Reentry Career Specialist

The Safer Foundation is a social service provider to individuals with arrest and conviction records. Through a full range of services, including case management, educational instruction and advocacy, we focus on preparing individuals for the world of work by helping them find and keep productive and meaningful employment.

General Summary: 

 Reporting to the Employment Manager, the Reentry Career Specialist (RCS)is a member of multi-disciplinary team engaged in providing employment and occupational/vocational pursuits for returning residents. The RCS will receive referrals from a variety of members on the team to assist with job readiness, and job placement, along with group Life skills classes that are taught at least once a week, with retention as one component of a broader array of services individuals will be engaged in at Safer Foundation. Reentry Career Specialist will be responsible to provide guidance to clients to support employment readiness, employment stabilization, and ongoing employment case management. The reentry career specialist will provide compassionate care utilizing the supportive employment model for clients impacted with a mental wellness need. The reentry career specialist will support the employment manager in recruiting, enrolling, and managing occupational/vocational training including working directly with the partner/vendor. The RCS will conduct a LifeSkills group which initiates a job readiness training continuum providing guidance on financial literacy, digital literacy, emotion regulation, etc.

Performance Results Description

The Position is properly performed when all essential duties and responsibilities are executed by following the Safer Values.

Exceeding Expectations, Communication and Collaboration, Integrity, and Evidence-Based Innovation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Stakeholder Interface and Service

• Promptly respond to referrals from the Safer staff of clients recommended for group classes. 
• Ensure referral to enrollment metrics are met, including a 24–72-hour enrollment from the time of referral.
• Provides individualized follow-along support to assist clients in maintaining employment. Writes service plans with clients and incorporates input from family members (with client permission) and the mental health team. Revises and adjusts service plans according to the client’s needs and preferences.
• Complete mandatory national outcome assessments (GPRA) at program funders' designated intervals and frequencies. 
• Coordinate with other provider agencies in the employment process. This includes assisting participants in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment for clients to make good decisions about employment opportunities. 
• Help participants access benefits counseling and other services when changing work hours and pay.
• Implement one-off groups as situational topics arise.
• Coordinate with the tea by participating in staffing, troubleshooting issues, reporting on progress, and highlighting successes. 
• Identify guest speakers as appropriate to attend group sessions with consultation from the Director of Supportive Employment.  
• Develop and/or utilize LifeSkills and/or Safer Skills Training Curriculums and other evidenced-based trauma-responsive and behavioral health curricula to assemble a customized group plan and schedule. 
• Screen referred clients for technology needs and make recommendations for such clients to be able to attend virtual or in-person classes. 
• Integrate financial and credit counseling for clients to begin developing financial stability.
• Teach, role-play, and establish coping strategies surrounding topics, including but not limited to emotion regulation, conflict resolution, de-escalation skills, stages of grief, violence prevention, and communication skills.
• Participates in weekly meetings with the mental health treatment team and communicates individually with team members between meetings to coordinate and integrate vocational services with mental health treatment.
• Assist in job preparedness, including resume and cover letter development and job interviewing skills.
• Any other duties needed to help drive our vision, fulfill our missions, and abide by our organization’s values.

Stakeholder Outreach and Recruitment

• Participate in occasional team-based outreach events as directed by the Director of Supported Employment.
• Communicate with the public during such activities representing Safer Foundation and services, engaging individuals, and maximizing interest, addressing immediate needs when appropriate under the direction of the Director of Supportive Employment up for long-term engagement
• Refer leads to an appropriate staff member for follow-up. 

Tracking, Document, and Reporting

• Document class schedules in the agency’s electronic case management system.
• Routinely check the system for enrollment
• Monitor attendance and report back to referring staff person for no-shows. 
• Coordinate with the Director of Supported Employment regarding meal costs for individuals attending in-person classes. 
• Promptly issue certificates (within 24-48 hours) for clients that complete recommended group sessions and confirm completion with referring staff persons to signal the individual’s readiness to proceed with employment placements or other services at Safer. 
• And any other duties needed to help drive to our vision, fulfill our mission, and abide by our organization's values. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Cultural competency (cultural and linguistic) as it relates to cultures and trauma experienced by formerly incarcerated individuals and as it relates to a predominantly Latino and African American client base.
• Unwavering commitment to quality services.
• Strong display of professionalism at all times.
• Strong ethical principles and display of personal and professional boundaries.
• Self-motivated, resourceful and outcome-driven with the capability to function in a fast-paced, start-up work environment.
• Adaptable and teachable; displays a willingness to earn and further develop skills.
• Emotional Self-Awareness; Possesses knowledge of personal strengths, weakness, and triggers the ability to self-regulate emotions
• Able to operate in a team environment; engaging specific teams to navigate / escalate crisis situations in the moment; bringing potential resources to the team to help clients as whole, coordinating with leads on specific issues, and more.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to pay attention to detail, prioritize, and multitask.
• Must have knowledge of group dynamics, group safety and expertise to facilitate groups; experience facilitating groups concerning job readiness, CBT, and related topics with a similar population is desired.
• Group facilitation skills, and classroom (in person and virtual) management skills, including the ability to deal appropriately and professionally with possible crisis situations within the group.
• Knowledge of workforce development and employment services for chronically unemployed individuals or individuals experiencing poverty.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the needs of and barriers faced by individuals with arrest and conviction records, as it pertains to behavioral health, physical health needs, housing, expungements, justice-supervision, and more.
• Applied knowledge of motivational interviewing, mental health first aid, and de-escalation techniques is highly desired. Knowledge of human behavior and performance, individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; and the assessment of behavioral disorders.
• Previous experience performing crisis intervention for a high-needs population is a plus.
• Experience using an electronic health record system and/or case management system desired.
• Hands-on experience and self-sufficiency with Microsoft productivity tools, including Outlook (for email), Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), and online collaboration tools (video conferencing, Zoom/Teams, messaging).
• Fluency in English and Spanish is preferred. 
• Individuals with criminal records and other lived experience are encouraged to apply. 

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in related field (Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice, etc.) required.
• Master's degree in counseling or social work is preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years' experience working at a social service organization or behavioral health provider as a group facilitator is required. Lived experience will be considered if the applicant can demonstrate applicable experience doing similar work. 

Licenses and or Certifications:

• Licensure as a LSW, LPC, or higher level credential is a plus

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance – Care for you and eligible family members
  • Choice of two (2) Medical Plan options from BlueCross BlueShield
  • Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
  • Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
• Dental Insurance – Offered by BCBS
  • Individual coverage 100% paid by Safer!
    • Eligible family coverage available
• Vision – “See” how Safer cares for your eye health 
  • Low-cost co-pays for in-network exam, frames & contacts

• Life Insurance – Protection for you & your family 
  • Basic Life (equal to 1.5 times your salary.)
  •  100% paid by Safer!

• 403b Retirement Plan – Helping you save for retirement 
  • Generous Company match to help you save more!

• Vacation & Holidays – Refresh, rewind, & enjoy at Safer!
  • Vacation days (non-manager)
  • Company Holidays (2025); more than industry standard
  • Paid Leave Days 
    
    
• Other Benefits & Perks -adding value to You!
  • Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
  • Benefits such as Pet Insurance, Critical Illness, & Travel

Safer Foundation is a drug-free workplace.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Minorities/Females/Veterans

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