Employment Counselor

State of Utah Office of the Governor•Salt Lake City, UT

2d•$21 - $38•Onsite

About The Position

The Refugee Services Office is looking for an experienced Employment Counselor to join their team! This position delivers a broad range of services to assist case managed customers, unemployed and underemployed job seekers, as well as the general public and their families. In meeting with customers, you would help to resolve barriers and increase customers skills in order for them to obtain and maintain employment along with education that leads to self-sufficiency. Barriers may include such things as: homelessness, mental and physical disabilities, domestic violence and substance abuse. Services are focused on individual and family needs and may be provided one-on-one or in group settings. Some positions involve outreach to community partners and/or customer home visits. This position is based in the Wasatch Front South Service Area and will be located at Refugee Services Office.

Requirements

Empathy and compassion for others, and possesses a desire to assist customers who are in difficult situations.
The ability to present information clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Exceptional customer service skills and ability to assist people in a manner which shows sensitivity, tact and professionalism, without prejudice or bias.
Possesses interpersonal skills including active listening, ability to build trusting relationships, show mutual respect and mindfulness of others.
Capable of working in an environment between balancing program policies and compassion
Provide family focused career counseling and proactively engage and motivate customers.
Conduct interviews and assessments utilizing motivational interviewing techniques, in order to collect information and establish a supportive relationship.
Possess skills needed in order to problem solve and identify creative solutions that lead to successful outcomes.
Implement best practices for mentoring and coaching customers.
Understanding in how to interpret and apply programmatic policy and procedures appropriately.
Maintain and manage sensitive and confidential information in a professional and discrete manner.
Defuse and resolve complaints/conflicts with angry customers in crisis.

Responsibilities

Provide career, occupational and educational counseling to empower customers to increase their income and break the cycle of poverty.
Assess customers and their families to identify barriers to self-sufficiency, employment, training and income goals; and to provide the necessary resources and support to resolve the barriers.
Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to complete assessments and evaluations to gain pertinent information related to goal planning and barrier resolution and to create a supportive environment.
Develop employment plans and goals with activities leading to achieving goals and/or work readiness, as well as monitoring and evaluating employment plan activities and progress.
Utilize labor market information, local resources, referral to community partners and employers to assist customers in meeting their goals.
Assess needs and educate customers about DWS programs, policies, and services and help them access temporary assistance programs (Food Stamps, Financial, Medicaid, Child Care and Unemployment Insurance).
Provide career coaching with the ultimate goal of assisting customers in finding employment and identifying a career path that leads to self sufficiency by assisting with resume creation, networking, mock interviewing and job searching with technology
Ensure program compliance and appropriate use of public resources.
Understand and implement program specific policies, procedures, case management techniques, career counseling, available Division resources, as well as community partner resources.
Provide employment retention support and resources.