Human Services Assistant III - Benefits

Virginia-Department-of-Social-Service; Hopewell (VA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Department of Social Services is seeking a Human Services Assistant III who serves as the initial point of contact for clients seeking benefits and services, screens applicants, and assists with applications. The role involves explaining programs, researching resources, and coordinating appointments with benefit staff.

Candidate should have a high school diploma with related coursework and relevant administrative experience. This is a front-line, client-facing position within the agency.

Qualifications

• High school diploma supplemented with post-secondary coursework in subjects such as social work, human services, gerontology, or related fields.
• Relevant work experience in public administrative support work or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Responsibilities

• Screens clients for benefits and services.
• Interviews clients and explains programs, services, policies and procedures.
• Assists clients with applications.
• Evaluates and approves agency providers.
• Researches information.
• Serves as initial point of contact for applicants.
• Interviews applicants for benefits and/or service programs.
• Provides information regarding programs and benefits and eligibility requirements.
• Assists clients with completing applications and initial screening.
• Provides information and makes referrals for services.
• Maintains logs of client documentation.
• Schedules and coordinates appointments for clients with staff.
• Contacts clients for requested information and responds to routine questions.
• Analyzes needs and coordinates resources to support families/clients.

Skills

Office equipment

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Education

High school diploma with post-secondary coursework in social services

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;
• Interviews clients and explains programs, services, policies and procedures;
• Assists clients with applications;
• Evaluates and approves agency providers;
• Researches information;
• Serves as initial point of contact for applicants;
• Interviews applicants for benefits and/or service programs;
• Provides information regarding various programs and benefits, general eligibility requirements, policies and procedures;
• Assists clients with completing applications and performs initial screening of applications;
• Provides information to clients seeking services and directly makes referrals for services;
• 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; and

• Analyzes needs and coordinates resources that will support families/clients and generates payment for services when appropriate.

  In addition to the above other illustrative program area assignment/tasks follow:

Benefit Programs:

• Attends and testifies at administrative hearings;
• Prepares periodic, special and other reports for statistics; and
• Provides assistance in the orientation/training of new staff.

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.