Employment Specialist I
PLEASE READ THIS JOB ANNOUCEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY. An Alameda County Job Application is required to be considered for ALL County recruitments.
Alameda County Behavioral Health Department is recruiting for an:
EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST I
$64,116.00-$76,654.50
Plus excellent benefits!
Join our dynamic team
ABOUT US
As part of Alameda County Health, the Behavioral Health Department supports people with Medi-Cal and without insurance living with serious mental illness and substance use conditions along their path toward wellness, recovery, and resiliency. We provide services through a network of contracted mental health and substance use providers and administer the State’s resources and training for behavioral health providers, case managers, and other healthcare professionals. We advocate for our patients and families and create space for personal engagement in their care.
We are outpatient specialists for mental health services for older adults and youth, substance use providers and treatment program specialists, advocates for quality improvement and patients’ rights, and psychiatric and integrated health care providers.
Visit us to learn more about our program and services.
https://www.acbhcs.org/
THE POSITION
This classification specification describes the entry-level classification in the Employment Specialist, Behavioral Health series. Under close supervision, the Employment Specialist I, Behavioral Health will assist clients with mental illness, substance use disorder, or co-occurring disorders in obtaining and maintaining competitive employment consistent with their vocational goals; and to perform related work as required.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
This classification is part of a two-level flexibly staffed series located in the Alameda County Health Behavioral Health Department (ACBHD) and reports to the Senior Employment Specialist, Behavioral Health. Employees serve clients assigned to the Vocational Program in the ACBHD. Employment Specialists deliver specialized employment services to a targeted client population who have mental illness, substance use disorder, or co-occurring disorders. These services include follow-along support and job coaching in addition to job placement services. Employees are assigned various duties related to obtaining competitive employment for clients, including engaging, assessing, preparing, placing, and coaching clients.
The Employment Specialist I, Behavioral Health, is distinguished from the Employment Specialist II, Behavioral Health in that the former requires close supervision during training, whereas the latter exercises more independent judgment in the delivery of services.
Employees in the Employment Specialist I, Behavioral Health, classification are expected to be flexibly promoted to the higher level of Employment Specialist II, Behavioral Health after six (6) months of full-time employment and demonstrate proficiency through satisfactory job performance.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Note: The following statement reflects the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the job.
- Engages clients and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers without mental health issues or substance use disorder.
- Assists clients in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment in order for clients to make informed decisions about employment opportunities. Refers clients to benefits counseling, as needed.
- Assesses clients' vocational functioning on an ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. With the client's permission, it provides education and support to family members. Discusses client's preference for disclosure of psychiatric status to employers. Assists and supports clients in making career decisions, setting training and employment goals and identifying and implementing strategies to achieve goals.
- Assists clients in preparing resumes, master applications, cover letters, and job applications; instructs clients in job-seeking strategies and interview techniques.
- Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the clients on his/her caseload, following the principles and procedures of Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) Supported Employment.
- Conducts a minimum of six face-to-face employer contacts per week. Employer contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business, describe supports offered by the program, and describe client strengths that are relevant to the position.
- Provides individualized follow-along support to assist clients in maintaining employment and, occasionally, provides job coaching.
- Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients that may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact with the employer.
- Provides outreach services as necessary to clients when they appear to disengage from the service. Uses a variety of methods to provide outreach.
- Attends weekly meetings with the mental health treatment team and communicates individually with team members between meetings to coordinate and integrate vocational services into mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
- Has face-to-face meetings with Vocational Program Rehabilitation Counselors weekly and meets with the California Department of Rehabilitation Counselors at least once a month to coordinate services for clients.
- Completes a Vocational Profile with the client; discusses the plan for employment with mental health staff and other treatment team providers and updates it quarterly. Develops job support plans with the client using input from the client, mental health staff, family members, past employment experiences, and information about the current job.
- Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community providing direct services such as meeting clients at home, in the workplace, at a coffee shop, library, or other location in the community, taking clients to apply for jobs, researching local GED programs or colleges, etc.
- Establishes and maintains effective communication and working relationships with clients, their families, schools, employers, community organizations, other outside agencies, and the general public.
- Completes a variety of documents including case notes, letters, and reports and completes a variety of forms to monitor client’s progress; completes all required documentation to maximize program accountability and funding; maintains consistent practices and procedures and compliance with mandated guidelines.
EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST I
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Experience:
The equivalent of two (2) years of full-time experience performing a combination of two (2) or more of the following functions related to vocational counseling: job development, job coaching, hiring, or recruiting; or direct service experience with disabled or disadvantaged populations (such as mentally ill, substance use disorder, or co-occurring disorders) to achieve training, education, and employment goals.
Substitution:
Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the field of sociology, psychology, rehabilitation, counseling, business administration, marketing, or a closely related social science field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.
License:
Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle operator’s license is required for both levels.
HOW TO APPLY
An Alameda County application is required to be considered for this recruitment.
Please complete the Alameda County job application template and submit your application through the HRS portal:
https://www.jobapscloud.com/Alameda/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1=25&R2=6782&R3=01
NEW USERS can click on “Fill out an application” to fill out an application template. Once the application is completed, please click on the “Review” tab to “Print/Save My Application”. A PDF version or digital scan of the application must be submitted to the email address above.
Alameda County Health Care Services Agency is enriched with a diverse workforce. We believe the best way to deliver optimal programs and services to our communities is to hire and promote talents that are representative of the communities we serve. Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
BENEFITS
Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging healthcare options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discounts, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall wellbeing. These benefits include but are not limited to*:
For your Health & Well-Being
- Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
- Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
- Vision or Vision Reimbursement
- Share the Savings
- Basic Life Insurance
- Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
- County Allowance Credit
- Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
- Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
- Employee Assistance Program
For your Financial Future
- Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
- Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)
For your Work/Life Balance
- 12 paid holidays
- Floating Holidays
- Vacation and sick leave accrual
- Vacation purchase program
- Management Paid Leave**
- Catastrophic Sick Leave
- Group Auto/Home Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Commuter Benefits Program
- Guaranteed Ride Home
- Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
- Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
- Child Care Resources
- 1st United Services Credit Union