Employment and Training Worker I/II

Salary: $3,186.00 - $3,876.00 Monthly
Location : Imperial County
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: MSS04818
Department: Imperial County Department of Social Services
Opening Date: 10/22/2024
Closing Date: 11/6/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
Position Information
Applicants: If you are using education to qualify, please remember to include copies of your transcripts, degree(s), and/or certifications. Foreign degrees must have a U.S. Equivalency Report. Failure to submit, may result in your application being disqualified.
Provides employability services to eligible applicants of local social service agencies; applies program regulations and procedures; assesses employment potential and barriers that interfere with securing employment; identifies needs for social and health services and makes referrals; uses an automated system to maintain and monitor participants' records and generate reports; may determine the eligibility of applicants and recipients for public assistance programs through interactive interviewing and fact gathering; and performs related work as required.
Employment & Training Worker I
Working under close supervision, Employment & Training Worker I is the entry/trainee level in the Employment & Training Worker series. Employees in this class receive in-service training in the performance of routine duties related to the provision of employment services. As requisite skills and knowledge are developed, greater independence and the full scope of responsibility are exercised. Employees are expected to promote to Employment & Training Worker II after one year of satisfactory performance at the trainee level.
Employment & Training Worker II
Working under general supervision, Employment & Training Worker II is the journey level in the Employment & Training Worker series. Employees at this level are expected to be fully qualified and able to perform a wide range of employability services including initiating independent contact with employers and other service providers. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the lower level of Employment & Training Worker I, or if filled from the outside, require prior related experience.
The Employment & Training Worker II differs from the Employment & Training Worker III in that the latter is the advanced journey level and may be assigned leadworker duties.
The Employment & Training Worker Series differs from the Social Worker Series in that incumbents in the Employment & Training Worker classes are not responsible for the provision of social services; differs from the Eligibility Worker Series in that the primary responsibility of an Eligibility Worker is the determination of financial eligibility for public assistance programs; and differs from the Integrated Case Worker series in that the primary focus of the Employment & Training Worker series is in providing the full scope of employability services to eligible applicants.
Examples of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
For Employment & Training Worker I, duties are performed at the trainee level:

• Interviews and evaluates eligible program participants' employability to assist participants in achieving self-sufficient employment.
• Administers and interprets vocational measurement tests.
• Assesses clients' employment and education history; identifies employment related skills, abilities and barriers; develops goals and plans to improve skills and abilities and overcome barriers; provides career guidance and employment and training counseling; provides labor market information related to local employment possibilities; and as appropriate, refers clients to employment related educational and training opportunities.
• May refer clients to other services such as substance abuse or domestic violence programs as appropriate.
• Conducts orientation workshops for new and returning program participants.
• Reads, comprehends and applies complex regulations, rules, policies and procedures.
• Explains relevant program regulations, rules, and policies to clients and the general public.
• Conducts ongoing research to identify employment and training opportunities for program participants; and establishes and maintains contacts with regional employers and training providers.
• Completes and processes disbursement of funds documents for clients' authorized supportive services, i.e., childcare and transportation.
• Operates a personal computer, including software programs and an automated system, to enter and retrieve data, manage individual client cases and overall caseload, compile statistical reports, and perform other assigned duties.
• Maintains regular contact with clients to monitor each client's completion of tasks and progress toward attaining goals that will lead to securing employment, and compliance with program requirements.
• Documents evidence of individual clients' non-compliance with program rules and regulations, and follows procedures related to the imposition of sanctions.
• Performs a variety of clerical duties related to organizing, prioritizing and scheduling assignments; meeting deadlines; completing forms, reports and other documents; maintaining automated and manual files and logs; managing client cases; and fulfilling other responsibilities as required.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative, effective working relationships with program participants; department employees; regional employers, educational facilities, trainers and all others who are program stakeholders and supporters.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Positions also responsible for determining the eligibility for public assistance programs perform the following additional duties:

