Employment and Training Worker II

Position Information Salary Range: $26.21 / hourly, $4,543.07 / monthly, $54,516.80 / annually Provides employability services to eligible applicants of local social service agencies; applies program regulations and procedures; assesses employment potential and barriers that interfere with securing employment; identifies needs for social and health services and makes referrals; collaborates with partner agencies and employers; uses an automated system to maintain and monitor participants' records and generate reports; may determine the eligibility of applicants and recipients for public assistance programs through interactive interviewing and fact gathering; and performs related work as required. Working under general supervision, the Employment & Training Worker II is the journey level in the Employment & Training Worker series. Employees at this level are expected to be fully qualified and able to perform a wide range of employability services including initiating independent contact and collaborating with employers and other service providers. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the lower level of Employment & Training Worker I, or if filled from outside, require prior related experience. The Employment & Training Worker II differs from the Employment & Training Worker III in that the latter is the advanced journey level and may be assigned lead worker duties. The Employment & Training Worker Series differs from the Social Worker series in that incumbents in the Employment & Training Worker classes are not responsible for the provision of social services; it differs from the Eligibility Specialist series in that the primary responsibility of an Eligibility Specialist is the determination of financial eligibility for public assistance programs; and it differs from the Integrated Case Worker series in that the primary focus of the Employment & Training Worker series is the full scope of employability services to eligible applicants. Supervision The Employment & Training Worker II receives supervision from an Employment & Training Supervisor. Responsibilities Utilize Motivational Interviewing techniques to interview and evaluate eligible program participants’ employability, assisting them in achieving self‑sufficient employment. Administer and interpret vocational measurement tests. Assess clients’ employment and education history; identify employment‑related skills, abilities and barriers; develop goals and plans to improve skills and abilities and overcome barriers; provide career guidance, employment and training counseling; give labor market information related to local employment possibilities; and, as appropriate, refer clients to employment‑related educational and training opportunities. Refer clients to other staff members or community resources for direct and intensive services and specialized counseling as necessary; advocate on clients’ behalf for most appropriate services including enabling services. Assist applicants and recipients in utilizing available resources. Make home visits in connection with casework assignments. Provide community outreach for various agency programs. Conduct orientation workshops and one‑on‑one training for new and returning program participants. Read, comprehend, and apply complex regulations, rules, policies and procedures, including the federal Work Participation Rate. Participate in development and implementation of program strategies to increase the federal Work Participation Rate. Explain relevant program regulations, rules, and policies to clients and the public. Present information on available programs to community organizations, the public, and employers during job fairs, community partner presentations, and one‑on‑one meetings. Conduct ongoing research to identify labor market information and employment and training opportunities; establish and maintain contacts with regional employers and training providers. Complete and process disbursement of funds, documents for clients’ authorized supportive services (e.g., childcare and transportation). Place clients into appropriate paid and/or non‑paid work training assignments and monitor performance and progress. Complete and process documents, correspondence, and reports for authorized supportive services, manually or using an automated system. Operate a personal computer, including software programs and an automated system, to enter and retrieve data, manage individual client cases and overall caseload, compile statistical reports, and perform other assigned duties. Maintain regular contact with clients to monitor each client’s completion of tasks and progress toward attaining employment goals and compliance with program requirements. Document evidence of individual clients’ compliance or non‑compliance with program rules and regulations; follow procedures related to the imposition of sanctions. Perform a variety of clerical duties related to organizing, prioritizing and scheduling assignments; meeting deadlines; completing forms, reports and other documents; maintaining automated and manual files and logs; managing client cases; and fulfilling other responsibilities as required. Establish and maintain cooperative, effective working relationships with program participants; department employees; regional employers, educational facilities, trainers and all other stakeholders and supporters. May assess family situation to determine if Family Stabilization services are appropriate. May develop Family Stabilization service plan with family and service providers. Perform related duties as assigned. Additional Duties for Determining Public Assistance Eligibility Analyze financial information and eligibility information to determine initial or continuing eligibility for multiple aid programs. Enter and retrieve numerical and narrative data and issue benefits from an automated computer system. Assist clients in accessing community services. Organize caseload so that necessary case records and documents are processed and updated within specific time limits established by