Pathways Vermont’s Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) team is an evidence-based forensic adaptation of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) with over 40 years of research and evaluation. FACT is recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to be a promising practice that blends criminogenic risk management, substance use and mental health management, with a focus on improving social determinants and health equity. The goals of FACT are to reduce return to incarceration; increase time spent in the community; increase the time in-between returns to incarceration; decrease frequency and intensity of violations; decrease criminogenic risk and needs; reduce victim violence contacts/harassments; increase engagement in treatment/healthcare plan; reduce utilization of crisis services and hospitalization; and improve social determinants (e.g., employment, stable housing, prosocial social connection). This Chittenden County Based team will support 40-60 individuals under the supervision of the Department of Corrections in collaboration with Burlington Probation and Parole.
The Role: The Employment Specialist is an integral part of the FACT team and provides key employment and educational support to job seekers and helps maintain a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. The Employment Specialist holds a space that aims to foster hope, motivation and inspiration throughout the employment process.
Service Area: Chittenden County
Full Time
Supervised by: FACT Team Leader
Responsibilities:
- Engage with people about their lives, offering resource referral, peer support, and employment support in both individualized and group settings
- Engage in relationship building/rapport building with clients and provide service from a “choice” perspective as well as client centered, harm/risk reduction, and strengths based approaches.
- Join a daily FACT team meeting
- Support individuals engaged in FACT services with their employment goals and in the employment process including: supporting folks in finding employment, applying for jobs, applying for educational opportunities to further job prospects, and applying for volunteer opportunities to further skills.
- Support individuals in mock interviews, creating resumes and cover letters, finding attire to wear for an interview, and transportation to/from interviews.
- Support folks in identifying and addressing any barriers to employment, including by not limited to transportation, childcare, and work related attire.
- Support folks post-employment with maintaining their employment.
- Maintain fidelity to the Individual Placement and Support Supportive Employment model as appropriate
- Connect regularly with Pathways Vermont staff that are also engaging in Employment Services to ensure we streamline our referral options and processes.
- Participate in weekly staff meetings, co-reflection, individual supervision and trainings
- Collection of service data and regular reporting
- Co-facilitate employment seekers support group
- Assist in the development and practice of employment related activities and events at Pathways Vermont
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- One year of vocational rehabilitation or employment support training and/or work experience
- Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to Pathways’ mission
- Supervisory experience preferred
- Patience, creativity, flexibility, compassion, and sensitivity to diverse populations including people of color, persons with disabilities, individuals who have experienced trauma, and persons who have been oppressed
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills – the ability to network with area service providers, funders, and community stakeholders
- Excellent organizational skills
- Valid driver’s license, a reliable personal vehicle available for work purposes and current automobile insurance
- Lived experience of having been incarcerated, under supervision and/or in the criminal justice system will be considered a strong asset
- Personal experience of homelessness, mental health, incarceration, extreme states or other life challenges are considered an asset
- Self-motivation and ability to work independently or as part of a team
Working Conditions/Physical Demands:
- Frequent exposure to outside environmental conditions for community-based meetings
- Often meeting with persons in the community and/or visiting different businesses
- Often meeting with clients in institutional settings such as correctional facilities and/or psychiatric hospitals
- Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction at times when collecting paperwork, assisting with applications, etc.
- Extensive reading responsibilities
- Ability to ascend and descend stairs occasionally required (in instances when apartments, businesses and/or meeting places do not have an elevator)
- Regular operation of a computer and other office machinery, including frequent typing
- Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm such as stapling, completing hand-written forms, etc.
- Frequent talking and listening in participation of exchanging ideas through spoken word and occasional receipt and giving of detailed information through oral communication at normal speaking levels.
- Occasionally lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds, occasionally exerting up to 20 pounds of force and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently (opening doors at meeting places/businesses, etc.)
- Visual acuity to operate motor vehicles
- Exposure to high levels of noise and persons who are upset, angry or in an extreme state
Benefits:
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- Long Term Disability/Life Insurance
- Paid Time Off (accrual of 210 hours per year to start)
- All-Staff days off
- 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
- Employee Assistance Program
- Longevity Recognition Rewards
Compensation:
- Part time,non- exempt hourly employee
- 35-40 hours per week
- $21.00 per hour
To apply send cover letter and resume to [email protected]
