Summary:
The successful candidate will be responsible for assessing resident’s interests, employment history, and aptitude, abilities to develop appropriate employment plans by providing vocational and educational counseling and referrals for skills development, job readiness preparation, training, and employment placement programs, which can lead to either full- time or part-time unsubsidized employment. The Employment Specialist will collaborate with colleagues to meet the vocational and educational needs of their caseload and achieve program success while fulfilling NAICA’s core purpose, value, and vision.
Responsibilities:
The Employment Specialist is responsible for, but not limited to:
- Provide clients with counseling and assisting to ensure the achievement of employment and housing
- Coordinate the client’s employment training while maximizing cost containment by getting the client back to work
- Monitor and record client’s progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met
- Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that and plans for accessing needed services can be developed
- Link clients to external resources which will assist in obtaining employment
- Utilize assessment tools (CARES, Vocational Profile) to identify support service needs and make appropriate referrals
- Orient clients to the shelter program, requirements and consequences
- Conduct and maintain client’s Independent Living Plans (ILP) and Psychosocial via (CARES)
- Assist non-working clients to obtain Public Assistance
- Track and monitor client progress or lack of progress through documentation via CARES
- Facilitate group/individual sessions to Motivate and Empower clients to become involved in their own planning and goal setting
- Conduct weekly/bi-weekly meetings with clients, or as needed
- Refer clients and encourage job development for subsequent employment if appropriate
- Refer clients to appropriate resources to assist with set goals
- Conduct After-care services with clients to address issues, challenges, and successes to assist in strengthening their capacity for long-term self-sufficiency
- Maintain client files to include conversations, warnings and progress reports and documenting all incidents (CARES)
- Maintain client’s case record updated
- Report critical incidents immediately to the Director of Social Services
- Work collaboratively with Housing Specialist and Case Managers to identify client readiness for employment and/or housing
- Treat all clients, visitors, and employees with kindness, respect, and dignity
- Refer clients to internal and external resources and serve as an advocate when necessary
- Develop and maintain connections with other programs and units within the organization to facilitate inter-agency referrals
- Substitutes for other employment staff when the need arises
- Perform administrative support duties as needed
- Employees are not permitted to leave their assigned posts/workstations without authorization.
Professional & Personal Qualifications
- Baccalaureate degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or related field with 2 years of direct social service experience
- Associate degree in Human Service, or related field with 4 years of direct social service experience
- High School Diploma/General Equivalent Diploma with 8 plus years of direct social service experience
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to be compassionate and firm and maintaining confidentiality at all times
- Knowledge of community resources
- Ability to solve problems, make decisions, resolve conflicts and listen
- Ability to deal calmly in crisis situations.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively well with diverse groups
- Proven ability to handle multiple tasks effectively under pressure
- Strong organizational skills, detail-oriented, and efficient
- Maturity, integrity, and sound judgment
|
