What are the responsibilities and job description for the Vocational Specialist position at StartCare?
Under the general supervision of the Program Manager, the Vocational Specialist works directly with community members to help them identify their goals, overcome barriers, and select appropriate training programs that align with their interests and career aspirations. Develop comprehensive plan that will result in participants entering skills training, education classes and employment. Provides vocational activities, such as pre-vocational counseling, life skills and placement.
The Vocational Specialist aligns with people, purpose, process, and professionalism, and actively employs the principles of each to achieve personal, team, and organizational objectives.
Essential Functions
The Vocational Specialist aligns with people, purpose, process, and professionalism, and actively employs the principles of each to achieve personal, team, and organizational objectives.
Essential Functions
- Oversees initial interviews to obtain vocational/educational background information and identify participants' needs.
- Maintains a caseload for vocational services and provides group and individual counseling.
- Completes career plans to outline short- and long-term objectives for participants.
- Assists participants with job development opportunities, facilitates workshops in employability and job preparation skills, and offers post-employment counseling.
- Establishes linkages with vocational/educational service providers and refers participants for additional support services.
- Maintains daily/weekly Service Contacts targets as defined by the Supervisor and meets vocational engagement targets.
- Collaborates in the training and development of internal and external stakeholders.
- Participates in marketing, community outreach, and advocacy efforts.
- Reviews, updates, and maintains case records to ensure compliance.
- Prepares monthly progress reports on caseload statistics.
- Maintains required forms and statistics on participant contacts, referrals, and placements.
- Attends interdisciplinary and administrative meetings and case conferences.
- Provides technical assistance to counselors related to vocational services and goals.
- Meets regularly with the Vocational Rehabilitation Manager for supervision.
- Participates in professional development and team development within the department and across other functional units.
- Maintains records according to regulatory requirements, ensuring that charts are always audit-ready.
- Participates in re-accreditation surveys and re-certification audits as needed.
- Ensures 100% compliance with service targets required by funding sources.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology, Human Services or any counseling related field or four years of relevant experience in lieu of, and a
- Minimum of 1-3 years of experience in career counseling, workforce development or vocational rehabilitation.
- Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workplace and among program participants.
- Must be competent in the use of computerized MS Word and Excel.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Bilingual in Spanish
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
