Employment Support Specialist-Chippewa Falls

This is a full-time direct service position. The person in this position is responsible for a caseload of adult correctional clients who participate in the Chippewa Valley Correctional Treatment Facility. The person in this position will work directly with the Deputy Warden or his/her designee to coordinate all employment support services.  Involvement with clients may be on an individual basis and/or in a group setting.

• Coach inmates on the skill sets necessary to obtain and maintain gainful employment.
• Ensure that all inmates assigned to the Correctional Center have proper identification documents to begin a private sector work assignment or that necessary documents are requested form the issuing authority within (2) working days of the inmate’s reception at the Correctional Center.
• Provides inmates with transportation to obtain identification documentation, employment interviews, clothing, or tools necessary to begin employment and/or transportation to and from a work site.
• Assist inmates to obtain clothing or tools necessary to begin a job or crew assignment.
• Develop a comprehensive financial plan that identifies all of the inmate’s outstanding court or department ordered financial obligations and establishes a plan for repayment while at the correctional center.
• Track the inmate hours worked, wages earned, taxes paid and wage statement deductions, establish and monitor a release savings account, establish plans for release spending and provide monthly statistical documentation for the DOC to review.
• Work with inmate and prospective employers or employment agencies to match inmate work skills with appropriate work release employment sites, orient inmates to work site performance expectations, communicate with inmates and employers via telephone or personal visits to assess performance and adjustment issues and work with inmates and employers to verify hours of work expectations.
• Facilitate Employment Module and Pre-Release modules to include Transportation, Employment, Education and Transitional Prep competencies.  WWCS will supply materials for Pre-Release modules.  Applicant needs to have basic computer knowledge/skills.
• Assist with or facilitate the Cognitive Intervention Program, Anger Management, and Domestic Violence groups.
• Maintain and update client files.
• Collect and report program data to ACS and DOC personnel.
• Consult with supervisor, inform supervisor of work hours established with the superintendent.
• Meet with and provide written and telephone conversations with supervisor.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Adhere to Professional Boundaries while interacting with clients as expected of all ACS personnel.
• Maintain & promote trauma-informed interactions with clients as expected of all ACS staff.

The person in this position is required to adhere to all agency program policies related to client confidentiality and fraternization

1. Complete and submit a Vehicle Use Agreement (DOA-6000) for all drivers’ license checks and have held a valid driver’s license for a minimum of two (2) years.
2. Successfully completed the DOC van driver training and any other requirements specified by the DOC risk management staff.
3. Have a minimum of two (2) years’ experience providing services to inmates for six (6) months experience delivering services to persons of all genders from various racial, religious, and ethnic backgrounds as well as individuals with disabilities.
4. Good oral and written communication skills.  Good organizational skills.
5. Ability to perform job duties with minimal supervision.
6. Experience in teaching, coaching and or group facilitation.
7. A minimum of 15 credits of post-secondary education.
8. Basic Computer skills and knowledge.
9. Ability to complete technical tasks independently, as assigned.
10. Experience with a strengths-based model of case management, coaching, or counseling is beneficial.
11. Basic understanding of Wisconsin’s criminal justice system is beneficial.
12. Familiarity with local resources and supportive mechanisms to assist confined individuals in successfully transitioning to the community is beneficial.