DSHS ESA Social Service Specialist

DSHS ESA
- Social Service Supervisor - Social Service Specialist 5

Are you a leader who believes strong teams create stronger outcomes for the communities they serve? DSHS's Economic Services Administration (ESA) is seeking a Social Service Supervisor to lead a social work team located in Stevenson, Washington.

In this role, you will provide supervision to professional social service specialist to assist disabled individuals of Community Servies Division (CSD) in obtaining federal Social Security benefits and/or other programs administered by CSD.

See why people like you choose careers with DSHS:

Some of what you'll do:

• Interviewing and assessing individuals with possible physical and mental disabilities, obtaining and reviewing complex medical evidence, inputting medical and social service information in DSHS electronic case records and Social Security web-based application systems, monitoring case progress in both systems, acting as an advocate for clients and providing liaison to treatment services, and to staff working for Disability Determination Services and Social Security
• Create, implement, monitor and modify case plans for achieving individual economic and social self-support
• Apply medical diagnostic terminology and categories to access and determine employability/incapacity
• Required to complete these social services and advocacy functions while observing strict HIPAA confidentiality rules as documented in DSHS Administrative Policy 5.01
• Intensive social services to Work First adults who require extra assistance and support in order to participate in Work First activities such as assessing and determining employability, job readiness and vocational education and training needs
• Case management to individuals with varying degrees of vocational, social cultural, medical or mental health impairments that hinder economic independence
• Working with specialized groups of individuals, including pregnant and parenting teens and adults and individuals with substance abuse issues
• Processing medical incapacity determinations received over the counter, DMS and through interactive case management interviews and will process all case actions into the appropriate computer programs (ACES, ACES Online, Barcode, e-Jas and ICMS)

Who should apply? We are seeking professionals that meet the following criteria:

• One year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 4 OR
• Two years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3 OR
• Four years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2 OR
• A master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or a related field AND one year of paid social service experience equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 3. OR
• A bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or a related field AND five years of paid social service experience performing functions equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 2. OR
• A combination of higher education (in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or a related field) and paid social service experience totaling at least nine years.

NOTE:

A two year master's degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum may be substituted for one year of paid social service experience.

NOTE:

Employees must successfully complete the formal training course sponsored by their division within eighteen months of their appointment. Additional knowledge, skills and abilities we are looking for:

• Supervision:
  Assigns and monitors work across social work units, reviews case plans for appropriateness, and addresses performance issues with clear, constructive feedback.
• Coaching:
  
  Mentors staff through complex cases and supports professional growth through formal training and ongoing guidance.
• Policy knowledge:
  Applies state and federal welfare laws, Work First program rules, and public assistance regulations accurately and consistently across the unit.
• Critical thinking:
  Analyzes caseloads, identifies trends, and recommends strategies that help clients move toward independence.
• Decision-making:
  Makes sound, independent judgments in complex situations involving mental…