Be a Supported Employment Specialist
*Please refer to the TWC Vocational Rehabilitation Standards for Providers Manual, Chapter 18*
Supported Employment Overview
Supported Employment (SE) services are based on a “Place, Then Train” model, designed to provide customers with the most significant disabilities the supports they need to achieve competitive integrated employment. SE services include individualized job development and placement services, ongoing supports such as intensive job skills training, and arrangement of extended services (funded, paid, and/or natural supports) to help customers sustain meaningful long-term employment.
SE is an all-inclusive service. Therefore, the following Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services may not be purchased while a customer is receiving SE services from an Employment Services Provider:
Bundled Job Placement
Job Skills Training*
Non-bundled Job Placement
On-the-Job Training (OJT)
Personal Social Adjustment Training (PSAT)
Vocational Adjustment Training (VAT)
Environmental Work Assessment
Vocational Evaluation
Project SEARCH
Work Adjustment Training (WAT)
Work Experience Services (WE)
*Under special circumstances, VR may purchase job skills training as an extended service for VR customers who are youth with disabilities. For information on how job skills training can be used as an extended service for VR customers who are youth with disabilities, refer to VR-SFP 18.7.1.1: Youth with Disabilities and VR-SFP Chapter 17, Section 17.5.1.1 Purchasing Job Skills Training for Extended Services for Youth with Disabilities.
Staff Qualifications
Before services are provided to customers, the service provider's director must approve the VR3455, Provider Staff Information, completed by each staff member and submit approved forms to the provider's assigned VR regional quality assurance specialist or designee. The staff member's qualifications must be documented on VR3455 and provide evidence, such as transcripts, diplomas, reference letters, credentials, and/or licenses, of meeting all qualifications. For more information, refer to VR-SFP 3.4.4 Staff Required Documentation.
It is preferred, but not required, that the provider staff has a varied and successful work history and experience working with individuals with disabilities.
Requirements
A SE specialist must have:
a current University of North Texas Workplace Inclusion & Sustainable Employment (UNTWISE) Supported Employment Specialist credential
a high school diploma or GED; however, a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation, business, marketing, or related human services is preferred
Why Innovative Ways?
We at Innovative Ways believe that anyone who is willing to work and is seeking employment of any form should be given the opportunity to do so regardless of that individual's abilities. It is our mission to put together the resources, contacts, experience, and job opportunities as a Service Provider for the Texas Workforce Commission to ensure our clients are afforded those opportunities at the highest level.
In order to do so, we also actively seek out like minded individuals who are willing to invest their time and talents in return for competitive pay and rewarding experiences from entry level part-time Job Coaches and simple volunteers to contracting certified Supported Employment Specialists and Job Placement Specialists looking for a team willing to share the success as well as the workload.
We believe that the highest level of success can be achieved through a varied and diverse team of professionals with different strengths and weaknesses working together to offer our clients the best possible outcome in their employment search, job readiness experiences, job placement experiences, and finally job acceptance.