Self-Sufficiency Specialist I

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Virginia; On-site; USD 37,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of VA Careers is hiring a Self-Sufficiency Specialist I for Culpeper County. The role trains under supervision to determine eligibility for social services and assess employability, with potential progression to Self-Sufficiency Specialist II after training and supervisor/director approval.

Responsibilities include assessing client needs, developing employment plans, and maintaining records while staying compliant with laws and policies.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of basic human behavior and math to calculate percentages.
• Ability to interview, gather information and evaluate situations.
• Communication skills, written and oral.

Responsibilities

• Explain the employment services program and eligibility.
• Assess customer needs and develop employment plans.
• Establish and monitor self-sufficiency goals.
• Monitor case reports and records per regulations.
• Explain child care program and assess client needs.
• Interview applicants and determine need for assistance.
• Process applications for financial assistance and diversion.
• Determine eligibility and benefit levels using systems.
• Evaluate employability and explore income sources.
• Explain client responsibilities and program availability.
• Refer clients to service workers as needed.
• Prepare reports and maintain records.

Skills

Basic behavior knowledge

Mathematics

Interviewing techniques

Education

High school diploma with related training/experience

Tools

PC proficiency

Job description

Hiring Range: $41,479.00 to Commensurate With Experience

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

Titles Description

Self-Sufficiency Specialist I represents the entry level in the Self-Sufficiency Specialist occupational group for employees working under close supervision while being trained in determining eligibility for a variety of social services government assistance programs and assessing employability of clients to aid in their effort to achieve self sufficiency. Upon recommendation by the supervisor, approval by the director, and successful completion of the training program, the employee shall be redefined to a full-performance Self-Sufficiency Specialist II and becomes eligible for a salary increase if/as indicated by the local department’s compensation plan. Employees are dedicated wholly to Employment Services or to a combination of Benefits and Employment Services. This level is distinguished from the Self-Sufficiency Specialist II by the latter’s performing all the assigned eligibility and employment service duties independently and making judgments following agency practices and procedures and mandated federal, state, or local laws and policies.

General Work Tasks (Illustrative Only)

• Explains the employment services program
• Makes assessments of customer needs and develops employment plans, utilizing job search, work experience, education and training.
• Establishes and monitors self-sufficiency goals through information and assessment of customer background.
• Monitors case reports/records in accordance with regulations.
• Explains the child care program and makes assessments of customer needs.
• Interviews persons for assistance, obtains necessary information;
• Explains nature of temporary assistance benefit programs and determines reasons and need for assistance;
• Processes applications for financial assistance and diversion;
• Determines eligibility for assistance and benefit levels using automated systems and manual methods;
• Evaluates employability status of clients and explores potential sources of income;
• Explains client responsibilities, rights and program availability;
• Refers clients to service worker as the result of overall assessment of situation;
• Prepares reports and maintains client records;

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge- Some knowledge of: basic human behavior; mathematics to calculate percentages, formulas and averages to solve mathematical problems; and interviewing techniques such as data collection and investigation.

Skills- Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated office and agency software.

Abilities- Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing; interview, gather information, and evaluate situations; analyze information; apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form; exercise sound judgment, discretion, tact and resourcefulness in solving problems and drawing logical conclusions; use various types of automated technology to establish and maintain case records, access and retrieve data, create reports and manipulate data; maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with others in a positive and tactful manner under sometimes stressful situations.

Education and Experience- High school diploma supplemented with additional training and related work experience OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Special Requirements

All applicants are subject to employment verification and reference checks, verification of education, a DMV/driving record check, Central Registry check and criminal history check to evaluate for barrier crimes as described in the Code of Virginia§63.2-1719.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory results of the required checks and screenings.

Employee must be willing to work inthe community emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.

Employees must also meet local vehicle insurance requirements.

FLSA:non-exempt

Employee Benefits

Benefits | Culpeper County VA

Culpeper Department Social Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Culpeper County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.