Self-Sufficiency Specialist I/II

Hiring Range: 42,981.10 to 48,770.95

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

If you are looking for an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children, families, seniors and people with disabilities and want to work in a positive, strength-based, and flexible environment, consider a career in human services with Shenandoah County Social Services. We strive every day to engage with families and assist them in obtaining the tools they need to make positive and sustainable changes. We are dedicated to advocating for the people we serve and collaborating with them to strengthen their natural support system. We are committed to ensuring that our team of professionals have the tools and resources they need to provide exemplary service to the citizens of our community. Employee wellness is essential to our mission. If you are interested in starting the next chapter of your professional development in the most rewarding field, we invite you to apply with our team.

Shenandoah County Social Services is located in beautiful Woodstock, Virginia approximately 30 miles south of Winchester and 30 miles north of Harrisonburg. Known for its majestic mountain views, the winding seven bends of the Shenandoah River and its small town charm, Shenandoah County is the perfect place to live and work.

Employees’ responsibilities are related to the determination and re-determination of eligibility of individuals and families for financial assistance, food stamps, medical assistance, and for other social services’ benefit programs. The work is performed within established policies, procedures and guidelines, but certain aspects of eligibility determination require independent judgment, especially as related to evaluation of social factors influencing eligibility. Employees seek supervisory help for difficult or unusual situations only.

Self Sufficiency Specialist I: $42,981.10

Self Sufficiency Specialist II: $48,770.95

Titles Description- Self-Sufficiency Specialist I represents the entry level in the Self-Sufficiency Specialist occupational group for employees working under close supervision while being trained in determining eligibility for a variety of social services government assistance programs and assessing employability of clients to aid in their effort to achieve self sufficiency. Upon recommendation by the supervisor, approval by the director, and successful completion of the training program, the employee shall be redefined to a full-performance Self-Sufficiency Specialist II and becomes eligible for a salary increase if/as indicated by the local department’s compensation plan. Employees are dedicated wholly to Employment Services or to a combination of Benefits and Employment Services. This level is distinguished from the Self-Sufficiency Specialist II by the latter’s performing all the assigned eligibility and employment service duties independently and making judgments following agency practices and procedures and mandated federal, state, or local laws and policies.

General Work Tasks (Illustrative Only) – Explains the employment services program Makes assessments of customer needs and develops employment plans, utilizing job search, work experience, education and training. Establishes and monitors self-sufficiency goals through information and assessment of customer background. Monitors case reports/records in accordance with regulations. Explains the child care program and makes assessments of customer needs. Interviews persons for assistance, obtains necessary information; Explains nature of temporary assistance benefit programs and determines reasons and need for assistance; Processes applications for financial assistance and diversion; Determines eligibility for assistance and benefit levels using automated systems and manual methods; Evaluates employability status of clients and explores potential sources of income; Explains client responsibilities, rights and program availability; Refers clients to service worker as the result of overall assessment of situation; Prepares reports and maintains client records;

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge- Some knowledge of: basic human behavior; mathematics to calculate percentages, formulas and averages to solve mathematical problems; and interviewing techniques such as data collection and investigation

Skills- Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated office and agency software.

Abilities- Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing; interview, gather information, and evaluate situations; analyze information; apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form; exercise sound judgment, discretion, tact and resourcefulness in solving problems and drawing logical conclusions; use various types of automated technology to establish and maintain case records, access and retrieve data, create reports and manipulate data; maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with others in a positive and tactful manner under sometimes stressful situations.

Education and Experience- High school diploma supplemented with additional training and related work experience OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Title Description – Self-Sufficiency Specialist II represents the full performance level in the occupational group for Self-Sufficiency Specialists responsible for determining eligibility for a variety of social services government assistance programs and assessing employability of clients to aid in their effort to achieve self sufficiency. Employees are dedicated wholly to Employment Services or to a combination of Benefits and Employment Services. The work is performed within established policies, procedures and guidelines, but certain aspects of eligibility determination require independent judgment, especially as related to evaluation of social factors influencing eligibility and employment. Employees seek supervisory help for difficult or unusual situations only. The Self-Sufficiency Specialist II is distinguished from the Self-Sufficiency Specialist III by the latter’s performing advanced technical work requiring depth and breadth of knowledge to understand, analyze and act as a technical resource for others on social services’ eligibility and employment programs.

General Work Tasks (Illustrative Only) – Explains the employment services program; Handles intake for both the eligibility and services programs; Assesses customer needs and develops employment/child care plans; Develops/Conducts Job Search and Job Readiness workshops; Establishes and monitors self-sufficiency goals; Monitors case reports/records in accordance with regulations; Explains the child care program and makes assessments of customer needs; Interviews persons for assistance, obtains necessary information; Explains nature of temporary assistance benefit programs and determines reasons and need for assistance; Processes applications for financial assistance and diversion; Determines eligibility for assistance and benefit levels using automated systems and manual methods; Evaluates employability status of clients and explores potential sources of income; Explains client responsibilities, rights and program availability; Refers clients to service worker as the result of overall assessment of situation; Prepares reports and maintains client records; Identifies possible fraud and makes appropriate referrals; Identifies clearly discernible social problems and makes referrals to Social Workers; and Gives applicants or recipients information about other agencies where they may go for services they seek and are able to utilize without explanation or supportive services.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities-

Knowledge- Working knowledge of: practices of public social service organizations; employment services; State, Local and Federal guidelines, regulations and policies to make eligibility and employability decisions; economic and human behavior; financial assistance programs; mathematics to calculate percentages, formulas and averages to solve mathematical problems; and interviewing techniques such as data collection and investigation.

Skills- Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated office and agency software.

Abilities- Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing with broad spectrum of individuals to include, but not limited to, customers, employers, courts, and medical professionals in person and on the phone; interview, gather information, re-evaluate each client’s situation, and make referrals; determine a client’s ownership share in situations; make mathematical computations; make eligibility and employability decisions; independently identify customers’ employment needs and develop employment plans; analyze information and determine from a variety of sources missing information and gaps; use various types of automated technology to establish and maintain case records, access data such as estates, retirement accounts, and real estate, reports, and manipulate data; maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality; exercise sound judgment, discretion, tact and resourcefulness in solving problems and drawing logical conclusions; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with applicants and recipients, other public and private agencies, associates, and the public in a positive and tactful manner under sometimes stressful situations.

Education and Experience- Same as required in Self-Sufficiency Specialist I with experience in benefit programs, use of computer software and hardware, and completion of required Benefit and Employment Services Programs training OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities