Employment Specialist

CMHA Kelowna is hiring a full time, term Employment Specialist to join the Foundry Kelowna Team. This position offers a 14-month term, with the possibility of extension at 37.5 hours per week, with a typical work week of Monday – Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm with a monthly 11am-7pm Thursday shift variant.

WHAT IS THE FOUNDRY WORK & EDUCATION PROGRAM?

Foundry Work & Education is a free, supported employment and education program for youth ages 15-24 who are interested in attaining employment or educational opportunities, and have experienced barriers to achieving these goals. The program works intensively with young people to build skills, experiences and connections to relevant resources that would support their overall goals and wellness. Program staff work at Foundry Kelowna as a part of a multidisciplinary team that works collaboratively to meet the needs of the young person.

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
• Valid Class 5 driver’s license and reliable vehicle and the ability to travel within the community to meet clients and employers on a frequent basis
• Criminal Record Check clearance in the Vulnerable Sector
• Formal training in Labour Market Information, Job Development, or Employment Counselling considered an asset
• Certificates in First Aid, CPR and Naloxone considered an asset
• Minimum 3 years’ relevant experience, preferably in employment rehabilitation within mental health contexts
• 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?

At CMHA Kelowna, 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 OFFERS YOU:

• A competitive hourly wage of $30.54-35.12
• 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 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 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 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.

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.