Protective Services Specialist 1/2 Anchorage

State of Alaska; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance Benefits

Retirement Benefits

Paid Leave

twelve paid holidays per year

Job summary

State of Alaska in Anchorage hires a Protective Services Specialist (PSS) 1/2 to ensure child safety, permanency and well-being. The role covers in-home and out-of-home services, investigations, and coordination with tribal/community partners.

Travel up to 20%-50% and after-hours work are common; this is a field-based position with probationary training and opportunities for remote work within the duty station for eligible staff.

Qualifications

• Stress tolerance for handling high-stress situations and emergencies.
• Strong self-management with initiative and accountability.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team and across units.

Responsibilities

• Investigate reports of child abuse/neglect and assess risk.
• Develop intervention plans with families and partners.
• Gather information on family dynamics and protective factors.
• Arrange out-of-home placements when necessary.
• Provide in-home services and write court reports.

Skills

Stress Tolerance

Self-Management

Teamwork

Job description

Come join the State of Alaska!

This job class uses Competency Based minimum qualifications (MQs). Please read the Competency Based MQ instructions below to learn more.

The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS) is recruiting for full-time Protective Services Specialist 1/2

in Anchorage, Alaska

This position is open to All Applicants.

What You Will Be Doing: As a Protective Services Specialist (PSS), responsible for Child Protection Services in the Family Services unit, the Investigations & Assessment unit, or as Generalist covering both. Services are intended to ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children, enhance the protective capacities of parents, and strengthen the family. It is comprised of two components: 1) In-home Services and 2) Out-of-home Services. More information on Family Services can be found here: Family Services

This case carrying position has a wide range of duties, including investigating reports of child abuse and/or neglect, prepare plans for intervention by soliciting the cooperation of the family and others, and gather information about family dynamics/functionality, develop plans to ensure child safety while assisting parents in addressing their diminished protective factors, place children out of the home with a relative or licensed foster home when necessary, provide ongoing and/or in-home services to families, write and submit reports to the Court, work closely with Tribal/Community Partners, frequent face-to-face and telephonic contact with parents and caregivers of children in custody and make referrals to other service providers and agencies.

For more information: OCS Practice Model.

Mission and Values/Culture

The Mission of the Office of Children's Services is: Ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children by strengthening families, engaging communities, and partnering with Tribes.

The Office of Children's Services strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully.

Everything we do is underpinned by our Core Values Hope, Integrity, Respect and Empathy.

Benefits of Joining Our Team

The Office of Children's Services is committed to an organizational culture that values each team member. We are committed to building and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. We celebrate and value the diversity of our employees, partners, and families we serve.

Your first twelve months in the agency are probationary and considered a training period, with formal virtual training, on-the-job training with your supervisor, and with other colleagues.

While this is a field-based position that involves working in the community, part-time telework within the duty station may be an option upon eligibility.

Full-time benefits of this position include but are not limited to:

• Insurance Benefits
• Retirement Benefits
• Paid Leave
• twelve paid holidays per year

The Working Environment You Can Expect

The Office of Children’s Services Anchorage Regional Office is in mid-town Anchorage. The working environment will consist of a typical office setting as well as regular field work throughout the community. Frequency of travel fluctuates and is expected to be 20%-50% of the month. Length of trips can vary 30 mins - 3 hours depending on situation, and can include overnight stays up to 3 days in rural conditions with some exposure to extreme weather conditions in the winter. Travel in outlying areas may involve small aircraft and overnight stays.

The work we perform is critical and significantly impacts the communities we serve. As a result, the Office of Children's Services (OCS) requires staff to work after hours and on-call, work in the evenings and weekends as well as weekdays, so overtime is also an expectation when deemed necessary. OCS staff are considered essential, so are expected to work during pandemic and other natural disasters.

The typical workweek may include some caseworker visits at school or in resource family homes, virtual and in-person court attendance, and mostly working independently in an office setting.

Our teams are based around having a strong work ethic and high ethical standards, believing in treating all people with dignity and respect, as well as being self-motivated, organized and honest. We are all about getting the job done while still contributing to a positive, upbeat work environment.

For information on the Anchorage community (including schools, hospitals, housing) please review the Alaska Community Profiles.

Who We Are Looking For

We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:

• Stress Tolerance: Deals calmly and effectively with high stress situations (for example, tight deadlines, hostile individuals, emergency situations, dangerous situations).
• Self-Management: Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.
• Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.

Special Note

• This position is flexibly staffed. The level of the job offer will be based on the selected candidate’s credibly possessed and proven competencies. If hired at the lower level, you will be promoted to the higher level after completing the training plan and demonstrating competency in the work performance.
• This position requires a valid Alaska Real ID driver’s license.
• Additionally, while the Division does have vehicles assigned to it, they may not always be available for staff use. Mileage reimbursement is available when a personal vehicle is used for work-related matters. Current automotive insurance must be in place prior to use of a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the State.
• Relocation reimbursement costs may be provided by the State of Alaska.
• For positions in this job class, a child protective history check will be performed per AS 12.62.160 and/or 13 AAC 68.315 including a background and fingerprint check.

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P. O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

The State of Alaska does not provide VISA Employer sponsorships.

This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.

Contact Information

Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or [phone] if you are in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to [e-mail].

For specific information in reference to the position please contact the hiring manager:

Laureen Larsen

Talent Acquisitions Specialist

[phone]

[e-mail]