• Analyzes financial information and eligibility information to determine initial or continuing eligibility for multiple aid programs.
• Enters and retrieves numerical and narrative data and issues benefits from an automated computer system.
• Organizes caseload so that necessary case records and documents are processed and updated within specific time limits established by regulation and local policy.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Note: The level and scope of the knowledge and skills listed below are related to job duties as distinguished between the two levels in the Definition section.
Knowledge of:

• General goals and purpose of employment preparation and training programs, and public social services programs.
• Effective and appropriate career, vocational, and employment counseling techniques.
• Occupational fields and regional labor market trends for private and public sector employers.
• Services provided within the department or agency that program participants may require and the procedure for referring participants for those services.
• Local and regional socio-economic conditions.
• Characteristics, customs and unique needs of local ethnic/cultural populations.
• Department and community resources available to program participants.
• Computer terminology and computer keyboard arrangement.

Ability to:

• Apply techniques and methods for conducting successful employment-related interviews, record keeping and standard office procedures.
• Elicit factual information from prospective and current program participants who may exhibit behavior indicative of those experiencing deprivation and/or emotional difficulties.
• Accurately gather, record and evaluate data necessary for the implementation of appropriate employment preparation and training programs.
• Prepare reports, forms, plans and agreements required by program rules, regulations, policies and procedures
• Use fact-finding techniques and perform in-depth and interactive interviewing.
• Plan and organize caseload to ensure that deadlines and regulations regarding time limits are met.
• Read, understand, apply and explain complicated and detailed correspondence and reports, regulations and policy directives.
• Determine appropriate course of action in emergency situations.
• Enter information accurately into a computerized system, and navigate effectively through automated multi-screen client record system
• Identify client problems that require referral to other social or community resources
• Speak and write in a clear and concise manner, using correct English
• Read, comprehend, apply, and follow complex rules, regulations, policies, procedures and other written instructions, including the policies, procedures, and programs of the Social Services Department.
• Use tact and diplomacy when communicating with all persons, including those with different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds
• Identify and assess program participants' employment barriers and develop individual participant plans for securing employment.
• Monitor individual participants' compliance with program regulations and when appropriate, implement required sanctions.
• Regularly evaluate individual participants' progress toward meeting established goals for securing employment; use appropriate methods to motivate and encourage participants and when necessary, to counsel participants who have not met goals or expectations.
• Coach individual participants in how to prepare for a job interview and meet future employers' job performance expectations.
• Present training workshops to groups of program participants.
• Establish, maintain, and manage complex records.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers, supervisory and managerial staff; area employers who are willing to employ program participants; community based services providers of child care, transportation and other services program participants required to attain employment goals; and all others with whom contact is made during the normal course of business.
• Operate office equipment such as a personal computer, (including automated systems and software programs utilized by the department or division), calculator and photocopier.

