DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This position exists in the Employment and Training Office within the Department of Social Services and involves responsibility for the development and coordination of employment and training services for participants enrolled in the program. The incumbent meets with program participants to assess career goals and interests and develop an appropriate career plan. In addition, the Employment and Training Specialist evaluates participants’ personal circumstances in an effort to identify potential barriers to employment and makes the necessary referrals to community service agencies to assist with self‑sufficiency. Work is performed under the general supervision of a Senior Employment and Training Specialist in the Employment and Training Office and a higher-level employee in the Department of Social Services with leeway allowed for the use of independent judgment in carrying out the work activities. Does related work as required.
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:
- Meets with participants to develop individualized career plans and an individual service strategy;
- Refers participants to necessary community service agencies, such as remedial training programs, financial aid for higher education, and day care assistance;
- Coordinates all aspects of activities regarding assistance provided to individual participants, and assesses the effectiveness of the individual service strategy;
- Performs a variety of support activities, such as referrals to job interviews, housing, and child care services;
- Identifies possible barriers to employability through interaction with the participant and work site supervisors, and proposes methods of overcoming them;
- Meets regularly with work site supervisors to evaluate participants’ job performance;
- Maintains case notes, updates case files, and prepares reports upon the request of other service agencies;
- Participates in staff meetings and conferences designed to define client goals, problems, and evaluate progress;
- Assists participants in creating resumes, writing cover letters, and completing job applications;
- Coaches participants in developing job search skills, conducts mock interviews, and provides guidance to participants in need of developing proper work habits;
- Prepares documentation necessary for the acquisition of appropriate clothing and other materials needed by participants to secure and maintain employment;
- Collects and posts information pertaining to employment opportunities within the community;
- May monitor program results for effectiveness;
- May visit local institutions and educate area residents and employers about programs available through the agency
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Good knowledge of the cultural, environmental and personal factors influencing the lives of persons who are economically disadvantaged, low income or unemployed; good knowledge of interviewing and job counseling practices and procedures; good knowledge of employment and training program objectives; working knowledge of sources of job placement; working knowledge of federal, state and local employment and training rules and regulations as they affect the agency programs; ability to evaluate client’s occupational interests and aptitudes; ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with clients; ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with department staff and staff in other public and private agencies; ability to prepare as well as interpret narrative, statistical and tabular reports; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Promotion: Two years of permanent status as an Employment and Training Assistant in the Lewis County Department of Social Services.
Open-Competitive: Either:
A. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a bachelor’s degree or higher; or
B. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with an associate’s degree and two years of full-time experience in a social service agency, community action or community service agency involving direct client contact; or
C. Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and four years of full-time experience in the areas defined in (B); or
D. An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) through (C).
NOTE: Successful completion of coursework in the social sciences or behavioral sciences (psychology, sociology, anthropology, counseling, criminal justice, public justice, gerontology, human behavior, social work, vocational rehabilitation, economics, political science) at a regionally accredited college or university, or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees, may be substituted for the required experience with three semester credit hours of related coursework as indicated above being equivalent to three months of experience.