The Human Services Agency (HSA) of the County of San Mateo is seeking a qualified candidate for the Employment Services Specialist II position. There is currently one (1) vacancy located in Employment Services. This recruitment may also be used to fill future vacancies.
Under general supervision, the Employment Services Specialist II will provide a variety of employment services to clients including assessment, counseling, and case management. Employment Services Specialist II will exercise independent judgment in assessing and counseling clients regarding training and employment in accordance with established County policies and procedures and program regulations.
The Employment Services Specialist in this classification will work with a diverse population with various obstacles to employment. Additionally, the Employment Services Specialist is expected to provide the following services range.
Examples of duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Screen and assess clients for eligibility across a range of employment and training programs, applying appropriate services strategies to support entry or re-entry into the labor market.
- Screen and determine eligibility for Welfare-to-Work services in accordance with CalWORKs regulations, including evaluating exemptions, time limits, and participation requirements.
- Conduct comprehensive appraisals and assessments to identify client strengths, employment history, education, vocational skills, and barriers to employment such as lack of childcare, transportation, housing instability, or behavioral needs.
- Develop and implement individualized Welfare-to-Work plans in collaboration with clients, outlining required activities such as job search, education, training, and work experience in compliance with state and federal mandates.
- Monitor and track client participation in assigned Welfare-to-Work activities to ensure compliance with hourly requirements and program timelines.
- Provide case management services, including ongoing support and coaching to help clients successfully engage in and complete assigned activities.
- Initiate and process supportive services such as childcare, transportation, ancillary expenses, and work-related needs to enable client participation.
- Assist in developing knowledge of employment and job placement opportunities.
- Arrange and schedule training and educational programs for clients.
- Communicate, collaborate and maintain regular contact with service providers and clients to ensure coordinated care services to meet client needs are provided.
- Participate in team meetings to discuss client strengths, challenges, and resources available to support the client.
- Maintain clear and concise documentation including client interactions, letters, reports, forms, and case notes utilizing the county’s case management system.
- Interpret and apply Welfare-to-Work regulations, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with Federal and State regulation and apply them to program policy and procedures.
- Abide by program rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
- Conduct community outreach and recruitment activities.
- Train new staff on the key aspects of operations, including working with supervisors to develop and conduct individual on-the-job training for new employees having difficulty applying policies and procedures.
- Train ongoing staff and supervisors on new or updated policy/procedures using adult learning theory.
- Provide assistance in collecting and disseminating quality assurance data, interpret data and reports, analyze and identify trends, and develop recommendations.
- Create graphs, charts, and summary reports to communicate findings to various stakeholders.
- Assist in quality assurance activities, including case reviews, data validation, and implementation of corrective actions.
- Perform other related duties as assigned in support of Welfare-to-work program operations.
The ideal candidate will have two (2) years of professional experience providing a variety of employment services to clients including assessment, counseling, and case management; demonstrate a broad range of skills and abilities working with a diverse population as it relates to their employment needs; experience interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures; and be highly proficient in using standard computer software programs for word processing, spreadsheets, or databases. In addition, the candidate must possess excellent interpersonal and writing skills and have a general understanding of the principles, practices and techniques of career and vocational assessment and counseling, problem solving, and interviewing. Bilingual in Spanish is desired.