Employment Specialist

CMHA Kelowna & District is hiring a full-time Employment Specialist to join the Foundry Kelowna Team. This position offers 37.5 hours per week, with a typical work week of Monday – Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm with Thursday shifts of 11am-7pm.

The aim of the Foundry Works & Education Program is to support BC young people with their work and study goals. Guided by the evidence-based principles of Individual Placement and Support (IPS), Foundry Works & Education Program will provide flexible, wraparound services to help at-risk youth develop work skills, become competitively employed and realize their education goals. Services are based on the premise that competitive work is a core component of personal recovery and meaningful employment can increase youth’s quality of life and contribute to improved mental health outcomes. The Foundry Works & Education Program Employment Specialist will join a team of professionals, providing coordinated care to young people between the ages of 12-24 in the Central Okanagan.

WHO IS AN EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST?

The Employment Specialist within the Foundry Works Program provides individualized, intensive vocational and educational support services to youth clients facing mental health challenges. This position aims to help clients find and maintain competitive employment or educational training that is meaningful to them. The Employment Specialist will foster relationships with employers, educational institutions, and community partners to create inclusive opportunities for work and education.

WHAT DOES AN EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST DO?

• Assess clients' employment and education readiness and identify viable options
• Managing a caseload, assisting young people to overcome their barriers to finding meaningful employment or educational opportunities
• Provide job and education coaching to support clients in maintaining quality, accuracy, and work/educational requirements
• Offer intensive job retention support and advocate on behalf of youth clients when necessary
• Provide job and education crisis support as needed, helping clients navigate challenges that may impact their employment or educational progress
• Utilizing the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Model, develop and implement personalized employment and education plans based on assessments
• Plan courses of action considering clients' physical tolerances and the impact of mental health on employability/educational participation
• Recommend and facilitate unpaid placements and job trials as appropriate
• Network with employers in the Central Okanagan to provide information on the program and explore their individual needs as a potential placement source
• Network and inform educational institutions about the program, including schools, colleges, trade schools and universities
• Engage in job development within the community, including negotiating job trials and subsidies with employers and Employment Services agencies
• Coordinate services and facilitate referrals to identified community resources
• Develop and implement accommodation plans tailored to client needs
• Participate in community outreach activities to build collaborative partnerships with employers and educational institutions
• Provide education regarding psychological health and safety in the workplace to employers and community partners
• Facilitate groups on employment related information and skills for participants in the program
• Performs other related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• Degree in Social Services, Human Resources, Employment Counselling, or a related field required
• Criminal Record Check clearance in the Vulnerable Sector
• Valid Class 5 BC driver’s license
• Reliable vehicle and the ability to travel within the community to meet clients and employers on a frequent basis
• Minimum 3 years’ relevant experience, preferably in employment rehabilitation within mental health contexts
• Formal training in Labour Market Information, Job Development, or Employment Counselling considered an asset
• Certificates in First Aid, CPR and Naloxone considered an asset
• Proficient in verbal and written communication
• Strong advocacy, communication, and interpersonal skills for collaboration with clients, employers, and community partners
• Strong relationship-building skills to engage clients, employers, and community partners
• Ability to provide empathetic support while advocating for clients' needs
• Ability to maintain consistent professional boundaries
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel
• Familiarity with labor market trends and employment resources
• Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation principles
• Experience using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to assess client needs and develop appropriate strategies
• Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills
• Ability to be regularly exposed to individuals who are struggling with and/or recovering from trauma, drug/alcohol use, homelessness, mental health challenges and/or mental illness

WHO IS CMHA KELOWNA & DISTRICT?

At CMHA Kelowna & District, we are dedicated to Mental Health in our community. No matter how old or how young, we provide support for families and individuals through programs that promote positive mental health and support recovery, while championing the elimination of barriers that can prevent people from thriving. We are a dynamic, innovative and visionary organization. We are looking for someone who shares our vision of a mentally healthy Kelowna and are passionate about making a difference in our community by bringing their particular expertise to our organization. To learn more, check out our website at www.cmhakelowna.org

CMHA KELOWNA & DISTRICT OFFERS YOU:

• A competitive hourly wage of $30.77
• Dental, Health & EAP Benefits
• Wellness Spending Account
• RRSP matching program
• Vacation & Personal Health Days
• A workplace culture that fosters learning, transparency, trust and teamwork

As an employer, CMHA Kelowna & District strives to create a workplace that respects and values all individuals, minimizes bias, and promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion of different perspectives and ideas. At CMHA Kelowna & District that means welcoming diversity in mental health, race, ethnicity, and culture. It also means diverse abilities, age, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, gender identities, education, marital status, language, and physical self-expression. These values are embedded in the work CMHA Kelowna & District does every day.

We appreciate and thank all applicants for their interest, however only short-listed candidates and those legally eligible to work in Canada will be contacted.