Shelter Employment and Education Specialist - Laurel Hall Details

Shelter Employment and Education Specialist - Laurel Hall

Lantern Community Services - Queens, NY

Employment Type : Full-Time

Job Title: Shelter Employment and Education Specialist

Reports to: Shelter Director of Social Services

Status: Full-time, Mon - Fri (hours may vary)

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Job Location: Ozone Park, Queens

Objective:

The Shelter Employment and Education Specialist (EES) is responsible for working with clients to promote education and employment as a critical component of finding and maintaining housing stability. Working as a member of the interdisciplinary team the EES will facilitate education and vocational programming at the shelter and support clients in finding and obtaining permanent work.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

• Assist clients in engaging in formal education or vocational training opportunities such as TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion) classes, college education, and technical training schools.
• Assist clients with obtaining their high school equivalency diploma through the NEDP (National External Diploma Program) or Adult Basic Education classes.
• Assist clients in registering and obtaining financial aid supports for college or technical schools.
• Teach job searching skills such as resume preparation, interviewing skills and completing online applications.
• Provide job development and placement supports including job search assistance benefits counseling and advocacy.
• Develop and access employment/volunteer opportunities within the community.
• Educate clients about job retention, accommodations, disclosure issues to employers and how their benefits will be affected by earned income.
• Participate in meetings with case managers to coordinate services and generate ideas to help clients achieve their education and employment goals.
• Attend trainings and staff meetings, as required.
• Document all client work in confidential electronic records.
• Complete reports as directed by supervisor.

Required Education and Experience:

• A.A. Degree required; Bachelor's Degree in a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years' experience providing employment services or workforce development.
• Experience working with clients impacted by homelessness, mental illness, or substance abuse is required.
• Must have the ability to multitask and coordinate services with various external programs.
• Must have strong interpersonal and communication skills, including excellent writing ability.
• Preferred. Bilingual skills in English and Spanish are a plus.

Work Environment: This job operates in a shelter environment and works with a population who may experience mental illness, substance use, disability, HIV/AIDS, and other chronic illnesses.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, climb stairs and/ or kneel. Occasionally the employee will have to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Note:

Lantern Community Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Lantern Community Services (Lantern) values the diversity of all our clients, staff, Board of Directors, and partners. By bringing diverse individuals and viewpoints together, we create more vibrant, healthy and just communities. Lantern welcomes individuals of all backgrounds and experiences regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, pregnancy, religion, immigration status, veteran status, class, creed, mental or physical disability, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local law.