Human Services Assistant III

Virginia Department of Social Services•Accomac, VA

About The Position

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. Explains programs, services, policies and procedures; assists clients with applications; researches information; serves as initial point of contact for applicants; provides information regarding various programs and benefits, general eligibility requirements, policies and procedures; 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, or services staff; contacts clients for requested/needed information and responds to routine questions in person, e-mail or by telephone. $28,480 - $52,093 (Depending on qualifications) General Work Tasks (Illustrative Only) – Researches information; provides information to clients seeking services and directly makes referrals for services; maintains logs of client documentation received; schedules and coordinates appointments for clients to meet with services staff; contacts clients for requested/needed information and responds to routine questions in person, e-mail or by telephone; analyzes needs and coordinates resources that will support families/clients and generates payment for services when appropriate. 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; coordinates special event programs such as Toy Closet, Adopt-A-Family, Angel Trees, and other unit events.

Requirements

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.
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.
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.
High school diploma supplemented with postsecondary 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.

Nice To Haves

Experience in assigned program area and completion of required training programs or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Responsibilities

Serves as the initial point of contact for clients seeking benefits and/ or services and screens clients for benefits and services.
Explains programs, services, policies and procedures
Assists clients with applications
Researches information
Provides information regarding various programs and benefits, general eligibility requirements, policies and procedures
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, or services staff
Contacts clients for requested/needed information and responds to routine questions in person, e-mail or by telephone
Provides information to clients seeking services and directly makes referrals for services
Analyzes needs and coordinates resources that will support families/clients and generates payment for services when appropriate.
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
Coordinates special event programs such as Toy Closet, Adopt-A-Family, Angel Trees, and other unit events.