Education & Employment Specialist

Hope Solutions•Pleasant Hill, CA

About The Position

Education and Employment Specialists provide targeted employment and education support for homeless families enrolled in the Transitional Age Youth Program (TAY) and justice-involved individuals within the Probation Housing Program (PHP). Working collaboratively with program Case Managers, Housing Navigators, and referring case managers, the TAY and PHP Education and Employment Specialists provide individualized, intensive & flexible support to homeless families and individuals to assist them in engaging with opportunities to increase household income. Initial work includes assessing participants’ employment histories, skills, and educational needs as well as potential barriers to employment, collaboratively creating a Household Income/Employment Plan, and accessing any resources needed to further the goal of increasing household income to remain housed. The Education and Employment Specialist will provide services and referrals to educational and/or employment opportunities on an as-needed basis prior to, during, and post-placement. All client services are participant-driven and delivered with a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach. Services may be provided in the community and in the home at the convenience of the program participant. Services are designed as short-term support to resolve a housing crisis, offer a flexible level of intensity as needed, and provide warm hand-offs to other providers if families/individuals need further support after becoming stably housed.

Requirements

Passion for and demonstrated experience successfully supporting vulnerable populations, especially homeless individuals reentering their communities post-incarceration.
Two years experience in the educational and/or employment fields, preferably with clients from vulnerable circumstances.
B.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).
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
Computer proficiency in the use of Microsoft 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 and TB test.

Nice To Haves

Bi-lingual in English/Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

Use a Housing First, participant-driven approach for all services.
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 Education/Employment Plans that include the goal of sustainable, stable housing in addition to financial and case management support.
Offer targeted job search and/or educational support based on employment needs assessment.
Provide educational 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 Re-entry Manager to ensure continuity of support to participant individuals.
Offer services at the level of intensity requested by the individual, including flexible levels of intensity.
Maintain key relationships with community service providers such as Contra Costa 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.
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, authenticity, backgrounds, and goals.
Participate in and complete our new employee onboarding process, which includes reading and discussing a short chapter in the book, The Color of Law.
Review and commit to our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging Commitment.
Professionally represent Hope Solutions 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 of the Supportive Housing Program and Hope Solutions.
Assist with distributing client satisfaction/feedback surveys for all clients served.
Attend all required meetings, including but not limited to Hope Solutions 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).
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.