Position Summary

This ten-month position will serve as a member of the HCOE WorkAbility I program team to provide vocational training and self-advocacy to Humboldt County high school students with disabilities and special education needs. WorkAbility I is a California Department of Education program to provide work readiness training to high school students with disabilities with the goal of supporting the transition from high school to employment, post-secondary education and independent living.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The WorkAbility Vocational Caseworker will provide direct service to qualified students across Humboldt County. They will work in collaboration with HCOE staff, district special education teachers and support staff, the Transition Partnership Program (TPP), the Redwood Coast Regional Center, and other community partners to identify qualified students, assess their skills and interests related future employment, and provide activities that support transition to adulthood. The caseworker will provide a variety of supportive services inside and outside of the classroom setting. The position requires the ability to work directly with youth with disabilities and work closely with other staff who support those youth.

 Supervision Received and Exercised

This position reports to the Department Manager.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities (Examples of Essential Job Functions)

Duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Attends monthly team meetings and professional development opportunities.
• Works with students to provide instruction, coaching, and support to include:

• • Vocational interest assessments;
  • Career exploration;
  • Workplace readiness training;
  • Instruction in self-advocacy;
  • Vocational skills acquisition and work-based learning.
• Develops and/or supervises community-based work-based learning placements for students with varying degrees of skills and abilities.
• May recommend specific vocational goals and objectives for inclusion in Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).

• Works closely with the WorkAbility Program Specialist to meet service goals.

• Assists classroom teachers in developing and monitoring a student’s overall transition plan from school to work and or to a post-secondary educational or vocational program.
• Identifies barriers to employment and makes recommendations regarding ways or means of reducing/eliminating such barriers.

• Delivers presentations to small and large groups.
• Implements developmentally appropriate training for youth.

• Makes referral to counselors, social workers, teachers, or other appropriate agency personnel when specialized services beyond the qualifications of the caseworker are required.
• Maintains records in compliance with program, audit, and legal requirements.

• Attends student IEP or 504 meetings as requested.
• Attends quarterly WorkAbility Advisory Committee meetings.
• Collaborates with other district and/or county programs in service to supporting youth.
• Provides feedback to student services team.
• Maintains inventories for student training programs, develops distributorships, and delivers products throughout the community for sale.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications (aka Employment Standards)

Knowledge of

Laws relating to employment of minors and the Americans with Disabilities Act and WorkAbility I program options and eligibility requirements.

• Appropriate career paths and future educational opportunities for eligible students.
• Various handicapping conditions and their effect upon productivity and worksite accommodations.
• Special education laws, rules, and regulations.

Ability to

• Work well with moderately and severely disabled high school students of varying ages, their family members, teachers, support staff, and agency personnel.
• Read and comprehend complex laws, rules, and regulations.
• Speak to small and large groups with poise, confidence, and clarity.
• Work independently as well as collaborate with others in a team setting.
• Meet established service goals.
• Maintain accurate records and assist with program tracking.
• Exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Adapt to changing work demands, including adjustments to work schedule, to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Work effectively under varying degrees of stress;
• Use appropriate software, including Google Drive, Outlook, Word and Excel;
• Lift/move adaptive equipment, occasionally in excess of 50 pounds;
• Communicate effectively via telephone, email, and in person.

Education and Experience

Minimum Required: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education

Demonstration of basic competency equivalent to graduation from high school, plus not less than one year of college level education or equivalent training in the field of special education or career/vocational guidance services;

Experience

A minimum of two years of experience working with youth as a special education classroom aide, career counseling technician, vocational technician, rehabilitation technician, or similar experience.

Working Conditions (Work Environment)

• Will have a designated office space, but will provide service to local high schools and worksites throughout the county. This will require schedule flexibility and cooperation with the staff at each site. May be required to serve on an on-call basis and/or to adjust work schedule in a reasonable manner to accommodate the needs of students, parents and/or employers and student work schedules.
• Requires transporting to and supervising students at worksites. This may expose them to inclement weather, the public, and potentially uncooperative students and/or parents.

• Requires working with high school students with a variety of special education needs.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of the job, the employee may be required to:

• Stand, sit and/or move about for sustained periods.
• Move about in non-traditional instructional environments (e.g., areas of the community).
• Travel to multiple locations in a given day or during the work week.
• Participate in daily oral and written communication.
• Operate a computer, calculator, copier and other equipment that involve repetitive arm and hand movements and hand-eye-arm and finger dexterity.
• Visual acuity sufficient to recognize people, words, and numbers

Other Requirements

• Must be fingerprinted and a satisfactory Department of Justice records check must be received by HCOE prior to employment.
• TB testing and/or risk assessment will be required upon employment.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical (if applicable).
• May be required to obtain first aid and CPR certificates within the first 12 months of employment.

• This position requires a California Driver’s License, proof of insurance, and possible participation in the DMV Pull Notice Program once employed.

• May require transportation of students and requirements associated with student transportation including background checks, medical examinations, drug and alcohol testing, and other requirements in accordance with SB88.
• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Classified Range 4

Updated 6/8/2026

Approved 7/9/26