HUMAN SERVICE SPECIALIST

City of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 62,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Chicago seeks a Human Service Specialist within the Department of Family and Support Services to provide counseling and social services to individuals and families in crisis or in need of support.

Under supervision, you will conduct short- and long-term case management, evaluate client needs, develop individualized service plans, and coordinate with partner agencies to secure essential assistance.

Qualifications

• Six (6) years of community or social service experience.
• Associate's degree in Social Sciences or adirectly related field, PLUS four (4) years of community or social service experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences or a directly related field, PLUS two (2) years of community or social service experience.
• Master's degree in Social Sciences or a directly related field, PLUS one (1) year of community or social service experience.

Responsibilities

• Counsels clients with complex needs requiring multiple social service agencies.
• Conducts short- and long-term case management to address immediate needs and recurring issues.
• Conducts in-depth evaluations to assess clients' problems and social service needs.
• Develops service plans detailing actions to assist clients in addressing problems and obtaining services.
• Provides crisis intervention and counseling services to clients in need of emergency services.
• Determines clients' eligibility for social services and advocates with agencies.
• Provides referrals and coordinates with other social service agencies; follows up to ensure needed services.
• Maintains accurate client records in DFSS data systems daily.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Skills

Counseling experience

Case management

Crisis intervention

Spanish speaking

Education

Associate's degree in Social Sciences or related field

Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences or related field

Master's degree in Social Sciences or related field

Six (6) years of experience in social services

Job description

Human Service Specialist

Department of Family and Support Services

Number of Positions: 2

(additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $68,616.00/Year

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 09/30/2026/6

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) - BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

Description

Under supervision, the class functions at the fully functional professional level, providing counseling and social services assistance to individuals and families in crisis or in need of social or other support services.

Essential Duties

• Counsels clients with complex needs that require assistance from multiple social service agencies
• Conducts short- and long-term case management to address immediate needs, identify recurring issues and resolve problems
• Conducts in-depth evaluations to assess clients' presenting problems and social service needs
• Develops individual and family-oriented service plans detailing actions to assist clients in addressing identified problems and obtaining social service assistance
• Provides crisis intervention and counseling services to clients in need of emergency services
• Determines clients' social service assistance eligibility, advocates on clients' behalf with various social service agencies
• Provides referrals, coordinates efforts with other social service agencies and conducts follow up to ensure clients receive appropriate and needed assistance
• Maintain accurate client records that will include case notes, follow up calls, contacts with clients, and or other needed information to assist clients progress to self-sufficiency in DFSS data systems daily
• Performs related duties as assigned

Location

Department of Family and Support Services Community Service Centers - Various Locations

Address: 1140 W. 79th Street

10 S. Kedzie

4314 S. Cottage Grove

845 West Wilson Ave

8650 S. Commercial

4312 W. North Avenue

Days

Monday - Friday

Hours

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications

• Six (6) years of community or social service experience; OR
• Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate's degree in Social Sciences or adirectly related field, PLUS four (4) years of community or social service experience; OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences or a directly related field, PLUS two (2) years of community or social service experience; OR
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Social Sciences or a directly related field, PLUS one (1) year of community or social service experience

Selection Criteria

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral part of the interview will be selected

Desired Skills

• Previous experience providing counseling services to clients who require assistance from multiple social service agencies
• Previous experience conducting long and short-term case management
• Previous experience providing crisis intervention and counseling services to clients in an emergency
• Spanish speaking skills

Initial evaluation will be based on the information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow all required employment/hiring plan provisions, federal, state, and local laws, and collective bargaining agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience, the City of Chicago has adopted ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States, residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA), and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. The learn more about our hiring processes

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ANY AND ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer and Fair Chance Employer

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor