Virginia Department of Social Services

Human services for Virginians

Human Services Assistant 3

Case Management & AdvocacyPosted on Nov 13

Full-timeChatham, VA, USA$28.5k - $40kIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

High school diploma supplemented with post-secondary coursework in subjects such as social work, human services, gerontology, social or behavioral sciences, business, or a related field, and relevant work experience in public administrative support work, or an equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Considerable knowledge of customer and personal services, including customer needs assessment, service quality standards, and customer satisfaction evaluation.
Considerable knowledge of English language structure and content, including word meaning and spelling, composition, and grammar.
Considerable knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems, including word processing, spreadsheets, files and records management, and office procedures and terminology.
Working knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; mathematics and research methods; assigned-program eligibility requirements; and available community resources.
Some knowledge of laws, regulations, requirements, and policies for local, state, and federal social, assistance, and housing programs.
Skill in operating automated office equipment, including a calculator and fax/copier, and computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, and file-maintenance programs.
Ability to communicate effectively with program participants; plan, organize, and prioritize one's own work schedule; establish and maintain working relationships sufficient to exchange ideas and coordinate activities; accept direction and follow established procedures; counsel others; organize and post-date information from records, reports, and other sources using the appropriate format; resolve conflicts with clients, professionals, and employees; create forms, charts, and graphs; perform arithmetic using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; compute rates, ratios, and percentages and draw and interpret bar graphs; make screening decisions using specified criteria; read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and manuals; and conduct effective interviews in person and by telephone.
May be subject to criminal history, Central Registry, and DMV driving-record checks, pre-employment drug screening, fingerprint checks by State Police and the FBI, local agency checks, employment and reference verification, education verification relevant to employment, relevant credit checks, and other checks requested by the hiring authority; employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory results.
Must be willing to work in a community emergency shelter in the event of a disaster or emergency.
Must have a valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record.
Must submit the application electronically through the website; mailed, emailed, faxed, and hand-delivered applications and resumes are not accepted.
Applications must include complete work history, including periods of unemployment if applicable.

Responsibilities

Serve as the initial point of contact for clients and applicants seeking benefits or services and screen clients for benefits and services.
Interview clients and applicants about benefits and service programs, explain programs, services, policies, procedures, and general eligibility requirements, and conduct effective interviews.
Assist clients with applications, including completing applications and performing initial application screenings.
Evaluate and approve agency providers.
Research information and use databases to obtain or verify information needed to process applications.
Provide information to clients seeking services and make direct referrals for services.
Maintain logs of received client documentation.
Schedule and coordinate appointments for clients to meet with benefits, employment, or services staff.
Contact clients to obtain requested or needed information and respond to routine questions in person, by email, or by telephone.
Analyze client and family needs, coordinate supporting resources, and generate payments for services when appropriate.
Interview clients and assess emergency needs.
Prepare periodic, special, and other statistical reports.
Assist with the orientation and training of new staff.
Conduct adoption searches using court records, libraries, agency files, the Internet, and city directories, and make initial contact when a match is found.
Assist with foster-care subsidy billings and payments.
Prepare financial and statistical forms and reports, case documentation, and court reports.
Assist in conducting supervised visitation.
Coordinate special event programs, including Toys for Tots, Annual Art Sale, Bags & Bears, and unit events.

Title Description- Human Services Assistant III represents the specialist level in the occupational group for Human Services Assistants. Employees serve as the initial point of contact for clients seeking benefits and/ or services and screens clients for benefits and services.

General Work Tasks (Illustrative Only) –

Screens clients for benefits and services;
Interviews clients and explains programs, services, policies and procedures;
Assists clients with applications;
Evaluates and approves agency providers;
Researches information;
Serves as initial point of contact for applicants;
Interviews applicants for benefits and/or service programs;
Provides information regarding various programs and benefits, general eligibility requirements, policies and procedures;
Assists clients with completing applications and performs initial screening of applications;
Provides information to clients seeking services and directly makes referrals for services;
Researches a variety of databases to obtain and/or verify information needed to process applications;
Maintains logs of client documentation received;
Schedules and coordinates appointments for clients to meet with benefit, employment or services staff;
Contacts clients for requested/needed information and responds to routine questions in person, e-mail or by telephone; and
Analyzes needs and coordinates resources that will support families/clients and generates payment for services when appropriate.
In addition to the above other illustrative program area assignment/tasks follow:
Interviews clients and conducts assessment for emergency needs;

General Work Tasks (continued) –

Prepares periodic, special and other reports for statistics; and
Provides assistance in the orientation/training of new staff.
Foster Care:
Conducts adoption searches via court records, library, agency files, Internet, City directory, and makes initial contact if a match is found;
Assists with subsidy billings and payments;
Prepares a variety of financial, statistical forms and reports, case documentation and court reports;
Assists in conducting supervised visitation; and
Coordinates special event programs such as Toys for Tots, Annual Art Sale, Bags & Bears and unit events.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge- Considerable knowledge of: principles and processes for providing customer and personal services (including customer needs assessment, meeting of quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction); structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar; and administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, spreadsheets, managing files and records, and other office procedures and terminology. Working knowledge of: human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; mathematics and research methods; and eligibility requirements for the programs assigned; and available community resources. Some knowledge of laws, regulations, requirements and policies of Local, State, and Federal social, assistance and housing programs.

Skills- Skill in: operating a variety of automated office equipment to include calculator, fax/copier; and the use of computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet, graphics and file maintenance programs.

Abilities- Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively with program participants; plan, organize, and prioritize own work schedule; establish and maintain working relationships with clients, professionals, co-workers, and the public sufficient to exchange ideas and coordinate activities; accept direction and follow established procedures; counsel others; organize, and post date, from records, reports and other sources using the appropriate format; exhibit solid interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution in working with clients, professionals and employees; create forms, charts, and graphs; add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs; make screening decisions based upon specific criteria’s; read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, manuals; and conduct effective interviews both face-to-face and by telephone.

Education and Experience- High school diploma supplemented with post-secondary coursework in subjects such as social work, human services, gerontology, or one of the social or behavioral sciences, business or related field, and relevant work experience in public administrative support work OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Special Requirements:

Applicants may be subject to Criminal History Background search; Central Registry search, DMV driving record check, and/or pre-employment drug screen. The investigation may include: fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, employment verification and references, verification of education (relevant to employment), credit checks (relevant to employment) and other checks requested by the hiring authority. All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory results of the required checks and screenings.

Employee must be willing to work in community emergency shelter in the event of a disaster or emergency.

Employee must have a valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Application must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, e-mailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications and resumes will not be accepted.

Consideration for an interview is based solely on the information within the application.

Applications must include complete work history, including period(s) of unemployment if applicable.

Minimum Salary: $28,480.00

Maximum Salary: $40,000.00

About the Company

Virginia Department of Social Services

Human services for Virginians

Virginia Department of Social Services is the state agency that designs and administers human-service programs for people and families across Virginia. Its responsibilities include food and energy assistance, foster care and adoption, child support, licensing, and abuse and neglect prevention. The department works with local social-services agencies and community partners to deliver benefits, protection, and family support. The agency spans benefits administration, protection, family services, regulation, and statewide oversight while providing policy, systems, funding, training, and operational support to Virginia’s locally administered social-services network.

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