Career Counselor Specialist

JOB LOCATION: This position works between the Centre County and Clinton Count CareerLink offices with the option of choosing between either location as the primary location.

JOB ASSIGNMENT: Your Employment Services (YES) to the Future / Out-of-School Youth (OSY) contract.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP: The position reports to the YES Project Program Manager and in their absence to the CARES Team Leadership Coordinator.

JOB DESCRIPTION: The Career Counselor Specialist is responsible for recruitment, assessment, intake, orientation, and case management services for OSY contract participants. Implementing an intensive case management approach, the Career Counselor Specialist will work collaboratively with workforce development, education, employer, human services and community partners to provide educational and career exploration and counseling, coordinate support services, and facilitate engaging educational and work experiences as a means to connect youth to a sustainable career path.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Implement a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach to case management. Strive to engage participants by developing quality staff-youth relationships including facilitating negotiation and resiliency skills in order to minimize barriers.
• Conduct outreach and recruitment of OSY within the CSIU service area and specific OSY target areas.
• Conduct OSY intakes to ensure income and participant eligibility using participant eligibility checklist, suitability checklist and collecting appropriate documentation for participant files.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments on each participant including Interest Survey, WorkKeys Personal Skills, Learning Style Inventory, and the Test of Adult and Basic Education (TABE) according to publisher and the Pennsylvania Department of Education Title II guidelines; as well as determining basic skills deficiency and educational funding increases.
• Coordinate and leverage services with PA CareerLink, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), WATCH Project, ELECT Project and Adult Education staff including, but not limited to, participation in appropriate Integrated Education & Training (IET) courses to ensure academic and career preparation.
• Create an Individual Service Strategy (ISS), to be used as a living document, based on each participant's on-going and re-assessment of educational, employment, and leadership development priorities, appropriate achievement objectives, and appropriate participant services.
• Identify with each participant's barriers to success and assist the participant in developing strategies to minimize those barriers; leveraging public, private, and community-based services to meet participant's needs.
• Illustrate how a career pathway can guide and promote career advancement.
• Provide or refer participants to workshops or classes on career exploration and counseling, skill building, study skills, budgeting, and soft skills.
• Assist OSY in finding placement in employment, postsecondary or the military.
• Record and track all youth activities, program services, case notes and outcomes in the Commonwealth Workforce Development System (CWDS) within 7 days of service.
• Provide documentation for all outcomes, program services and support services; maintain and complete required participant records as part of accountability standards that facilitates the monitoring of progress towards contracted performance measures.
• Record and track all youth activities, outcomes, employment, exits and quarterly placement of follow-up participants in Cumulative Reports as part of real time data required for CPWDC reporting.
• Maintain and complete required paperwork for YES participants interested in a paid work experience and/or job shadowing.
• Orient and prepare YES participants for paid work experience by actively engaging in career exploration and workforce development services.
• Monitor paid work experience worksites, review paid work experience policies and procedures with worksite supervisors, and provide regular communication with the worksite as well as documenting the communication in CWDS.
• Conduct appropriate follow-up according to CPWDC's WIOA Follow-Up Policy for 12 months after the participant exits the program.
• Conduct networking and employer engagement activities providing opportunities for employers to participate in job clubs, guest speaking events, workshops and leadership activities.
• Maintain and update online calendar accessible to the YES Project Program Manager.
• Consult with colleagues, educational institutions, program personnel, and other service agencies on a regular basis to improve and maintain an appropriate instructional process and program.
• Tailor schedules and direct service for the attainment of OSY contract performance measures; assist in the assessment of existing educational curricula for career readiness and in the development of revised, expanded, and new programs in this area.
• Participate in project activities, staff training, and in-service activities as required.
• Coordinate services with education institutions, social service agency representatives, and program staff to attain the participant's short- and long-term goals.
• Act as an advocate/liaison of the OSY participant in education programs, training, social service, and other appropriate entities and with employers.
• Assist with transportation to training, literacy and numeracy competency building, and social services, when necessary.
• Provide monthly reports and a synopsis of activities to the YES Project Program Manager.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Other duties as assigned by the YES Project Program Manager or their designee.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Minimum requirement is an Associate's degree in education, human services, sociology or related fields. A Bachelor's degree in education or related field is preferred.
• Three (3) years' experience as a caseworker or in other employment involving direct services preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with target population; and experience working or coordinating services with education, social service agencies is preferred.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive and collaborative relationships using diplomacy and tact with partners, staff, and clients - both internal and external required.
• Computer experience with database, spreadsheets, and word processing software is required.
• Excellent oral, written and organizational skills are required.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current, approved Act 34 (PA State Police), Act 151 (PA Child Abuse Registry) and Act 114-FBI Fingerprint clearances are required and must be renewed at appropriate, specific intervals pursuant to Act 153 of 2014 (revised Act 15 of 2015).
• Current, approved Act 126 Mandated Reporter Training certificate showing completion of a minimum of three (3) hours training every five (5) years.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS: Complete professional development opportunities as recommended by the immediate supervisor or required of the position. Trauma-Informed Care, Assessment and Surveys, Resiliency in Action, and suicide prevention training must be achieved within six months of hire.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Physically able to manage activities including considerable bending, stepping, stooping; climbing in and out of car unassisted.
• Sedentary - able to sit for extended periods of time, but may involve walking and standing (periodically as required), is able to lift and carry up to thirty (30 lbs.) pounds.
• Dexterity - finger movements (computer keyboard, calculator) eye hand coordination (office equipment, etc).
• Auditory and Visual requirements: Within normal range with or without correction.
• Worksite environment: primarily indoors-office setting with occasional exposure to outdoor elements/climate during workday, field trips, or special projects.
• A valid Pennsylvania driver's license and the ability to travel for work including field trips and home visits.
• Demanding workload: Handle a large caseload of up to 75 participants, active and in follow-up.
• Mental Demands: Steady response to unpredictable situations and ability to remain calm in meetings and various work settings. • Demonstrates independent judgment and discretion.

TIME AND SITE REQUIREMENTS:

• This is a full time non-exempt position following a 260 days per year work schedule.
• Regular attendance at work is a requirement of this position; any and all absences must be approved by the immediate supervisor.
• Attendance at evening or weekend meetings and occasional overnight travel to seminars and workshops is required

CSIU PROPERTY AND CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS:

• All property, including intellectual property, materials, equipment or actual products and services developed or accrued as part of the job duties and responsibilities listed above, is the property of the CSIU. It may not be used for personal profit or gain and will be relinquished to the CSIU upon termination of employment from the CSIU.
• The person employed in this position shall maintain confidentiality with regard to the personal and private information about clients and coworkers, programs and services and any other proprietary information accrued as a result of CSIU employment or as required by state or federal laws and regulations.
• The person employed in this position must adhere to all requirements identified in the code of professionalism entitled "Ambassadors Are Professionals, Too" and CSIU Administrative Regulation 317-AR-1 CSIU Service Standards.

The position holder must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. It is the responsibility of the employee to inform his/her supervisor and the director of Human Resources of any and all reasonable accommodations that will be required.