County of Alameda

Under general direction from the Division Director, to supervise multi-disciplinary staff providing vocational and employment services to Mental Health clients; to personally perform therapeutic, rehabilitative, and related services; and to do related work as required.  

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES  

Senior Employment Specialist is the first-line supervisory level in the Employment Specialist series. Incumbents provide the full range of supervisory duties including delegating work, scheduling staff, training, evaluating performance, addressing discipline, program planning, and performing limited administrative duties. This supervisor is a specialist in the implementation and monitoring of the Evidenced Based Practice – Individual Placement and Support – Supported Employment, but will also need to be knowledgeable in billing standards of Medi-Cal.  Senior Employment Specialists are responsible for assisting with the daily operation of the mental health program and team, such as at the Vocational Program. In addition, Senior Employment Specialists generally have responsibility for only one program and may carry a modified caseload.  

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Supervises a multi-disciplinary staff of three or more employment specialists/counselors/staff; confers with staff regularly regarding intervention techniques used, case progress, and related matters for the purpose of promoting and evaluating professional development and assuring quality of care, as well as, reviewing work in progress.
2. Facilitates regular vocational team meetings in collaboration with Sr. Rehabilitation Counselor or solo, with employment specialists/counselors/staff for supervision and consultation; assists with team strategies in securing and retaining employment for clients assigned to the unit, helps with strategies to address barriers to work.
3. Provides training and monitoring of staff that write resumes, master applications and career profiles.  Assists staff in evaluating clients based on their vocational, social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and economic barriers and writing employment plans directed to remediating those barriers as prescribed in implementation of Individual Placement and Support.
4. Provides training, guidance, and field mentoring with staff as related to Individual Placement and Support – Supported Employment Model; monitors standards related to achieving “Good” or “Exemplary” fidelity ratings, and coaches teams that have lower ratings to achieve better results.  
5. Triages and assigns cases with other supervisors/managers, facilitates staff meetings, and provides trainings that are pertinent based on staff work objectives; schedules staff to provide for program coverage; evaluates work performance annually; writes disciplinary documentation, as needed, to improve staff work performance.
6. Co-facilitates training and monitors work in proper documentation and billing of employment versus Medi-Cal billable services; oversees and reviews progress notes as needed to meet compliance.
7. Maintains a reduced caseload and handles complex cases as needed; assists with cases in case reviews, participates in case consultations with staff and clients, and provides administrative advocacy to help staff access resources to help clients achieve their treatment goals.
8. Assists with community outreach with other mental health providers, programs, BHCS administration as directed by Division Director; takes on special projects and liaison work as assigned.
9. Helps with preparation and quality improvement planning for Medi-Cal, Mental Health Services Act, and Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities (CARF) audits, as well as, annual Individual Placement and Support Fidelity reviews.
10. Performs limited administrative duties, such as, providing input into the budget process and consulting with clerical administrative supervisors; May monitor community contracts directly or through other staff.
11. May act as management lead in the absence of other managers, for limited periods such as during vacations and illnesses.  

EITHER I  

Experience:  

The equivalent of five (5) years of full-time experience as an Employment Specialist II in the Alameda County classified service.   

OR II  

Education:  

Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized college or university.  

AND  

Experience:  

The equivalent of three (3) years direct supervisory experience in either human services professions such as, rehabilitation, psychology, counseling, job solicitation, marketing or business, AND direct service experience working with disabled or disadvantaged populations, (such as, mentally ill, substance abuse, homeless, or co-occurring).  

License:   Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle operator’s license is required for both levels.  

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.  

Knowledge of: 

• Psychosocial factors relevant to mental health such as personality, human growth and development, interpersonal relationships, family dynamics, community integration and socioeconomic resource provisions, substance abuse, including the relevance of these as related to plan development and establishing wellness and recovery goals.
• Dynamics of personal and social adjustment, normal and abnormal behavior, and current psychiatric diagnostic techniques appropriate to rehabilitative work.
• Vocational Rehabilitation principles and methods particularly as they relate to mental health clients; understanding of current, evidenced based, innovations related to good rehab practices.
• Principles and practices of effective supervision, training, program planning and community mental health consultation.
• Creative engagement strategies to address ambivalent clients, resistant employers, and guarded family members.
• Various mental health facilities and levels of treatment, vocational rehabilitation programs, and public and private community agencies concerned with mental health.
• The business community, personnel management, employer needs assessments as required to assist staff to access jobs on behalf of assigned clients.
• Statistical research and evaluative methods pertinent to mental health programs and Evidenced Based Practices in the field.
• Psychopharmacology’s impact on a client’s ability to work or how adjustment to medication can impact work outcomes.
• Multi-social, ethnic, and cultural groups.

Ability to:

• Interview, counsel, and maintain effective working relations with clients, family members, employers, schools, county staff and other agencies.
• Develop individualized, practical, and effective employment training plans.
• Understand terms and best practices in both mental health and drug and alcohol treatment.
• Effectively market and represent a program, its clients, and services to employers.
• Work with a diverse client population.
• Know a variety of different engagement tools to progress clients with ambivalence.
• Utilize retention strategies to help consumers keep working.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Administer examinations/ vocational testing and draw valid conclusions from their results.
• Work cooperatively and effectively with community agencies, service providers, school officials, and the public.
• Write clear and concise reports.

NewSpec

NLB:ah 12/27/18

CSC Date: 02/27/2019

NLB:sa Revised 12/14/2021

CSC Date: 01/12/2022

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.