Intellectual Inclusion Specialist

We are seeking a compassionate, collaborative and client-centered individual as part of our employment program. The Intellectual Inclusion Specialist is an experienced and professional team player supporting individuals with intellectual, emotional, and developmental disabilities (IDD) in achieving greater independence. The successful applicant will be, committed to promoting sustainable employment and community well-being in Nanaimo. Nanaimo Foodshare is currently implementing life skill employment programs that support individuals with employment-barriers to improve their foundational life skills, address personal barriers and empowerment to increase employability. This role is filled by a professional and competent behavioural expert and project manager, working closely with the leadership team, to ensure efficient operation, growth and sustainability of Nanaimo Foodshare's employment programs.

The Intellectual Inclusion Specialist role combines strategic implementation, personnel management, and budget oversight. Key duties are implementing leadership strategy to manage Employment Program Coordinators and program budgets. This includes recruiting, hiring, training, and supporting staff as needed for success. It also includes overseeing budgets under the direction of leadership, assessing program effectiveness and sustainability, and ensuring that the objectives and requirements of the funder are fully achieved.

**Key Duties/Responsibilities**

**Training, Facilitation and Participant Support**
- Conduct assessments to identify strengths, needs, abilities, of program participants.
- Supervise employment coordinators and social service support worker practicum volunteers to maintain program expectations
- Oversee the inclusion and employability calendar and materials being adapted by team for all participants
- Coordinate regular team training to foster staff confidence and resilience
- Assess participants' relevant skill strengths and needs for appropriate and successful program completion
- Assist participants to identify options and develop plans of action
- Assess and investigate eligibility for social benefits
- Monitor behavioral needs and implement behavior support strategies.
- Refer participants to other social services or assist participants in locating and utilizing community resources including legal, medical and financial assistance., employment, transportation, day care and other services
- Implement life skills workshops, behaviour management programs, youth services programs and community food access services
- Help participants develop healthy boundaries, routines, resilience, and self confidence
- Support the persons in all areas of personal growth directed towards their becoming as self-sufficient as possible
- Assist participants with self-care, budgeting and household management
- Ensure persons are fully involved in their community and to foster and promote personal relationships and involvement in community groups
- Promote networks and connections maintain liaison between members of the community, other agencies and staff
- Work in conjunction with the participants support workers to ensure adequate support and progress
- Be personable and relate with all persons with professionalism and a positive manner, which promotes feelings of personal worth and dignity

**Advocacy and Case Management**
- Meet with participants to assess their progress, give support and discuss any difficulties or problems
- Maintain contact with other social service agencies and health care providers involved with participants to provide information and obtain feedback on participants' overall progress
- Focus on the developmental potential which acknowledges each participants' rights to self advocacy, determination and empowerment
- Maintain detailed participant records, report, and track individual progress
- Advocate for clients' rights, inclusion, and access to appropriate services (e.g., education, healthcare, employment).
- Coordinate and monitor services such as housing, job coaching, counselling, and community programs.

**Financial & Operational Oversight**
- Reports regularly to the Leadership Team on program performance and initiatives
- Maintains program statistics for purposes of evaluation and development
- Evaluates the effectiveness of program by tracking participant behavioural changes and responses to interventions
- Oversees budgets; Monitors program spending to optimize expenditures and ensure compliance with funders
- Oversee Coordinator team to ensure training, support and professional boundaries are maintained appropriately
- Engage employers on program benefits and partnership opportunities (long term networking)
- Build and maintain employer relationships that foster inclusive hiring practices, focus on accessibility education and participant empowerment
- Completes and submits written and oral reports as required in a timely manner

**Qualifications and requirements**
- Bachelor’s