Protective Services Specialist 2 (Medical Social Worker)

Corrections; Anchorage (AK); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid telework

Parking

Job summary

The Alaska Department of Corrections, Division of Health and Rehabilitative Services, seeks a Protective Services Specialist 2 in Anchorage to work with inmates and underserved populations, delivering social casework and transition planning.

The role emphasizes release planning, inter-agency collaboration, pregnancy planning, and end-of-life planning, with potential hybrid telework after probation and a location at the Anchorage Central Office.

Qualifications

• Combination of education and/or experience that provides competencies in social services, health care, or related fields.
• Experience in case management or social services for individuals and families.

Responsibilities

• Provide social casework to inmates with medical or cognitive needs and assist during custody or community reentry.
• Conduct release planning, pregnancy planning, and end-of-life planning.
• Coordinate inter-agency collaboration for adults and juveniles.

Skills

Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving

Customer Service

Integrity/Honesty

Interpersonal Skills

Oral Communication

Writing

Job description

Job Description

The Department of Corrections, Division of Health and Rehabilitative Services, is recruiting for a Protective Services Specialist 2 located at the Anchorage Central Office in Anchorage, Alaska.

Watch Alaska DOC's video here:

DOC 2026_45 sec

Watch Alaska DOC HARS video here:

Medical

What You Will Be Doing:

This position will work with a diverse and underserved population of individuals conducting social casework with inmates who experience some level of medical or cognitive need and therefore need assistance while in custody or transitioning back into the community. Social casework includes release planning, pregnancy planning, inter-agency collaboration for adults and juveniles and end-of-life planning.

Our Mission, Values, and Culture:

We are dedicated to providing essential health care and to promoting rehabilitation. We are committed to a culture of professionalism, quality and safety. We seek applicants who are interested in furthering the HARS Mission and who will strive to uphold the Division’s Core Values of Respect, Integrity, Compassion, Teamwork and Safety.

Benefits of Joining Our Team:

We are seeking applicants who are highly motivated and competent professionals to join our diverse team and provide care to an underserved group of people across the State of Alaska. This position will provide you with an opportunity for professional growth and assisting people in returning to the community as better citizens. Upon successful completion of probation, this position has the potential to offer a hybrid telework schedule.

The Working Environment You Can Expect:

This position is located in the Atwood building in beautiful downtown Anchorage; covered parking at the Linny Pacillo parking garage is provided for employees. This position works primarily out of Anchorage Central Office but will work with inmates throughout all State facilities.

Who We Are Looking For:

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

Human Services:

Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and practices used in the planning, design, and implementation of programs that provide a broad range of social supports to individuals and families.

Adaptability:

Adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.

Minimum Qualifications

Competency Based Minimum Qualifications Instructions

This job class uses competency based minimum qualifications.

Please ensure your application (through work history, volunteer experience (duties summary), training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports how you have gained the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors (competencies) and that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.

Competency Description

The competency description(s) listed below have been designed to promote a common understanding of the essential elements of the job class. They highlight the more general and customary knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs), tasks, and behaviors used to describe the competency. They typically list expectations, as opposed to specific tasks, and are to be used only as parameters and guidelines. A competency’s description is not intended to exclusively define every KSA, task, and behavior needed to successfully meet the competency, but rather to provide the manager/agency given a broad reference of options as to how an applicant can meet the job expectation.

Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the applicant with competencies in

Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving:

Uses a logical, systematic, and sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.

Customer Service:

Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside State government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.

Integrity/Honesty:

Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.

Interpersonal Skills:

Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.

Oral Communication:

Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Writing:

Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.

Equivalent to those typically gained by:

Training in a social science, behavioral science, health science, guidance and counseling, or a closely related field and/or progressively responsible professional experience providing assistance, information or referrals to the general public related to social services, health care, or legal services; in child, adult, family, or group case management, licensing, or probation services; or providing care or services to delinquent juveniles.

“Typically gained by” means the prevalent, usual method of gaining the competencies expected for entry into the job.

“Training” and “education” in this guidance are synonyms for the process of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction. It includes instruction through formal and informal methods (such as classroom, on-line, self-study, and on-the-job), from accredited and unaccredited sources, and long-duration (such as a post‑secondary degree) and short‑duration (such as a seminar) programs.

“Progressively responsible” means indicating growth and/or advancement in complexity, difficulty, or level of responsibility.

“Professional experience” means work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices;

Special Note:

Some positions require a valid Alaska driver's license and/or a background investigation including fingerprinting. These requirements will be indicated at the time of recruitment.

Additional Required Information

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

If selected for an interview, the applicant must provide the following:

Last three (3) performance evaluations

Education transcripts/copy of degree if applicable

Three (3) professional references

LEGAL EMPLOYMENT

The State’s online recruitment system, Workplace Alaska, requires applicants to certify that they have a legal right to accept employment in the United States. It is the responsibility of the employee to maintain the appropriate documentation to accept or continue legal employment. The State of Alaska does not function in the role as an employer sponsor.

EDUCATION

If post-secondary education is required