About Casa Esperanza

Casa Esperanza, Inc. is a bilingual/bicultural behavioral health treatment provider serving Boston and the Merrimack Valley. Our mission is to empower individuals and families to recover from addiction, trauma, mental illness, and other chronic medical conditions; overcome homelessness and discrimination; and achieve health and wellness through comprehensive, integrated care.

About the role

The role of the Workforce Specialist is to address the educational and vocational needs of Latine individuals with substance use disorder and/or co-occurring disorders in order to increase their economic independence, stabilize their families, and support long-term success in recovery. In their role, the Workforce Specialist will help individuals obtain and sustain employment that is consistent with their vocational goals and recovery. The Workforce Specialist will carry a caseload of about 30-35 individuals. S/he will assess clients’ vocational functioning, develop employment service plans, and work with the interdisciplinary team to ensure alignment; educate clients on the job market and related skills; act as a liaison with employers, as needed; facilitate weekly skills development workshops; provide outreach to clients and key stakeholders, as needed; and ensure that benchmarks, timelines, goals, and objectives are being met and reported as required. 

What you'll do

Program Planning and Service Delivery 

• Engages consumers and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in integrated job settings 

• Conduct client assessments to assess clients’ vocational functioning on an ongoing basis and provide 1:1 job coaching 

• Develop Employment Service Plan goals consistent with client needs, interests, experience, skills and goals and update the plan quarterly 

• Educate clients on how to differentiate between options for rapid placement and long-term career paths 

• Provide clients with information about the job market and the skills and experience necessary to obtain and work successfully in a particular job 

• Trains and develops independence skills related to employment, such as travel training, hygiene, self-advocacy, etc. 

• Provide or coordinate transportation for groups or individual career seekers to interviews, employment assessments, job searching, and other employment activities in the community 

• Based on agreement with client, provide education and support to employers, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact with employers 

• Support job retention through regular follow-along contacts, problem-solving workplace challenges, and supporting career advancement or job transitions as recovery progresses. 

• Conduct weekly workshops and individual sessions to support clients with development of interpersonal and inter-professional skills (i.e. resume preparation, job search, interviewing, computer literacy, multi-functional skill-building essentials, etc.) 

• Co-facilitate computer lab hours to facilitate job search skills, online Microsoft tutorial, keyboarding tutorial, and GED prep courses 

• Complete training on Supported Employment curriculum, including in-service trainings based on SAMSHA’s TIP 38 workbook and demonstration videos and Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model  

• Provides outreach services to clients, as necessary, when they appear to disengage from SE services. If necessary, maintains some contact even without a vocational focus to sustain engagement 

• Collaborate with project team to identify key stakeholders (education, employment, community partners, etc.). 

• Maintain required 30, 60, 90, 120-day follow-ups to maintain engagement 

• Provide referrals to necessary behavioral health services, social support, and recovery support. 

• Participate in weekly MDT meetings to coordinate and integrate employment plan into SUD and MH treatment plans 

• Integrate employment goals with recovery, wellness, and treatment plans, including supporting clients in managing work–recovery balance, stress, relapse prevention, and self-care related to employment. 

• Provide basic benefits education related to SSI/SSDI, SNAP, MassHealth, housing subsidies, and how employment may impact benefits; coordinate referrals to certified benefits counselors when needed 

• Provide or coordinate general case management support to assist participants in securing and maintaining basic needs (e.g., housing stability, food security, transportation, benefits access, childcare, and legal or documentation support) in order to promote sustained employment, treatment engagement, and overall stability. 

Administrative 

• Complete data collection and outcomes reporting, per grant guidelines, parameters and regulations 

• Document client progress and manage client files per standards and regulations 

• Attend all relevant case conferences and staff meetings, including MDT 

• Attend grantee meetings and webinars appropriate or required. 

• Attend biweekly supervision. 

• Ensure accurate, timely, and audit-ready documentation in EHR and reporting systems in compliance with BSAS, SAMHSA, and other funder requirements. 

• Other duties as required 

Qualifications

Knowledge and Skills necessary for the position:

• Knowledge of working with individuals with co-occurring/dual and/or multiple diagnoses/disorders 

• Familiar with social, health and cultural issues specific to the Latino population 

• Must be or willing to become CAC certified within the first 30 days of employment 

• Valid Massachusetts Driver’s License 

Experience required/preferred for the position: 

• Minimum of 1 year of experience working directly with people with intellectual and/or functional diagnoses/disabilities 

• Minimum of two years of experience with providing supported employment services 

• Experience working with multidisciplinary team models 

• Experience with strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches to integrated treatment 

Education/Training required: 

• An associate's degree is required; a bachelor's degree preferred (rehabilitation, psychology, human services, or related field) 

• Employment Support Professional certification required or willing to obtain within one year of hire 

• CPR Certified 

Competencies: 

• Bilingual Spanish/English required. Must be able to read and write in both languages. 

Schedule

• Work Type: Full time
• Work Schedule: Availability Monday – Friday 8am – 8pm, and Saturday 8am – 12pm 

What we offer:

Casa Esperanza Benefits Package:

• Holiday Pay (12 days per year + 1 floating holiday)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) - 18 days year one, 20.5 days at year 2, 23 days at year 5
• Sick Pay - 10 paid days per year
• Long/Short-Term Disability 
• Paid by Company Life Insurance
• Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
• FSA/DCA (Flexible Spending Account & Dependent Care)
• ComPsych Guidance Resources - EAP
• Educational Opportunities
• Tuition Remission
• Employee Ticket at Work (Discounts for Entertainment, travel, movies; etc.)
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Increased Salary for Credentials
• and more....

Physical & Mental Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

At Casa Esperanza, Inc., the health and safety of our people is our number one priority. That’s why all offers of employment are contingent on the candidate showing proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (currently one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and a booster, when eligible) to pass the pre-employment requirements. Individuals with medical issues or religious beliefs that prevent them from getting the vaccine may request an exemption from the vaccine requirement.

Casa Esperanza’s EEO Statement

Casa Esperanza, Inc. values its diverse workplace and encourages women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, older members of society, and others from minority groups and diverse backgrounds to apply.

We recruit, hire, employ, train, promote, and compensate individuals based on job-related qualifications and abilities. Casa Esperanza, Inc. also has a longstanding policy of providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of employment discrimination, including harassment, because of race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All employees, interns, volunteers, and contractors of Casa Esperanza, Inc. are responsible for maintaining a work culture free from discrimination and harassment by treating others with kindness and respect.

Casa Esperanza, Inc. also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief, in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about an accommodation or need assistance with completing the application process, please email hr@casaesperanza.org.