Orange County NC Website
State of North Carolina <br />Division of Social Services <br />Contract Application <br />Page 7 of 7 <br />III. Service Program Description <br />Orange County Department of Social Services (DSS) is purchasing the services of a Job <br />Development Specialist from the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina. The <br />General Assembly considers the Employment Security Commission the state's primary job <br />placement authority. The Job Development Specialist will be stationed at the DSS and will be <br />providing services to Work First participants. The following services are included in this <br />COntraCt: <br />• Vocational Assessment and Employment Counseling, <br />• Job Readiness Training and Job Club, <br />• First Stop Registration, <br />• Process Unemployment Insurance Claims, <br />• Job Development and Placement (placements include direct placements and entered <br />employment), <br />• Follow-up Services <br />Job Development Specialist Duties <br />The Job Development Specialist will assess and counsel Work First participants who are <br />referred with an objective of locating employment. Job readiness and job club activities will <br />include but are not limited to information about employer expectations, appropriate dress and <br />grooming, resume preparation, goal setting, and networking. <br />Other duties of Job Development Specialist are as follows: <br />• Interview applicants/participants to determine work history, education, training and skills, <br />• Conduct file searches of suitable job openings, <br />• Refer applicant to employers, <br />• Perform job development contacts with employers to obtain job orders, <br />• Provide labor market information to employers, applicants and other agencies, <br />• Determine eligibility for unemployment insurance, and <br />• Follow-up with applicants and employers in an effort to impact job retention. <br />Performance Measures <br />North Carolina's Work First Program, implemented in July 1995, is one of the most <br />comprehensive welfare reform efforts in the nation. The guiding principles of Work First <br />requires parents to take personal responsibility for their children, limits the receipt of Work <br />First Cash Assistance (temporary and short-term), and requires parents to work. <br />The Orange County Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the Employment <br />Security Commission have identified the following performance measures. <br />• Locate full-time employment for 100 Work First eligible participants. <br />• Provide labor market information to employers, applicants, and other agencies. <br />• Complete First Stop registration for Work First participants. <br />• Maintain contact with participants and employers for three months after placement. <br />• Perform job development activities. <br />