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Job Opening at Human Solutions: Employment Specialist

JOB OPENING AT HUMAN SOLUTIONS

 

Job Title:                                Employment Specialist

Department:                           Social Services

Reports to:                             Lead Social Services Specialist

Hours:                                     Full time, Non-Exempt, generally 8-5 M-F.

Compensation:                       $15.42/hour ($32,088/year). Medical, dental, short and long term disability, and AD & D insurance provided. Holidays and paid leave provided.         

Location:                                Gresham, OR

 

SUMMARY

Provide high quality, professional, intensive employment assistance and case management services to recently homeless adults in to build on their strengths, improve and support their endeavors to increase their income and be better able to provide for their housing needs. Provide individual and group employment, ESL, budgeting and computer skill building (classes and individual help) to homeless adults.

 

CRITICAL PERFORMANCE FACTORS:

1.      Customize an employment goal plan that will assist each adult to take the appropriate beginning steps to develop and track implementation of a plan that systematically addresses the action steps needed to achieve self-sufficiency through work skills and employment.

2.      Use curriculums, tools and each adult’s goals to effectively assist them to build progressively higher levels of pre-employment/employment skills.

3.      Assist recently homeless adults with resume writing, job applications, job search and gaining confidence in their interview skills.

4.      Network within the workforce community, including Human Solutions Employment Programs, and social services system to ensure access to available resources for eligible adults.

5.      Provide primary case management for families in which employment is the major barrier to housing stability, income self sufficiency and academic success of their children.

6.      Maintain current case notes and detailed goal plan with outcomes for each client assigned and make regular entries regarding client’s activities to achieve goals.

7.      Develop curriculum and materials pertinent to employment skill building.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include some or all of the following. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

 

Employment Skills

§         Meet with all program adults and conduct an assessment that includes work history, skill sets, and employment goals.

·        Facilitate and coordinate using a variety of strategies (workshop/job club materials, exercises, handouts, video, etc.), creating a comfortable atmosphere with an interactive style.

·        Facilitate budget discussions with families to formulate and implement a plan, which allows them to successfully manage financial resources, provide for current needs, address debts and plan for the future.

·        Demonstrate acceptance and respect for diverse program participants, while handling sensitive situations with an open, courteous approach, and maintaining an objective and professional relationship.

§         Empower adults to take responsibility for their actions

·        Assist adults to recognize their strengths and existing resources.

 

Case Management

·        Conduct in-depth needs assessments with recently homeless families to assess the following:  housing history, income and work history, physical/emotional health treatment, criminal history, debt, social support and available resources, etc.

·        Assist each family to develop and track implementation of a goal plan that addresses the actions needed to achieve housing stability, income self-sufficiency and academic success of their children.

·        Use creativity and resourcefulness to ensure that families are aware of all community resources available for them and advocate with other service providers for the needs of families as appropriate.

·        Research community training and employment resources to assure a wide knowledge of available service options and make information available to program participants.

 

Team Coordination

·        Share strengths, skills, education and experience so that all agency staff continue to grow in skill level and clients benefit from our cumulative knowledge.

·        Assess needs of clients and coordinate delivery of services, both within Human Solutions and from other service providers when appropriate.

 

Reports

·        Maintain accurate, complete, up-to-date documentation of service activities using Human Solutions and Multnomah County procedures, forms and reporting systems.  Submit paperwork in a timely manner.

·        Keep complete and orderly files.

·        Provide a written narrative at closing/termination of a client file that outlines presenting issues and the outcome of services received.

·        Report immediately to your supervisor and the appropriate authorities any suspected physical, sexual, and neglect cases for adults and children.

 

Meetings

·        Attend and actively participate in Social Services team meetings, held twice monthly.

·        Attend monthly Human Solutions agency-wide staff meetings.

·        Represent the agency at professional and community meetings, as requested.

 

Training

·        Attend training workshops and conferences, as approved and required.

·        Pursue continuing education through information disseminated and periodicals, newspapers and other agencies’ literature.

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no staff supervisory responsibilities but there may periodically be volunteer employment mentors who will be supervised by the Employment Specialist and matched with specific families.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge and /or ability required.

 

Knowledge of:

·        Current job market, training programs and employment opportunities.

·        Social and economic issues creating poverty, working successfully with practices and techniques related to people with low income to achieve greater self- sufficiency. 

·        Community resources and agencies providing social services needed by the homeless population.

 

Ability to:

·        Assist recently homeless family members in overcoming barriers to employment

·        Teach ESL, money management and computer classes at varying skill levels

·        Apply required knowledge and identify in partnership with clients their needs and effective solutions

·        Non-judgmentally elicit information and help problem solve around sensitive issues including but not limited to alcohol and drug use, domestic violence, criminal history, child abuse and mental health.

·        Plan and coordinate delivery of services

·        Empower and support clients in life choices and change

·        Provide leadership and to facilitate group process, and to relate and work cooperatively with all volunteers and staff

·        Develop and maintain productive working relationships within Human Solutions, with public and private agencies, the general public and clients

·        Be culturally sensitive to and communicate respectfully with a broad diversity of families

·        Prepare and maintain clear, accurate, complete and timely records and reports

·        Maintain professional boundaries with all families served

 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

·        Bachelor's Degree in social service/social sciences field with at least six (6) months experience teaching employment related topics in a group setting; or any combination of education and work experience in social services, employment development and case management totaling four years.

·        Experience with job development and employment market analysis.

·        Experience with crisis intervention, community networking and resource development.

·        General computer and word processing skills and willingness to learn other needed computer skills.

 

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to speak and write fluently in English and Spanish.

 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

 

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Current Oregon Driver’s License and current automobile insurance.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and distance vision.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

TO APPLY: Please send resume with cover letter and contact information for three professional references to: Erika Silver, Deputy Director, Human Solutions, 12350 SE Powell Blvd., Portland OR 97236 or via email (preferred method) to [email protected] . Letters of reference are not necessary, simply the names and contact information of people who can provide a professional reference. Open until filled.