Atlas House - Vocational Advocate

Positions Summary:

The Vocational Advocate is responsible for all areas of the programs vocational and volunteer services. The Vocational Advocate is responsible for each client’s vocational training, job readiness, job acquisition and employment progress and supervision while residing in the program. The Vocational Advocate will measure each client’s vocational interests and aptitudes to match them with job opportunities. Responsibilities of this position include establishing and maintaining a list of client supportive work sites, providing weekly vocational skills and performance evaluation for all clients as indicated. This position works in collaboration with the Atlas Case Manager and reports to the Atlas Program Manager.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Master’s degree with major study in psychology or a closely allied field and one year of experience in the care and rehabilitation of youth, OR a Bachelor’s Degree with major study in social work, psychology, sociology, or a closely allied field, and two (2) years of experience in the care and rehabilitation of youth. 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Genuine concern for young people and the ability to treat all people with dignity and respect, and openness to learning and implementing a Positive Youth Development approach to youth work.
• Ability to work effectively within: culturally diverse populations; team dependent models; crisis management; strength-based theoretical orientation; adolescent development; and family reunification.  
• Knowledge of Vocational Assessments and training resources to assist clients.
• Knowledge of DBT Practice and Interventions.
• Ability to assess clients’ job readiness and assist youth in identifying and strengthening their employment skills. 
• A commitment to on-going training and a willingness to receive and act upon feedback.
• Ability to accurately read, record, and interpret information and complete written documentation that meets contract and program guidelines.
• Ability to provide visual and auditory supervision of program and youth.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a broad variety of people, including youth, families, staff, supervisors, and community partners.
• Ability to stay calm and emotionally available in an environment serving young people who require a high level of supervision and redirection from staff.
• Ability to exercise independent discretion and judgment within program guidelines.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-dependent environment and to act on the agenda of the program.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries working with youth and in handling confidential information. 
• Ability to climb and descend at least two flights of stairs.
• Ability to escort and supervise clients in the community which may require standing and walking up to an hour at one time.
• Ability to stay awake and alert throughout entire assigned shift and to perform routine dorm checks and facility walk-throughs.
• Ability to effectively monitor safety and demonstrate group management skills and effectively de-escalate potentially chaotic or volatile situations.
• Ability to regularly attend scheduled shift, be punctual for scheduled shift and meetings, and be in a condition suitable for assuming responsibilities of position.
• Manual dexterity allowing performance of routine office tasks such as writing, phone use, filing, copying, and use of computer keyboard.
• Manual/physical capability to bend, stoop, kneel, and reach, as well as occasionally lifting up to 20lbs (including overhead) in order to perform functions such as accepting donations or unpacking groceries.
• Ability to perform and/or supervise routine household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, washing and folding laundry, emptying trash, sweeping/mopping, etc. 

Other Requirements:

• Driving is required; a personal vehicle to get to and job sites is required. All employees who drive for work purposes must have and maintain a valid driver’s license for state of residency, have a driving record that permits coverage under the corporate auto liability policy, and complete the agency’s driving approval process before driving for work. If driving a personal vehicle for work purposes drivers must also have personal auto liability coverage ($100,000/$300,000 levels strongly recommended). Employees are not to drive for work purposes until they have received written authorization to do so.
• Blood borne Pathogens training is required on first day of employment and annually thereafter.
• Must complete Mandatory Abuse Training within the first 30 days of employment and annually thereafter.
• Must complete and maintain CPR and First Aid Certification and provide emergency first-aid, as needed.
• Must pass criminal history background check.
• Food Handler's Certification required within two weeks of hire.
• Must obtain National Provider Identification Number through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System within 5 days of hire.
• Ability to participate in On-call coverage, including 24/7 afterhours and weekend coverage.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Creates and maintains working agreements between Atlas ILP House program and private sector business.
  
  • Conducts presentations to private sector businesses emphasizing the benefits of employing a client  
• Assist clients in developing employment skills.
  
  • Create work history, generate working resume, cover letters, and teach interviewing and job skills;
  • Facilitate communication skills that client will use when addressing employer
  • Preparing residents for work evaluations
• Tracks client progress at jobs
  
  • Meets weekly with clients for progress and performance updates; keeps Program Case Manager and Program Manager appraised of client progress and performance. 
  • Completes monthly checks with employers and provides updates in the leadership meeting
• Completes BRS service documentation weekly and monthly reporting requirements and/or reports according to program standards and required timeframes. Maintains client files in accordance with contract and licensing requirements.
  
  • BRS Progress Notes – weekly 
  • Master Service Plan Updates – monthly 
  • Leadership Meeting Notes – weekly 
• Oversees all services related to vocational education and performance for Atlas ILP clients.
  
  • Performs needed assessments, including but not limited to pre-assessment employment training and computer literacy.  This includes any assessments required by funding contract(s).
  • Works with clients on an individual basis to enhance job-readiness.  This includes but is not limited to obtaining appropriate personal documentation (right to work and identity), establishing employment goals, creation of resume and cover letter, completing applications, interview skills, and job search resources.
  • Works with clients to enhance job retention.
  • Works in collaboration with the Program Case Manager to evaluate and plan client services
  • Completes and documents weekly supervision checks to insure clients are where they are supposed to be while offsite and not in direct staff supervision.
  • Provide written reports on timely basis.
  • Attend scheduled meetings with program staff or others, as identified.
• Provides On-Call Emergency Support to Atlas and Cordero 24/7 on a weekly rotation.
• Conducts Vocational Group and Individual Vocational Services weekly as required under BRS contract.
  
  • Beginners Group for career readiness, job searching, resume building, job skill building
  • Advanced Career Group which explores specific career paths, hosts guest speakers, and touring job sites. 
  • Individual Vocational Services meeting with each resident at least one hour a week to discuss job related information and do individual skills training.
• Provides emergency First-Aid/CPR on an as-needed basis.
• Assists with floor coverage as needed.
• Models and encourages direct, professional communication among staff and facilitates development of a positive staff support network.
• Performs other duties, as assigned, by Program Supervisor or Executive Director or his/her designee.
   

 Working Conditions:

• May involve exposure to communicable diseases, including a variety of illnesses and infections such as the common cold, TB, Hepatitis, flu, meningitis, and HIV.
• May involve exposure to upset, angry, severely traumatized or emotionally disturbed children, adolescents, adults, and families.
• May involve time in excess of routine schedule and/or overtime, including evening/overnight, weekend hours, and/or holidays.
• May involve exposure to information that graphically describes physical, sexual and emotion abuse of children and may experience vicarious trauma. 
• May require working and providing services at locations other than program site (i.e., schools, café’, clinics, etc.,) and may, therefore, be exposed to environments not under agency control (i.e., second-hand smoke, varying hygiene practices, etc.).

This position description is intended to give the reader a general idea of the overall purpose and the main activities and responsibilities that are intrinsic to this position. While this description is intended to be representative, it is not intended to be limiting.