Employment Specialist-LF535702

JOB SUMMARY:
The Employment Specialist/Vocational Counselor is responsible for developing and coordinating job readiness training and placement activities for residents.

ESSENTIAL TASKS: To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions unless this causes undue hardship to the agency.

1. Responsible for developing and implementing strategies that result in competitive employment opportunities for residents.
2. Conducts reviews vocational assessment information and develops a service plan to assist residents with getting and keeping a job.
3. Provides training to residents regarding skills and strategies for getting and keeping a job.
4. Serves as a liaison to possible and actual employers of residents.
5. Monitors residents who work in job training or part time work that offers stipends (e.g. laundry Worker).
6. Engage ICLs Phoenix Maintenance subsidiary to develop and maintain facility maintenance positions.
7. Collaborate with case managers entitlements counselors peer counselors substance abuse counselor/specialists and social workers in developing service plans likely to lead to successful job placement job training and competitive employment activities.
8. Provide motivational interviewing to residents as needed.
9. Conduct a functional assessment of all residents to determine their educational and vocational strengths needs abilities preferences goals for inclusion in their service plans.
10. Offer individual counseling sessions and conduct regular vocational support groups to provide interested residents with peer support for job-search activities including resume writing the creation of a job search plan and shared reviews of successful and unsuccessful job search activities.
11. Explore the availability of the Transitional Residence for Veterans Veterans Helping Veterans stipend and training programs and supervise those residents who participate in this program.
12. Serve as liaison to offsite employment assistance services.
13. Develop and maintain linkage resources with community employers and vocational training agencies; develop specific linkages to offer residents more in-depth vocational and educational assessments and training than can be provided onsite at Transitional Residence for Veterans and employment options more extensive than Veterans Helping Veterans offerings.
14. Participate in meetings that address the effects of income on resident entitlements.
15. Assist in the orientation of new personnel when requested.
16. Maintain up-to-date accurate individual paper and electronic case records on employment-related activities.
17. Comply with attendance and timekeeping rules and reports reliably and regularly to work on an on-going basis.
18. Attend scheduled clinical meetings case conferences staff meetings and supervision as well as in-service training and development activities.
19. Review the staff communications log and makes entries concerning essential elements of information designated by program management.
20. Obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certifications.
21. May have on-call responsibilities.
22. Comply and promote compliance with all applicable laws regulations and agency policies helping to strengthen and maintain an ethical organizational culture.
23. Perform other job-related duties that may be assigned.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of vocational rehabilitation regulations
• Effective problem-solving skills
• Effective interpersonal skills
• Ability to work with diverse individuals
• Ability to create and compose written materials
• Ability to effectively and efficiently respond to questions from persons served
• Ability to facilitate a meeting
• Ability to present information to persons served and other employees
• Ability to work with residents and staff in a caring and respectful manner and with due understanding of and consideration for cultural difference
• Ability to serve as a role model to residents including modeling appropriate interpersonal interactions appearance demeanor
• Ability to effectively use computer software
• Willingness to continually learn and apply knowledge and willingness to participate in in-service training and development activities.
• Ability to function as an effective team member including performing share of work cooperating with coworkers and securing cooperation and maintaining professional relationships and boundaries with co-workers supervisors and residents
• Ability to use sound judgment in identifying and solving problems and knowing when to seek assistance.
• Ability to learn understand and comply with all regulations policies and procedures.
• Ability to organize time effectively to accomplish all tasks in a timely way and meet deadlines without prompting.
• Ability to develop evaluate implement and modify employment plans meeting all deadlines and productivity
  standards
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff residents and potential employers
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely documentation reports and other written material as assigned.
• Ability to work independently and to conform to all applicable safety and accountability measures
• Ability to be empathic actively looking for ways to help people to be compassionate and hopeful and to believe and help others work toward recovery.
• Ability to engage in active listeningattending to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate
• Ability to identify the nature of problems and to participate effectively in solving problems.
• Ability to report for work as scheduled on a consistent basis

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelors degree plus 3 years experience providing vocational or employment services in a human services agency or closely related experience. Veteran preferred.

Required Experience:

IC