Minimum Qualifications
Applicants: If you are using education to qualify, please remember to include copies of your transcripts, degree(s), and/or certifications. Foreign degrees must have a U.S. Equivalency Report. Failure to submit, may result in your application being disqualified.
Employment & Training Worker I:
EITHER
Three years of experience performing clerical duties;
OR
One year of experience providing case management, vocational guidance, employment counseling or placement services;
OR
Completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter college units.
A combination of education and experience comparable to the type of experience listed above. When combining education and experience; fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two (22) quarter units equal six months of experience.
Employment & Training Worker II:
One (1) year of full-time experience performing duties comparable to Employment & Training Worker I classification in an IMS County.
Supplemental Information
EXAMINATION INFORMATION
QUALIFICATIONS APPRAISAL PANEL - WEIGHTED 100%
The Qualifications Appraisal Panel examination will consist of an oral interview either virtually or in person. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, a minimum rating of 70% must be attained.
It is anticipated that the examination will be held during November 2024. Competitors who do not appear for the examination will be disqualified.
ELIGIBLE LIST INFORMATION
A departmental open eligible list will be established for the county of Imperial. The list will be utilized for 12 months after it is established unless the needs of the service and conditions of the list warrant a change in this period.
RETEST PERIOD
Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for SIX (6) MONTHS from the established eligibility date.
SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS
Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CalHR at or 916-909-3701 upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination.
EDUCATION DOCUMENTS
If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, you must attach your transcripts to your application. Applicants with foreign transcripts must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which the foreign course work is equivalent. Transcripts and evaluations may be unofficial; official transcripts may be required upon appointment. Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.
GENERAL INFORMATION
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.
MSS reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the recruitment if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all competitors will be notified.
If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin, you may take this examination. Your performance in this examination will be rated against predetermined rating criteria. All competitors who pass will be added to the eligible list. Meeting the entry requirements does not assure success in the examination or placement on the eligible list.
General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgement, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. As part of the hiring process, a background investigation may be required.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Merit System Services program is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• A valid driver's license is required at the time of appointment and employees may also be required to drive their own car, provide proof of car insurance. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• This position will require pre-employment drug testing, a physical examination, and fingerprinting for a background investigation.
• Government agencies accessing US government information, which include federal tax information must ensure that background investigation requirements for all agency employees and contractors that have access to federal tax information are consistent to the IRS background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information.
• Employees in this position will be required to drive in and out of the county to conduct business.
• This position may be stationed at one of the various County of Imperial Department of Social Services offices located in Brawley, El Centro and Calexico.
  
• Employees may be required to work with clients of various age groups and clients with mental health issues, physical health issues, substance abuse issues, victims of abuse and/or domestic violence, at risk of abuse, and financial instability.
• Employees may encounter hostile and emotionally troubled clients, including children and parents under the influence of controlled substances and alcohol.
• Employees will be required to represent the County in administrative appeals and fair hearings.
• The ability to speak, read, and write Spanish in addition to English would be an asset in this position but is not required. Applicants for English/Spanish bilingual designated positions must take and pass the bilingual proficiency examination administered by the California Department of Human Resources, Merit System Services.
• Please note: Effective February 11, 2020, Extra-Help employees are eligible to apply for this position. Please refer to the Extra-Help Pilot Program available online through the Human Resources website for eligibility criteria. Extra-Help employees certified by Human Resources will be eligible to apply for inter/intra departmental recruitments. To become certified, the extra-help employee must meet one of the following criteria: (1) have worked for the County for one (1) consecutive year at the time the recruitment is officially opened; or (2) have been hired for formal recruitment.
• All Imperial County employees are considered Disaster Service Workers and might be required to take the associated FEMA training.

Applicants: If you are using education to qualify, please remember to include copies of your transcripts, degree(s), and/or certifications. Foreign degrees must have a U.S. Equivalency Report. Failure to submit, may result in your application being disqualified.
ABOUT IMPERIAL COUNTY
Imperial County is located in the Imperial Valley in the southeast of California, bordering Arizona and Mexico, with the Colorado River forming the County's eastern boundary. Imperial County is a major agricultural center, producing half of the nation's winter vegetables, as well as extensive renewable resources, such as geothermal, wind, and solar. Off-road enthusiasts are drawn to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation area, and the Colorado River is a popular destination for watersports, including fishing, boating, and water skiing. Fans of the popular movie, The Return of the Jedi, will recognize the Algodones Sand Dunes, where the movie was filmed.
Merit System Services does not negotiate or determine the benefits or salaries for positions offered by its partners. For more information about benefits or salaries, please visit the listed county or child support office's website or contact their human resources department.
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By selecting "yes" below, I certify my understanding of the requirement to provide substantiating educational documents (i.e., transcripts, foreign degree evaluation) if I am using education to meet the minimum qualifications. I understand that failure to provide substantiating educational documents may result in disqualification of my application.

• Yes
• No

Required Question