals from various sources and oversee assessment and vocational exploration to help service users identify multiple viable career goals. This role involves evaluating service user’s motivation and disability-related employment challenges, offering supportive measures to promote their success. The specialist creates detailed employment plans outlining the steps needed to achieve vocational goals and manages the selection and purchase of necessary services. Additionally, they case manage and monitor client progress, address issues, and develop solutions to prevent setbacks or failure.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assessment & Vocational Exploration

• • Confirm referral details, objectives, and eligibility criteria.
  • Communicate guidelines and expectations clearly, orient new users to the program, conduct intake interviews and complete required forms.
  • Perform a comprehensive evaluation covering:
  • 1. Physical and psychomotor capacities
  • 2. Intellectual abilities
  • 3. Emotional stability
  • 4. Interests and aptitudes
  • 5. Personal, work, and social history
  • 6. Work skills and tolerance
  • 7. Transferable skills
  • 8. Work habits and barriers
  • 9. Job-seeking skills
  • 10. Potential for other services and needed adaptive aids
  • Use various assessment methods, including interviews, questionnaires, self-assessments, and work trials to assess and to gauge motivation.
  • Conduct labour market research to assess job availability and target wages.
  • Build relationships with service users to assess their motivation and eagerness to enter the workforce.
  • Discuss goals, target labour markets, and other relevant factors.
  • Interpret and communicate assessment results and vocational options to service users.
  • Develop the employment plan collaboratively with the service user and referral source, ensuring timely completion.

Case Management & Reporting

• • Develop employment plans with Service Users, meeting referral source requirements and deadlines
  • Purchase services for service users and ensure external services are effective and cost-efficient.
  • Monitor progress, document evidence, and address barriers.
  • Provide or coordinate counseling and professional support as needed.
  • Complete reports as per MODC and referral source requirements.
  • Communicate effectively with service users and referral sources.

Program Administration

• • Integrate feedback into service delivery with guidance from the Employment Services Manager.
  • Address complaints promptly and maintain comprehensive, confidential service user records.
  • Adhere to MODC and contract data requirements.
  • Foster effective communication and teamwork while following MODC policies and professional standards.
  • Manage programs, workload, and work area safely and constructively handle change.
  • Follow Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) laws, regulations, and MODC policies.
  • Complete required mandatory training and stay updated on vocational rehabilitation developments and/or continuing education credits as required.
  • Adhere to Occupational Health & Safety laws, March of Dimes Canada policies, funder mandates, and government regulations.
  • Work safely, report hazards and injuries to a supervisor

QUALIFICATIONS:

• • Diploma in a related field with demonstrated experience working with service users who are seeking employment
  • Registered Rehabilitation Professional, or equivalent certification is an asset
  • Two years in job placement and vocational rehabilitation is preferred.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Windows; database skills are a plus.
  • Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
  • Effective negotiation skills.
  • Sensitivity to barriers faced by individuals with disabilities.
  • Ability to complete internal training (e.g., case management).
  • Bilingualism in both official languages is an asset.
  • In-depth knowledge of local labor markets.

Important Details:

Salary: $58,000 per annum

Full-time role

Hybrid role: The successful candidate will need to be in the Langford office a few days a week

Questions about working at March of Dimes Canada?

Whether starting or advancing your career with us, you’ll feel great knowing that you’re:

• Contributing to our important mission: creating real change for people with disabilities

• Joining a leading national charity with a history of impact and a future full of possibility

• Enjoying industry-leading employment incentives and benefits

• Supported in your professional growth, development, and success

• Included in our empathetic and supportive work culture

Learn more about why we’re a great employer at marchofdimes.ca/careers.

For general inquiries, you can reach us at [email protected]

We value the health & safety of our employees!

MODC is committed to ensuring a healthy and safe work environment. We encourage all current and prospective employees to receive Covid-19 vaccinations and booster doses as recommended by Public Health. This reflects our dedication to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our workforce.

Need accommodations? We're here to help!

MODC is committed to a workforce that is reflective of the diverse populations we serve. We welcome applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds and abilities. In accordance with accessibility and human rights legislation across Canada, MODC will provide accommodations to job applicants with disabilities and other protected needs. If you require accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs. We are committed to a selection process and work environment that is inclusive, equitable, accessible, and barrier-free.

Our Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) approach

MODC is dedicated to building and advancing an inclusive and welcoming culture. It’s also why we’re focused on attracting, retaining, and supporting diverse people. Thanks to our progressive practices, team members of all abilities and backgrounds are encouraged to access the opportunities and supports they need to grow, thrive, and succeed. Our READI approach is rooted in our shared belief that championing equity and empowering ability starts by investing in our team members— and in our shared culture — so that we all feel included, safe, and confident at work every single day.