Social Services Associate Utqiagvik (PCN 063855)

State of Alaska; Utqiaġvik (AK); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance Benefits

Retirement Benefits

Paid Leave

twelve paid holidays per year

Job summary

The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS) in Utqiagvik, Alaska is recruiting for a full-time Social Services Associate to support assessments, case planning, and family services in a busy state agency.

As an SSA, you will assist professional staff, provide parenting support during family contact, and help connect families with essential services. Overtime and on-call duty are common, with travel up to 2 times monthly as needed.

Qualifications

• Interpersonal skills; builds effective relationships across diverse groups.
• Customer service: assesses needs and provides information or assistance.
• Adaptability: adjusts plans with critical thinking.
• Computer skills: uses databases and software.
• Teamwork: promotes cooperation and shared goals.

Responsibilities

• Support professional staff by gathering information for assessments, case planning and evaluation.
• Provide parenting support during family contact to help parents practice parenting skills.
• Access electronic databases and refer families to other agencies.
• Assist in ensuring safe, permanent homes and preserving cultural connections.
• Travel 0–2 times a month or year as required.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Adaptability

Computer skills

Teamwork

Job description

The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS) is recruiting for full-time Social Services Associate (SSA)

located in Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska.

This position is open to Alaska Residents.

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. The length of these trips varies based on casework needs, within the day or overnight.

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.

For more information: OCS Practice Model.

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

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

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

Please see the benefits tab on this posting for more information.

Working Environment You Can Expect

This position is located in Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow). Utqiagvik Field Office covers Utqiagvik and 11 surrounding villages. This position may travel to and assist other field offices within the Northern Region for a few days on an as-needed basis. 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.

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.

The Office of Children’s Services requires staff to work after hours and on-call. Overtime is also an expectation when deemed necessary. OCS staff are considered essential, so are expected to work during pandemic and other natural disasters.

For information on the Utqiagvik 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.

To view the general description and example of duties for a Social Services Associate, please visit following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/alaska/classspecs/892009keywords=social%20services%20associate&pagetype=classSpecifications

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.

One year of any combination of postsecondary or vocational education and/or experience in assisting clients, customers, the 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.

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.

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