Title:                Employment Specialist
 
Program:         CES Regional Coordination
 
Reports to:      Employment Liaison
 
Valley Oasis Coordinated Entry System provides comprehensive services designed to address the root cause of poverty and homelessness within SPA 1 of Los Angeles County. Participants may be mentally ill, have intellectual developmental disabilities, substance abuse issues, and chronic medical/physical disabilities, exiting institutions and are homeless. The Employment Specialist provides high quality and person-centered services to support participants currently or recently experiencing homelessness to meet their short and long term earned income needs. This position is skilled in advising job seekers of their options, knowledgeable about local labor market dynamics, aware of available career opportunities in the region, and adept in developing skills for employment success with people experiencing homelessness.

Essential Job Functions:

• Connect participants with sustainable job opportunities and placements, vocational training, job retention support, job development (liaising with employers as appropriate), with focus on employment and income resource connections.
• Using the LAHSA-approved Employment Assessment, assess participant employment-related interests, strengths, and barriers
• Develop an individualized Employment Action Plan (EAP) with each participant served informed by the Employment Assessment
• Provide career counseling and job readiness training
• Collaborate with, advocate to, and refer to employers, education and job training resources, and the public workforce development system on behalf of participants
• Connect participants with basic education and vocational training, where appropriate, as well as unsubsidized and subsidized employment opportunities
• Provide retention supports to participants in vocational training, subsidized employment, and unsubsidized employment
• Participate regularly in trainings and regional collaborative meetings
• Ensure, at minimum, complete and accurate data related to employment and income are entered in the LA CoC Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
• Maintain relationships with employers, local job resources, vocational training schools, to ensure effective employment linkage services and access to resources.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of and deep understanding of the three major systems serving jobseekers experiencing homelessness – homeless services, public social services, and workforce development, including the Coordinated Entry System (CES), as well as best practices in homeless services, and regional resources.
• Prepare periodic reports to track progress of strategic goals and evaluate work performed.
• Work with a diverse and marginalized caseload of participants, experiencing many barriers including homelessness, complex trauma, medical, mental health needs and substance use
• Conduct intake and enrollment activities with eligible participants, including assisting participants with gathering other program eligibility documentation, completing project intake forms, authorizations and enrolling into the program
• Develop and maintain complete, accurate, and current files with all required documents and data in agency records and electronic database, HMIS. Includes updates to changes in income and employment status
• Maintain confidentiality of participant files per HIPAA and all applicable guidelines
• Document services provided within 24 hours
• Ensure services to participants are reflective of customer choice and emphasize housing first, harm reduction and trauma-informed care models
• Use effective communication skills such as active and reflective listening to build rapport
• Participate in staff meetings, individual and group supervision, case conferences and training as required
• Adhere to agency policies and procedures including confidentiality, child/elder abuse reporting, and code of ethics
• Additional tasks, projects and or responsibilities as assigned by Supervisor that are not outlined but which are an important part of the agency’s goals and/or program outcomes

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge and experience in community and economic development, working in the social services field and/or job development industry.
• Knowledge of best practices in both employment services and serving people experiencing homelessness.
• Demonstrate the ability to work effectively with a diverse range of people and organizations.
• Knowledge of issues facing homeless individuals (e.g. chronic health, substance abuse, mental health, domestic abuse and resources for undocumented individuals)
• Knowledge of community social service agencies and resources
• Strong interpersonal skills and the dynamic ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Must be able to exercise initiative, independent good judgment, flexibility, discretion, and solid decision making
• Must be able to utilize creative strategies to engage stakeholders and maintain effective working relationship with them.
• Must be able to successfully manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, adjust to changing; circumstances, and demonstrate confidence working with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to respond effectively to individuals who may be ill, using substances, lack of personal care, in crisis situations
• Ability to deescalate aggressive/agitated individuals
• Ability to work with a diverse population and provide culturally competent advocacy
• Actively promote positive, nurturing interactions between participants
• Able to take appropriate steps to deal with emergency situations with the goal of maintaining the safety of all participants
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and oral; must communicate professionally and positively with participants, co-workers, management, community partners, employers, landlords, and other service providers
• Strict confidentiality must be observed as it relates to participant information, agency business, program decisions and all other personal information
• Proficient with office communication equipment and machines (telephone, copier, calculator, fax machine, personal computer, laptop, computer printer and scanner).
• Proficient in use of laptop/desktop computer, Microsoft Windows and Office software programs (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Google drive
• Strong time management skills and the ability to multi-task and prioritize in a fast-paced environment, while exercising sound judgment.
• Demonstrate a sense of urgency, responsiveness, and attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and other computer systems.
• Ability to handle common problems without supervisor intervention while knowing when supervisor participation is warranted
• Work effectively under conditions of limited supervision, high stress and rapidly changing situations and circumstances
• Promote cooperation and commitment within a team to achieve goals and objective; collaborate with team members, sharing ideas and differences openly; be receptive to new ideas and adapt to change as necessary
• Considers impact of personal and professional choices. Consistently make decisions in keeping with organizational values and Supervisor’s direction
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to follow through from beginning to end on tasks
• Use of a personal vehicle may be required to travel in and around Antelope Valley and/or Los Angeles County
• Maintain professional boundaries and work collaboratively with participants, volunteers and staff
• Accountability – be on time for scheduled shifts
• Be able to read and write English
• Bilingual Preferred but not required

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelors’ degree or an equivalent combination of applicable training and experience is required 
• Minimum of 3 years of experience providing Employment Services
• One year experience in case management
• Successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in community and economic development, working in the social services field and/or job development industry
• Education may be substituted by years of experience

Agency Requirements:

• Must have a valid California Driver’s License
• Reliable transportation
• Auto Insurance
• Clean driving record
• Employee will be required to complete a TB test, Background check, drug screen (employment pending on drug screen, background check and DMV report review), 72-hour Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault training and CPR/First Aid certification

Work Conditions & Physical Demands
The following are work conditions that one may encounter in the course of performing their job duties:

• May be in contact with individuals in crisis
• May experience unpleasant sensory demands associated with an individual’s use of alcohol and drugs, and lack of personal care
• May experience crisis situations and potentially hostile situations, must be ready to respond quickly and effectively.

An employee is required to:
Walk and climb stairs; Handle, grasp and feel objects and equipment; Reach with hands and arms; extend both arms above the head and/or reach below the waist; Communicate ideas and information verbally and written word; Be able to move oneself quickly and easily from place to place; Repeat various motions with hands, wrists, fingers; Climb on stools, steps and/or ladders; Be subject to outside environmental conditions, including but not limited to: Rain, heat, wind.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. If accommodation(s) are required, employee must inform Human Resources by the first week of employment. If an accommodation is not required at the time of employment, but is later required, you must inform Human Resources at the time it is needed.
Benefits

Health	Employee Assistance Plan	Paid Sick
Dental	AFLAC	Paid Vacation
Vision	Cafeteria 125 Plan	Personal Days
Acupuncture/Chiropractic	Retirement Plan
Life Insurance	14 Observed Holidays

 
Schedule:
Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm (may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends, holidays and/or on call status)
 
Salary Range:
$24.00-$25.00 per hour
 
An Equal Opportunity Employer: Selection will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination because of age, race, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability.

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