Client Assistance Specialist, Grade 20

Please note: The salary range above represents the earning potential for this position. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $69,601 to $100,683, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Montgomery County is located adjacent to Washington, D.C., and with over one million residents, is the most populous County in the State of Maryland. The County is also the most diverse County in the State and ranks among the top ten most diverse Counties in the nation. Montgomery County is home to many major U.S. government offices, scientific research and learning centers, and business campuses.

The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for delivering the County’s public health and human services to meet the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children, adults, and seniors. The Department provides services through more than 120 programs at more than 20 locations. With over 2,000 employees, the Department of Health and Human Services is the largest County Department.

As a department, we believe the county's health and wellness can only be achieved by ensuring that every resident has fair opportunities to reach their fullest potential. This means access to quality housing, transportation, education, employment, health care, human services, safe neighborhoods, and healthy food. HHS provides critical services to residents facing a variety of obstacles to achieving their full potential.

HHS plays an essential role in building a healthy and strong community.

HHS Services to End & Prevent Homelessness, Housing Stabilization Services, is recruiting a Client Assistance Specialist with a passion for service, strong communication skills, and experience working with low-income, homeless, or formerly homeless individuals and families. In this position, the Client Assistance Specialist will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by working directly to prevent homelessness and support households in achieving stability.

The position functions as a Client Assistance Specialist, Intake and Assessment Worker in the Housing Stabilization Services Unit.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Complete psychosocial assessments of residents experiencing a housing emergency and/or utility emergency and develop comprehensive person-centered service plans.
• Identify resources/services needed to prevent homelessness and quickly identify permanent housing solutions
• Determine eligibility for emergency financial assistance.
• Provide short-term crisis intervention and prevention case management services to help stabilize housing for at-risk households.
• Conduct home visits as needed.
• Participate in case reviews, unit meetings, and interdisciplinary teams both within and outside of the department to plan and coordinate service delivery.
• Enter client information into County and State data systems as required. The position also provides extended-hours coverage (currently on a rotating basis, Tues from 5 pm-7 pm).
• Must demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience conducting assessments and expert work, working with low-income, homeless, and/or formerly homeless households preferred.
• Knowledge of community resources is strongly desired. Basic knowledge of WORD, EXCEL, e-mail, and database software, to include case management tools, is highly desired.
• Performs related duties as required.

Experience: One (1) year of experience in human services that involved substantive client contact and service delivery through direct assistance or referral. This experience must have included the ability to communicate effectively across a wide range of cultures and overcome potential barriers to service. For select positions, this experience…