Social Services Associate Fairbanks (PCN 261003M)

State of Alaska; Fairbanks (AK); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid leave

Job summary

The State of Alaska, Office of Children's Services in Fairbanks, Alaska, seeks a Social Services Associate (SSA) to support assessments, case planning, and service referrals. You will assist professional staff, help families and children access resources, and travel within Alaska up to 4+ times monthly.

This is a full-time, on-site role requiring strong communication, critical thinking, and sensitivity to diverse communities.

Qualifications

• One year of any combination of postsecondary or vocational education and/or experience in assisting clients, customers, the general public, or other staff in the explanation and application of guidelines, policies, or services.

Responsibilities

• Gather information for assessments, case planning and evaluation.
• Provide parenting support during family contact to help parents practice parenting skills in a safe environment.
• Access electronic databases and refer families to other agencies as needed.
• Assist professional staff and work with families and children to enhance healthy start and safe, permanent homes.
• Travel 4+ times per month within Alaska as required.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Adaptability

Computer skills

Teamwork

Job description

Job Description – Social Services Associate (SSA) – Full‑time – Fairbanks, Alaska. This position is open to Alaska Residents only.

What You Will Be Doing:

A Social Services Associate is an administrative position. You will be supporting professional staff by gathering information for assessments, case planning and evaluation, while performing duties that can include providing parenting support during family contact to enable parents to practice parenting skills in a safe environment, accessing electronic databases, and providing information to professional staff to make necessary referrals for families to other agencies. As a Social Services Associate you will work with families and children, helping to provide services that will enhance families' capacities to give their children a healthy start, to provide them with safe and permanent homes, to maintain cultural connections, and to help them realize their potential. The successful incumbent will be courteous, professional in language and presentation, calm, motivated, efficient, and have strong critical thinking skills. This position will require traveling 4+ a month.

The Office of Children's Services requires staff to work overtime when deemed necessary. OCS Staff are considered essential, so are expected to work during pandemic and other natural disasters. The agency also supports a healthy work/life balance for all staff.

Required Competencies:

• 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.
• 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 the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products or services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
• Adaptability: Adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.
• Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
• 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 requires a valid Real ID Alaska 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.
• 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 successful candidate may be required to attend multiple training courses normally located in Anchorage.

Minimum Qualifications:

One year of any combination of postsecondary or vocational education and/or experience in assisting clients, customers, the general public, or other staff in the explanation and application of guidelines, policies, or services.

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

Benefits:

• Full-time benefits of this position include but are not limited to: Insurance Benefits; Retirement Benefits; Paid Leave; and twelve paid holidays per year.
• Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
• The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See https://drb.alaska.gov/help/plans.html for additional information.
• AVTEC
• Confidential
• Correctional Officers
• Marine Engineers
• Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
• Supervisory
• Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
• Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
• The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
• General Government
• Labor, Trades and Crafts
• Public Safety Employees Association
• Masters, Mates & Pilots
• Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)
• Group-based insurance premiums for
• Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
• Long-term and short-term disability
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
• Supplemental Survivor Benefits
• Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses
• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
• Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
• Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
• Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
• Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options
• Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
• Twelve (12) paid holidays a year

Working Environment:

These positions will be located in Fairbanks, Alaska. Travel frequency estimated 4+ times a month to different locations within Alaska. Day trips and occasional overnights. Travel in outlying areas may involve small aircraft The Office of Children's Service's staff are considered essential and are required to work after hours, on-call hours, through pandemics- natural disasters, and all holidays that land on their rotational work week. The work we perform is critical and significantly impacts the communities we serve. As a result, the Office of Children's Services works on evenings and weekends as well as weekdays, so overtime and on-call work are expectations of our workers. For information on the Fairbanks community (including schools, hospitals, housing), please review the Alaska Community Profiles.

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.