Social Services Associate Ketchikan (PCN 063966)

State of Alaska; Ketchikan (AK); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance benefits

Retirement benefits

Paid leave

Twelve paid holidays per year

Job summary

The State of Alaska, Office of Children's Services, is seeking a Social Services Associate to support case planning and evaluation by gathering information, coordinating referrals, and assisting families to ensure safe, healthy, and stable homes. The role requires strong communication, critical thinking, and professionalism, with travel as needed.

Applicants should be able to work evenings or weekends as required during emergencies and have a service‑oriented mindset.

Qualifications

• Interpersonal skills with diverse individuals and cultures.
• Customer service orientation to assess needs and provide information.
• Adaptability to changing priorities and demands.
• Proficiency with computers, databases, and automated systems.
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment.

Responsibilities

• Support professional staff by gathering information for assessments and planning.
• Provide parenting support during family contact to help parents practice parenting skills.
• Coordinate referrals for families to other agencies and resources.
• Travel 0-2 times per month or year as needed for casework.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Adaptability

Computer skills

Teamwork

Education

1 year postsecondary/vocational

Job description

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 0-2 times a month or 0-2 times a year and varies based on casework needs. Travel may be within the day or overnight stays.

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.

Our Organization, Mission, and Culture:

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.

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.

Everything we do is underpinned by our Core Values.

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 12 months in the agency are probationary and considered a training period, with formal and on-the-job training with your supervisor and your colleagues.

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

Working Environment You Can Expect:

This position is located in Ketchikan, Alaska and supports communities within Southeast Alaska. Travel varies based on casework or regional needs and could be 0-2 times a month or 0-2 times a year, within the day or overnight stays. Travel to villages or cities for placement or visitation varies based on regional needs. Travel in outlying areas may involve small aircraft.

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.

The Office of Children’s Services 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.

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

Who We Are Looking For:

We are seeking a candidate with the following desired competencies:

• 1. 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.
• 2. 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 and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
• 3. Adaptability: Adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.
• 4. Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
• 5. Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.

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

NOTE: PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY

At time of interview, applicant is requested to submit:

• Copy of college/academic transcripts with your application if you will be using education to meet the minimum qualifications and/or competencies desired for the position. (Unofficial are acceptable but must include the institution name/URL on the transcripts) Please provide a copy at the time of the interview if they are not included in your application.
• A list of three (3) professional references including daytime telephone numbers and email address; at least two (2) of these must be from a current or former supervisor.

*Professional is defined as a supervisor or an individual who has direct knowledge of your work performance.

Special Note:

• 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.
• 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.

Please read the information below carefully. This applies to your application submission.

NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

EDUCATION:

To verify education being used to meet the required minimum qualifications, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials being used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial are okay, please ensure that the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application, provided at the time of interview or if not provided, transcripts will be required prior to appointment.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION:

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Omission of required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application and you will not receive further consideration.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

When using work experience not already documented in your application, please provide the employer’s name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported, and minimum qualifications are clearly met. Work experience needed to meet the minimum qualifications must be documented in the application. If the application does not support minimum qualifications, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment. A resume will not be used to determine that minimum qualifications have been met for the position in which you are applying. If you are currently or previously been appointed to a flexibly staffed position, please ensure your work experience within a flexibly staffed position indicates the actual dates employed at each level. Ensure your time and any subsequent flex promotion(s) are documented as a separate position. This is required as there are minimum qualifications that require experience at a particular level in which the lower level may not be considered. If this information is not accurately reflected in your application this may cause the processing of your application for consideration to be delayed.

RECRUITMENT SCOPE:

This position is open to All Applicants.

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 of an employer sponsor.

NOTE:

The State of Alaska does not provide VISA Employer sponsorships.

MULTIPLE VACANCIES:

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.

EEO STATEMENT

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.

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

Name: Laureen Larsen, Talent Acquisition Specialist
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]