Job Title: Employment Specialist
Organization Description:
Ground in community with a focus on root causes, 4th Second’s mission is to catalyze systemic change through direct service, fostering collaboration, and growing community capacity to bridge gaps between community needs and resources. 4th Second primarily serves BIPOC populations in Solano County including youth, people experiencing homelessness, low-income, food insecure and justice-involved populations. 4th Second’s programs include youth empowerment, workforce development, housing solutions, and improving access healthcare access.
Job Description:
The Employment Specialist provides targeted employment support for clients experiencing homelessness and/or Re-entering from incarceration. Working collaboratively with program Care Managers and referring Parole agents, the Employment Specialist will provide individualized, intensive and flexible support to clients to assist them in
engaging with opportunities to increase income through employment.
Initial work includes assessing participants’ employment histories, skills, and employment needs as well as potential barriers to employment, collaboratively creating a Income/Employment Plan, and accessing any resources needed to further the goal of increasing income to remain housed, become housed, or sustaining self-sufficiency.
The Employment Specialist will provide services and referrals to employment opportunities. All client services are participant-driven and delivered with a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach.
Services may be provided in the community and at specific locations for the convenience of the program participant. Services are designed as support and resolve barriers to employment and to obtaining gainful employment.
WHAT WILL YOU DO:
Client Support:
● Maintain awareness of culturally diverse consumer populations and perform duties in a
culturally competent manner.
● Meet with identified individuals, complete assessments of clients’ employment needs and
strengths, and create individualized Employment Plans that include the goal of sustainable,
stable self sufficiency, in addition to financial and case management support.
● Offer targeted job search on employment needs assessment.
● Provide employment support to assist participants with job readiness, employment retention,
and presenting themselves in a manner to successfully engage with potential employers.
● Assist participants with resumes, interview preparation, skill development, and
completing/submitting employment applications.
● Communicate and collaborate with Reentry parole/probation offices to ensure continuity of
support to participant individuals.
● Offer services at the level of intensity requested by the individual, including flexible levels of
intensity.
Community Outreach and Engagement:
● Maintain key relationships with community service providers such as Solano County Parole
and Probation Departments, along with other collaborative agencies.
● Develop and maintain relationships with employers, vocational programs, and educational
entities and assist participants with connecting to the same.
● Provide advocacy with potential employers on clients’ behalf to assist with obtaining and/or
maintaining employment.
● Create and maintain consistent communication channels between collaborating parties, both
verbal and written.
Cultural Responsiveness:
● Awareness of and aptitude to understand, respect, and adapt to cultural and identity-based
differences within group environments appropriately and effectively.
● Knowledge of and commitment to concepts and issues tied to social justice, diversity, equity,
and inclusion and belonging.
● Experience fostering and reinforcing an environment that values unique experiences,
cultures, personal humility and authenticity backgrounds, and goals.
Organizational/Administrative Responsibilities:
● Professionally represent 4th Second in all circumstances.
● Comply with all legal/ethical professional guidelines for maintaining consumer confidentiality, adhering to HIPAA guidelines, protecting consumer rights, advocating on consumers’ behalf, and assuring consumer safety.
● Establish and maintain professional boundaries in working with clients.
● Comply with all local, state, and federal regulations, policies, procedures, standards of
practice, and outcome requirements.
● Assist with distributing client satisfaction/feedback surveys for all clients served.
● Attend all required meetings, including but not limited to 4th Second staff, individual
supervision, consumer case conferences, and linkage meetings with other agencies.
● Ensure timely and accurate data is entered into the Homeless Management Information
System (HMIS). As well as Company programs.
● Complete required administrative paperwork and reports in a timely and accurate manner.
● On-call, after-hours, and backup work for other team members may be required.
● Perform all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Position Qualifications:
● Passion for and demonstrated experience successfully supporting vulnerable populations,
especially homeless individuals reentering their communities post-incarceration.
● Three years experience in the employment fields, preferably with clients from vulnerable
circumstances.
● A. degree or substitution of experience for education as follows: Minimum of four years
experience in the human services field (with a minimum of two years experience providing
vocational support to vulnerable populations, preferably with housing retention barriers such
as criminal background, substance abuse, mental health, and/or income challenges).
● Bi-lingual in English/Spanish is a plus.
● Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
● Computer proficiency in the use of Google Spaces and database applications.
● Must have an operational vehicle, auto insurance, valid California driver’s license, and be
willing to drive for work.
● Must pass Live Scan screening
● Salary contingent upon skill and experience.
Physical Qualifications:
● The person in this position may make home visits to consumers who live on second or third-
floor apartments (without elevators) and will need to be able to climb stairs.
● May accompany clients on walks to local resources (grocery store, childcare, parks) up
to ½ mile in distance.
● Must be able to work in a desk setting for up to 3 hours at a time to make calls to
clients, research resources on the internet, and collaborate with community providers
with calls/emails.
● Office setting activities are required, such as typing on a laptop/computer to respond to
emails, entering case notes into a database, and copying/faxing forms and documents on a
copy machine related to maintaining or obtaining housing.
● Occasionally must be able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds, including
furnishings for new residents, files, holiday gifts, and food donations.
● Ability to drive an automobile and transport oneself and consumers to appointments or meet
at client homes, including driving at night.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct outreach to meet clients where they are including curbside communities, shelters, transitional facilities and other places people may be living.
- Conduct initial assessments to identify clients' needs, strengths, and barriers.
- Develop and implement personalized case management, housing and employment plans for each client.
- Provide ongoing support, counseling, and advocacy to clients, ensuring they have access to necessary resources and services.
- Collaborate with community organizations, social service agencies, and healthcare providers to coordinate and facilitate access to housing, employment, education, healthcare, and other support services.
- Monitor clients' progress and provide regular updates to the program director and other team members.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date client records, case notes, and documentation.
- Participate in team meetings, case conferences, and training sessions to enhance professional development and share best practices.
- Commit yourself to treating each community member with respect and dignity.
- Maintain database records, including client intakes, program outcomes
- Adhere to laws regarding confidentiality and reporting requirements; maintain knowledge of HIPAA certification standards.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Social Services or a related field, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- 3+ years of experience providing case management, housing navigation or workforce development services. Prior experience working with people who have been justice involved, experiencing homelessness, or individuals with low income is strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of the client population, familiarity with issues surrounding trauma, mental illness, and substance abuse is strongly preferred. Familiarity with client intake and assessments.
- Commitment to serving people experiencing homelessness and people who are involved in the justice system.
- General Knowledge of local community resources.
- Experience with HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) data entry is strongly preferred.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and crisis intervention skills with a can-do and flexible attitude.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision, multitask, maintain confidentiality, and meet deadlines.
Job Type: Full-time (~35 hours per week)
Pay: $28-32/hr DOE
Benefits:
- Benefits: Kaiser Platinum HMO, Delta Dental Silver, Vision Insurance, Life and Disability Insurance
- 20 days of PTO per year
- 11 Paid Holidays
- Carbon Collective 403.B Retirement Plan
Non-Discrimination Statement:
4th Second is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against job applicants on account of race, color, creed or religion, national origin including language use restrictions, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition or HIV/AIDS status, political affiliation, military or veteran status, genetic characteristics, or ancestry.