Workforce Development Specialist

Company: Easterseals Redwood
Title: Workforce Development Specialist
Reports to: Manager, Career Connections Youth Services
Status: Full-time, Non-Exempt
Supervises: N/A
Department: Area 12
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Position Summary
Provides case management services to youth enrolled in CCMEP services including working with schools, and community providers to ensure youth engage in academic and work readiness training as well as assisting youth in completing their graduation requirements and connecting to employment and/or post-secondary education.

Essential and Primary Responsibilities

• Provides ongoing, objective, and customized assessments of the academic levels, work skill levels, and service needs of each youth.
• Develops an Individual Opportunity Plan for each participant according to the policies and procedures established by Job and Family Services and the DOL
• Conducts outreach and recruitment of youth for CCMEP services.
• Provides community-based programing, meaning services are to be delivered outside of the office, including home-based services and potentially outside of normal office hours.
• Identifies and arranges for new or continuing services and activities that meet individual youth’s needs. This may occur when youth complete services, are becoming disengaged, and/or are facing new barriers to success.
• Provides job development services including but not limited to, resume writing, interview skills development, soft skills training, providing labor market information, and connecting to hiring employers.
• Conducts follow-up for twelve (12) months after each youth’s exit.
• Serves as an advocate for youth in securing needed services and navigating the complexities of the service delivery systems.
• Develops and maintains partnerships with local employers to establish paid/unpaid work experience opportunities
• Conducts training seminars and support groups for youth participants.
• Provides tutoring in basic skills development in literacy and numeracy.
• Document service interventions, services received and follow-up to ensure services are meeting the needs of the youth and are also within the guidelines of the CCMEP service model.
• Keeps accurate records by completing and maintaining required documentation including case notes, monthly reports, intake forms, activity logs, mileage/expense reports, etc.
• Maintains documentation required by the CCMEP service model in the state data system, Aries.
• Works well with community providers and develops working partnerships that embrace the needs of youth.
• Develop good partnerships with community providers/resources and make appropriate referrals and conduct follow-up to ensure youth needs are addressed within the guidelines of the CCMEP service model.
• Make appropriate referrals to existing community resources and conduct follow-up.
• Be creative in meeting the needs of youth. Think outside the box.
• Attends meetings as required by supervisor, vice-president, or agency.
• Maintains confidentiality of consumer files and other sensitive subject matter.
• Works assigned schedule, exhibits regular and predictable attendance and works outside of normal schedule as needed to meet workload demands. Performs other related duties as required.

Expectations for Professional Skills:

• Manages change in a well-planned manner consistent with Easterseals Redwood culture and capability to respond to change.
• Possesses critical thinking and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Communicate effectively with individuals and/or groups in both private and public environments.
• Makes timely and effective decisions in the absence of perfect information.
• Demonstrates flexibility when seeking solutions.
• Demonstrate appropriate culture in alignment with the Easterseals Redwood mission, vision, philosophy, values, and standards.
• Values cultural diversity and best recognizes and utilizes individual abilities, skills, and characteristics when collaborating with others to complete work tasks.
• Employs active listening skills and effective time management skills.
• Demonstrates effective interpersonal communication skills to foster positive working relationships with others.
• Seeks agreement between internal and external stakeholders to meet the interests of all parties.
• Promotes effective business and public relations for the agency by representing Redwood on request.

Competencies:

• A willingness to develop and sharpen skills necessary for effective performance.
• Knowledge of intervention strategies; emotional, mental,and physical disabilities; general principles and methods for working with persons disabilities; job training methods; vocational and habilitation programming; general principles and methods of leading a job search; labor market; computer software, applications, and programs.
• Ability to: negotiate and obtain jobs for consumers; exercise patience in dealing with persons with disabilities; work independently demonstrating initiative; exhibit flexibility in work schedule and job tasks; develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, supervisors, job contacts and general public; maintain accurate and complete work records; accurately post information to written records; maintain confidentiality of sensitive subject matter; deal effectively with job behavior problems; identify job site problems and recommend viable solutions.
• Skills in verbal and written communication; interviewing; operating general office equipment; general typing; application of job software programs; filing documents in alphabetical, numerical, chronological, and subject order; collaborating with organizations and businesses; planning scheduling and organizing work; maintaining good public relations.
• Initiative (self-starter), planning and organizational skills, ability to handle multiple priorities with a strategic focus, and complete follow through on job tasks.
• Hearing, vision, and physical strength and ability to perform the described essential functions, with or without the use of adaptive devices.
• Reading, writing, spelling, and math abilities for accurate completion of work tasks.
• Receptive/expressive language, written communication, and interpersonal skills to communicate clearly.
• Professionalism in appearance, actions, and behaviors in keeping with assigned role.
• Commitment to the Easterseals Redwood mission, vision, philosophy, values, and standards.
• Respect for adults without regard to race, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, or other legally protected class.
• A willingness to work as part of a team.
• Reliable transportation to/from work and to complete out-of-building duties.
• Acceptable Criminal Background check, Child Abuse & Neglect Registry check and check of KY Nurse Aide Registry.
• Attainment of CPR and First Aid certification within 90 days of start date, and maintenance of annual certification.

Required Education and Experience:
An appropriate combination of education, training, course work, and experience may qualify an applicant to demonstrate required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field preferred.
Ability to document identity and employment eligibility within three (3) days of original appointment as a condition of employment in compliance with Immigration Reform and Control Act requirements.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• These essential functions require visual/hearing acuity, sufficient strength, and the ability to bend, reach, grasp, manipulate objects, pull/push, stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, and lift and and/or carry up to 50 pounds or exert up to 50 pounds of force frequently to move human bodies or objects, with or without the use of adaptive equipment. Lifting forces vary with adult weight and level of ability to assist in the movement.
• Individuals holding this position are required to attend initial orientation and periodic training offered by Easterseals Redwood, and to complete all training required by Easterseals Redwood or regulation, including CPR/First Aid (on or off site). Staff members demonstrate accuracy, timeliness, and a commitment to quality, safety, and a healthy, clean, and orderly environment in compliance with applicable policies, procedures, regulations, licensing, certification, accreditation, and business integrity standards.
• Work is performed with and for adults with multiple and severe disabilities, who may display disruptive behavior, in activity and care rooms in at Easterseals Redwood sites, on the grounds, and in the community. Easterseals Redwood sites are climate controlled with standard lighting. When conducting duties outside of the building, lighting and temperature reflect seasonal conditions. Noise levels are moderate. There is minimal-to-no exposure to hazardous chemicals with some exposure to contagious conditions, such as the common cold and bodily fluids.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

This job description reflects Easterseals Redwood assignment of essential functions; describes the general content of and the requirements for the performance of this job and is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties requirements or responsibilities. Easterseals Redwood reserves the right to change any part of this job description, to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job description as circumstances require.