Human Services Assistant III

Virginia-Department-of-Social-Service; Pulaski (VA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Department of Social Services in Virginia is seeking a Human Services Assistant III to serve as the initial contact for clients seeking benefits and to screen applicants for eligibility. You will help applicants complete applications and gather needed information, and coordinate with benefit, employment or services staff.

Key requirements include the ability to communicate effectively, plan and prioritize work, and build professional relationships with clients and colleagues.

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or equivalent with relevant coursework is required.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with clients and staff.
• Strong organization and record-keeping skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Screens clients for benefits and services.
• Serves as initial point of contact for applicants.
• Interviews applicants for benefits and assists with completing applications.
• Maintains client documentation and coordinates with staff.

Skills

Communication

Organization

Interpersonal skills

Record keeping

Counseling

Education

High school diploma

Some college

Tools

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Office software

Job description

Title Description-

Human Services Assistant III represents the specialist level in the occupational group for Human Services Assistants. Employees serve as the initial point of contact for clients seeking benefits and/ or services and screens clients for benefits and services. Human Services Assistant III is distinguished from Human Services Assistant II by serving as a screener and the initial point of contact for the clients seeking benefits and/or services.

General Work Tasks (Illustrative Only) –

• Screens clients for benefits and services;
• Serves as initial point of contact for applicants;
• Interviews applicants for benefits
• Provides information regarding various programs and benefits, general eligibility requirements, policies and procedures;
• Assists clients with completing applications and performs initial screening of applications;
• Researches a variety of databases to obtain and/or verify information needed to process applications;
• Maintains logs of client documentation received;
• Schedules and coordinates appointments for clients to meet with benefit, employment or services staff;
• Contacts clients for requested/needed information and responds to routine questions in person, e-mail or by telephone

General Work Tasks (continued) –

• Benefit Programs:
• Prepares periodic, special and other reports for statistics
• Reissues EBT cards; assist clients with activating and understanding the use of EBT card
• Files case records. Retrieves case records. Purges historical case information
• Actively participates in Red Cross Shelter Duty
• Retrieves and distributes incoming documents from courier pouch. Prepares documents to send out in courier pouch.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge-

Considerable knowledge of: principles and processes for providing customer and personal services (including customer needs assessment, meeting of quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction); structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar; and administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, spreadsheets, managing files and records, and other office procedures and terminology. Working knowledge of: human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; mathematics and research methods; and eligibility requirements for the programs assigned; and available community resources. Some knowledge of laws, regulations, requirements and policies of Local, State, and Federal social, assistance and housing programs.

Skills-

Skill in: operating a variety of automated office equipment to include calculator, fax/copier; and the use of computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet, graphics and file maintenance programs.

Abilities-

Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively with program participants; plan, organize, and prioritize own work schedule; establish and maintain working relationships with clients, professionals, co-workers, and the public sufficient to exchange ideas and coordinate activities; accept direction and follow established procedures; counsel others; organize, and post date, from records, reports and other sources using the appropriate format; exhibit solid interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution in working with clients, professionals and employees; create forms, charts, and graphs; add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs; make screening decisions based upon specific criteria’s; read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, manuals; and conduct effective interviews both face-to-face and by telephone.

Education and Experience-

High school diploma supplemented with post-secondary coursework in subjects such as social work, human services, gerontology, or one of the social or behavioral sciences, business or related field, and relevant work experience in public administrative support work OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Minimum Qualifications:

High School Diploma

Preferred Qualifications:

Some College or similar demonstrated work experience