DSHS ESA Social Service Specialist In Training

DSHS ESA Social Service Specialist 1-2 In Training

Join our team as a Social Service Specialist 2 with the Economic Services Administration’s (ESA), Community Services Division (CSD) at the Tumwater Community Service Office (CSO), where you will provide vital, client-centered support to individuals and families working to overcome barriers to stability and self-sufficiency.

This position will have access to the Washington Health Plan Finder (HPF) system and personally identifiable information (PII). Per the Information Exchange Agreement No. 2013-02 between the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and State-Based Exchanges for the disclosure of health insurance affordability programs information under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, passing a criminal background check is required for this position.

This position will have unsupervised access to vulnerable citizens. Certain criminal convictions, pending charges, and negative actions automatically disqualify a person from having unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, juveniles and children. Passing a criminal background check is a requirement for this position.

This position will also play a key roll in helping CSD support ESA’s efforts to reduce the number of individuals and families living below 200 percent of the federal poverty level in a way that eliminates disparities.

• Conduct comprehensive intakes/assessments with applicants and recipients of the ABD/HEN and Work First programs in order to develop a goal with the client based on the assessment and all relevant information, including medical evidence when warranted
• Apply medical diagnoostic terminology and categories to assess and determine client employability or incapacity
• Conduct Pregnancy to Employment assessments with Work First parents who are pregnant or parenting a child under the age of two in order to identify potential risks and/or barriers to participation and to determine the parents’ ability to participate in the Work First program
• Develop a Work First Individual Responsibility Plan with clients and coordinate services with other agencies such as Mental Health Counseling, Domestic Violence Counseling/Support, Drug/Alcohol Assessment Centers, Employment Security Department, Social Security Administration, vocational rehabilitation agencies, developmental disabilities agencies, doctor offices, maternity support services, legal aid and other community service agencies
• Create, implement, monitor, and modify goals with customers moving toward self-sufficiency
• Provide case management for clients with social, cultural, vocational, medical impairments of varying degrees
• Verify and record Actual Participation Hours monthly
• Participate in home or alternate site visits to evaluate living situations and conduct assessments of vulnerable and disabled applicants, recipients and/or children when the client(s) is unable or unwilling to come into the CSO due to lack of understanding, or non-compliance to support CSD policy
• Follow non-compliance sanction policy and procedure, and monitor progress by tracking monthly re-engagement efforts
• Perform other duties as assigned

Professionals that meet the following criteria:

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice, or a closely related field; OR
• A combination of education and/or relevant experience totaling four or more years.

Note:

Employees must successfully complete the division-sponsored training program within 18 months of appointment.

• Twelve months of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1 and…