COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES ASSISTANT - 40001475

General Description

Positions in this class work with the elderly, disabled and/or families with dependent children in local departments of Social Services to provide training in household management, personal care, and community living skills. Work involves: demonstrating, accompanying, and working along side clients to show them how to manage money, select and prepare nutritious and inexpensive meals, care for the family and/or the family's personal health and cleanliness; discussing basic child reading practices and discipline techniques; taking clients to medical, social, and educational resources to assure they receive services; assist them occasionally in locating housing or job placements and working out details of furnishings, transportation, or day care as needed; occasionally leading recreational activities, may conduct group classes in sewing, cooking, etc. when several clients are identified with similar needs.

Responsibilities

• Provides supportive services to families with children in DSS custody
• Supervise visitations
• Transports clients to and from medical, dental and therapy appointments
• Provides in-home services to families in the areas of shopping, budgeting and money management, housekeeping skills, community resources and location of housing

Qualifications

• Experience working with families and children highly desired
• Must have knowledge of Durham County supportive resources
• Requires demonstrated possession of knowledge, skills and abilities gained through two years of experience in performing similar instructional and community placement tasks; or graduation from a two-year associate degree program designed to prepare support personnel for human services agencies which includes a six month practice/internship in a similar setting

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of and skill in enlisting available community supportive resources for individuals served
• Considerable knowledge of social, economic, and environmental conditions of clients to be served
• Considerable knowledge of various types of housing and potential employers for skilled and non-skilled areas
• Skill in basic reading, writing, and simple mathematics
• Skill in appraising needs and exercising good judgment in decision-making
• Skill in establishing rapport with clients and variety of service delivery disciplines and community business personnel
• Ability to verbally communicate findings

Minimum Education and Experience

Demonstrated possession of knowledges, skills, and abilities gained through at least one year of experience in performing tasks similar to the ones assigned.

Special Requirements

• Availability for evening and weekend hours
• Requires a valid North Carolina driver's license with an acceptable three-year driving record and a vehicle

Preferred Requirements

• Preference will be given to applicants who graduated from a two-year associate degree program designed to prepare support personnel for human services agencies which includes a six month practice/internship in a similar setting (one year of the above experience may be substituted for the practice)
• Preference will be given to candidates with bilingual skills