regulation and local policy. Employment Standards – Knowledge of General goals and purpose of employment preparation and training programs, and public social services programs. Effective and appropriate career, vocational, and employment counseling techniques. Occupational fields and regional labor market trends for private and public sector employers. Services provided within the department or agency that program participants may require and the procedure for referring participants for those services. Local and regional socio‑economic conditions. Characteristics, customs, and unique needs of local ethnic/cultural populations. Basic principles of individual and family behaviors that impact and/or contribute to family stability and self‑sufficiency. Basic principles involved in the growth and development of personality and in‑group processes. Department and community resources available to program participants. Computer terminology and computer keyboard arrangement. Employment Standards – Ability to Apply techniques and methods for conducting successful employment‑related interviews, record keeping and standard office procedures. Elicit factual information from prospective and current program participants who may exhibit behavior indicative of deprivation and/or emotional difficulties. Interpret financial information and make basic arithmetical computations. Accurately gather, record and evaluate data necessary for implementation of appropriate employment preparation and training programs. Prepare reports, forms, plans and agreements required by program rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Establish effective engagement with clients; use fact‑finding techniques and perform in‑depth and interactive interviewing. Listen to clients and develop professional rapport to determine underlying barriers to employment. Obtain facts, recognize relevance and significance; analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action. Plan and organize caseload to ensure deadlines and regulations regarding time limits are met. Read, understand, apply, and explain complicated and detailed correspondence and reports, regulations and policy directives. Determine appropriate course of action in emergency situations. Enter information accurately into a computerized system, and navigate effectively through automated multi‑screen client record system. Identify client problems that require referral to other social or community resources. Speak and write in a clear and concise manner, using correct English. Read, comprehend, apply, and follow complex rules, regulations, policies, procedures and other written instructions, including the policies, procedures, and programs of the Social Services Department. Prepare standard reports, forms, plans and agreements required by program rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Use tact and diplomacy when communicating with all persons, including those with different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Identify and assess program participants’ employment barriers and develop individual participant plans for securing employment. Monitor individual participants’ compliance with program regulations and, when appropriate, implement required sanctions. Regularly evaluate individual participants’ progress toward meeting established goals for securing employment; use appropriate methods to motivate and encourage participants and, when necessary, counsel participants who have not met goals or expectations. Coach individual participants in how to prepare for a job interview and meet future employers’ job performance expectations. Present training workshops to groups of program participants. Establish, maintain, and manage complex records. Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co‑workers, supervisory and managerial staff; area employers willing to employ program participants; community‑based service providers of child care, transportation and other services where program participants are required to attain employment goals; and all others with whom contact is made during normal business. Operate office equipment such as a personal computer, including automated systems, databases, word processing, spreadsheets, electronic communications programs, calculator and photocopier. Minimum Qualifications One (1) year of full‑time experience as an Employment & Training Worker I; or Thirty (30) months of full‑time experience performing vocational guidance, employment counseling or placement services; AND completion of 15 semester (22.5 quarter) college units in career planning, vocational guidance principles, personality development, occupational testing & measurement or counseling preparation; or Three (3) years of full‑time experience performing vocational guidance, employment counseling or placement services; or Graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university; AND one (1) year of full‑time experience performing vocational guidance, employment counseling or placement services. Additional Information A valid driver's license will be required at the time of interview. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis. Positions require pre‑employment screening, including background checks, and fingerprinting. Government agencies accessing U.S. government information, which includes federal tax information, must ensure that background investigation requirements for all agency employees and contractors that have access to federal tax information are consistent to the IRS background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information. Lake County is required to verify Employment and Education if a conditional offer of employment is made to an applicant. Lake County offers flexible office hours available for most positions; Monday‑Friday with a variety of schedules between 6:30 am and 7:00 pm. Work remotely from home available for some positions upon Lake County Department of Social Services approval. Equal Employment Opportunity The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. #J-18808-Ljbffr City of Santa Fe Springs