Pathway Home Career Mentor

Roanoke, VA

  • Department: This Valley Works
  • Posting Date: 12/04/2024
  • Closing Date: Open until filled
  • Salary: $17.00-$20.50/hr
  • Code: PHCM-TVW

CLASSIFICATION:    Non-Exempt (Full-Time)

Every TAP employee shares in TAP’s responsibility to “Mobilize Community Resources” in support of TAP’s anti-poverty efforts.

DEFINITION AND PURPOSE:

The Pathway Home Career Mentor works with incarcerated individuals both pre-release and post-release to smooth their reentry into the community and transition them into gainful employment. Participant services include detailed assessment, career planning, transition planning, barrier alleviation, preparation for training and employment, life and job skills training, group and individualized career coaching and support, monitoring and follow-up, and overall case management. This job may qualify for hybrid work.

 

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

Supervised by:      Pathway Home Senior Career Mentor

Supervises:           Interns (if available)

Coordinates with: Pathway Home program staff, TVW program staff, partner staff.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

  • Treat our program participants as individual human beings deserving of respect and assistance and not merely as cases or numbers; meet them where they are; make a connection to build trust and efficacy as a mentor while maintaining professional boundaries.
  • Apply a whole-family lens to working with participants, considering their specific family situation and the needs of the entire family and/or household to help ensure a successful transition back to the community.
  • Provide pre-release jail-based career services including comprehensive assessment, individualized education/career planning, job readiness, job search, and occupational training.
  • Use Cognitive Behavioral Therapeutic (CBT) approaches focusing on interpersonal communication, cognitive self-change, social skills, problem-solving skills and anger management.
  • Provide jail-based supportive services including benefit coordination, gaining identification and driver’s licenses, and parenting and child support counseling.
  • Assist participants to transition to the community through discharge planning, reengagement and outreach, working with the same individuals both pre-release and post-release, ensuring continuity of services and providing incentives for quick post-release engagement (72 hours).
  • Provide and coordinate post-release community-based career services including WIOA services, job-search assistance, job placement, occupational training, GED referrals, on-the-job training, job retention, career advancement and mentoring.
  • Provide and coordinate post-release community-based supportive services for transportation, housing, benefits and disability coordination, obtaining driver’s licenses, legal services, child care, clothing and work supports, mental and physical health services, substance use recovery support and financial literacy.
  • Develop individualized funding plans and connect participants to grant and leveraged supportive service funds to aid in their transition.
  • Keep detailed case notes and maintain scrupulous case files with all required documentation.
  • Ensure all information is entered into performance and case management systems, including EmpowOR, in an accurate and timely manner.
  • Follow participant after release and document outcomes for up to one year, including training completions, skills gains, employment, retention, earnings and recidivism.
  • Productivity: perform as efficiently as possible without jeopardizing quality; recommend areas where productivity can be improved.
  • Job Knowledge: apply skills and knowledge required for the job; demonstrate ability to understand the required duties, responsibilities, skills, and procedures.
  • Quality of Work: demonstrate thoroughness and accuracy of work performed; ensure results are consistently within acceptable quality standards.
  • Cooperation: be cooperative and flexible; seek to collaborate and offer assistance to others on a regular basis; actively contributes to the team’s goals.
  • Dependability and Attendance: show consistency in carrying out assignments; perform responsibilities with minimal direct supervision; meet or exceed punctuality and attendance requirements.  When necessitated, follow call-in procedures and inform supervisor of absences.
  • Initiative: show interest and willingness to learn; do what needs to be done without being asked.  Take responsibility for independent action; anticipate potential problems/opportunities; seek additional assignments when other tasks are completed.
  • Customer Service: Provide excellent customer service based on TAP’s customer service training and models the 4 keys to excellent customer service Service/Attitude/Consistency/Teamwork. Make serving others the #1 priority; maintain positive attitude; consistently set high standards and treat everyone with dignity and respect; be supportive of coworkers and clients/customers.
  • Communication, follow-up and follow-through: ensure telephone service, voicemail, email address and/or page communications fall in line with the agency standards; refer customer/clients to other components or agencies as needed; respond to customers/clients in a timely fashion and follow up.
  • Support the agency’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals and help create a welcoming and affirming work environment for all agency staff and participants.
  • Complete mandatory reports required by funding source, Project Director, and Director for This Valley Works.
  • Participates in special events of the agency(ies).
  • Performs other duties as assigned and required.

 

TRAINING, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Graduation from a four-year college and have 2 years related experience; or

Associate Degree and significant related experience; or

High School Degree or GED and Peer Recovery Specialist Certification.

  • Experience working with incarcerated populations preferred.
  • Peer Recovery Specialist credentials preferred.
  • At TAP, we focus on the Whole Family Approach.   Whole Family is a family led strategy to achieve set goals.  As an employee you may be required to attend Whole Family training and subject to data entry into the agency’s software as part of the Whole Family approach and serving clients

 

 

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

  • Ability to work effectively managing competing priorities in tight deadlines
  • Ability to instruct adults in job seeking and retention skills, including resume writing and conflict resolution a plus.
  • Interpersonal skills required.
  • Must be able to relate to person of varying socio-economic backgrounds.
  • Well organized and possess written and verbal communication skills.
  • Flexibility to work outside traditional work hours as needed
  • Strong desire to see outcome driven results
  • Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with senior management, staff, potential partners, and the community

 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Ability to pass background requirements to work inside local and regional jails.
  • Free to travel as necessary.
  • This position requires the individual to be in the field and must have contact with the office staff and supervisor therefore an agency issued cell phone is necessary.
  • Reliable transportation and a valid Virginia Operator’s license with a good driving record for insurance purposes.
  • Must pass drug screening.  Will require positive complete background screening including: criminal, sex offender and child protective services.
  • TAP participates in the Virginia DMV Driver Alert Program.  Employees who operate a TAP vehicle or their personal vehicle to conduct TAP business may be subject to driver record monitoring through the Virginia DMV Driver Alert Program.
  • Physical activity of this position – climbing; ascending and descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like; stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, use of fingers for – picking, pinching, and typing; grasping, feeling, hearing, talking, repetitive motion of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
  • Physical requirements of this position – light work; exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently.
  • Visual acuity requirements – close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.
  • Conditions subject to in this position – worker not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

 

This description provides information regarding the essential functions of the designated job, and general nature and level of work associated with the job.  It should not be interpreted to describe all the duties that may be required of such employees or be used to limit the nature and extent of assignments such an individual may be given.

We only hire individuals legally eligible for employment in the United States.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer/Drug Free Workplace

Bilingual ability is a plus.