What are the responsibilities and job description for the Permanency Worker (Social Service Specialist 1) position at Department of Human Services?
Initial Posting Date:
04/10/2025
Application Deadline:
04/24/2025
Agency:
Department of Human Services
Salary Range:
$4,833 - $7,407
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Permanency Worker (Social Service Specialist 1)
Job Description:
The
Oregon Department of Human Services
is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are guided by our Equity North Star
and our vision for a positive RiSE organizational culture
that advances equity and diversity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA2S community members, and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
Opportunity awaits! Build rapport with families, understand their uniqueness, and learn how each family functions. This role offers the opportunity to make a positive impact on children and families in need of support and resources. Join us in making a difference!
Summary of Duties
As a Permanency Worker, you will:
- Play a critical role in helping families achieve their goals while also ensuring the safety and well-being of children.
- Engage with children, young adults, families, resource parents, and caregivers in a multitude of ways to achieve the safety, permanency, and optimal outcomes for Oregon’s children and families.
- Develop and implement multi-level strategies that build on family strengths and address areas of improvement.
- Conduct home visits, write reports, attend court hearings, and problem-solve minor crises to major child safety issues.
- Play an imperative role in balancing the needs of the child and the family in conjunction with legal requirements.
- Have a unique opportunity to build rapport with families, understand their uniqueness, and learn more about how each family functions.
Minimum Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a field related to human service.
OR
A bachelor’s degree unrelated to Human Services and either:
- One year of Human Services related experience; or
- Completion of coursework equivalent to certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency.
OR
An associate degree and either:
- Two years of Human Services related experience; or
- One year of Human Services related experience and related training, coursework or certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency.
Essential Attributes
We are looking for candidates with:
- Experience screening and assessing clients for appropriate community referral or eligibility for programs related to human services.
- Experience preparing and maintaining narrative documentation of the activities concerning individual client cases.
- Experience using time-management skills to organize, prioritize, and manage a caseload. This involves maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and deadlines.
- Experience working with a diverse population.
- Experience with working with technology such as Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel)
Application instructions & requirements
Your work history profile, cover letter, and resume are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and demonstrate your skills, lived and/or work experience that shows you are an excellent candidate for the position.
- Please upload a resume or complete the work history profile. Please make sure your application materials, resume and job history, are clearly outlined as this information will be used to determine your starting salary range. Note: Your resume and cover letter may be uploaded in the Resume/CV field on the online application.
- Current State of Oregon employees: Apply via your employee Workday account.
- If you are not a current State of Oregon employee, view thisapplication instructional video.
- After you submit your application, you will have additional tasks to complete in Workday. Please continue to check your Workday account throughout the recruitment process.
- The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited unless otherwise stated by the hiring agency. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in disqualification.
Working Conditions
- Your typical work schedule will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST).
- Majority of your work will be conducted in the ODHS Gresham Child Welfare office and community. You may have some opportunities for remote work, but this will need to be discussed with and approved by your manager.
- You will work a professional work week where the hours of work fluctuate on a daily and weekly basis to meet service needs. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.
- You will have frequent local travel. Occasional travel may be hours away.
- After your first year of employment, you will have the option to participate in an on-call schedule.
- You will interact with a wide range of people including some who have experienced trauma and may exhibit challenges in controlling their emotions.
- You may encounter situations that require quick decision-making to ensure safety of yourself and others.
Background Checks and Requirements
- A valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record are required for this position.
- If selected as a finalist, we will conduct a criminal history and background check. Adverse criminal history or background check may lead to disqualification.Additional background check information.
- Finalists must be cleared by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) through a fingerprint-based criminal records check.
- The Oregon Department of Human Services does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODHS will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.
Benefits
- ODHS Employee Resource Groupcommunities that promote shared learning.
- Cost of Living Adjustments.
- Annual salary increases (until you reach the top of the listed salary range).
- Amazingbenefits package.
- Possible eligibility for thePublic Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Employment Preference
Veterans’ preference:
- Veterans’ preference information.
- How to submit your Veteran documents for preference. Please do not attach your Veterans’ preference documentation in the Resume/CV field of your application.
General Information
- This is a permanent, full-time position and is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
- This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification.
Contact Information
We invite you to contact the recruiter for accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), application questions or job-specific questions.
- The recruiter for this position is Amy Acree. If you contact the recruiter, please include the job requisition number:
- Email: Amy.Acree@odhs.oregon.gov
