DSHS ESA Social Service Specialist 2
About the role
The Economic Services Administration (ESA), Community Services Division (CSD), is seeking a Social Service Specialist 2 to join our team at the King North Community Services Office, located in the north end of Seattle, WA. As a Social Service Specialist 2, you will provide professional-level social services to a caseload of individuals and families who face barriers to self-sufficiency.
Please note: This is an on-site role, requiring hands-on outreach and collaboration with clients and community partners.
Responsibilities
- Screen and refer people for medical, psychiatric, and other tests.
- Conduct assessments to determine an individual's level of functioning including evaluating education, social history, living situation, and employment history, as well as physical and mental status.
- Review and interpret medical reports and test results to determine eligibility for programs.
- Authorize additional referrals to medical specialists when indicated by medical evidence.
- Stay up to date on community resources and referral sources for medical, mental, and chemical dependency treatment.
- Develop individualized case plans to provide specific action steps as a result of assessment findings.
- Participate in home or alternate site visits to evaluate situations and conduct assessments of vulnerable and disabled applicants.
- Document case activity in appropriate computer programs.
Requirements
- Twelve months of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1 AND completion of the agency’s Social Service Specialist training program.
- A master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice, or an allied field, AND one year as a Social Service Specialist 1 or equivalent paid social service experience*.
- A two-year master's degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum will be substituted for one year of paid social service experience.
- A bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice, or an allied field, AND two years of paid social service experience* performing functions equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 1.
- An equivalent combination of education/experience totaling six or more years.
Note: Paid Social Service experience must include assessing risk and safety to children and/or adults and providing direct family-centered practice services.
Note: Employees must successfully complete the formal training course within eighteen months of their appointment.
Skills
- Comfort supporting people with complex needs: Ability to partner with individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, or substance use needs, offering grounded, consistent support in a respectful and nonjudgmental way.
- Client-focused planning: Skill in listening deeply, understanding each person’s circumstances, and using that information to shape assessments, case plans, and participation requirements that support stability and progress.
- Clear, respectful communication: Ability to interact with clients, coworkers, medical providers, and community partners with tact, professionalism, and courtesy — even during challenging conversations or emotionally charged moments.
- Assessment and decision-making: Capability to interpret medical documentation, determine eligibility pathways, take timely case actions, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment with competing demands.
- Technical and regulatory proficiency: Comfort using multiple automated systems and applying program manuals, the Washington Administrative Code, and agency procedures to ensure accurate, policy-aligned work.
- Adaptability and conflict management: Skill in navigating change, managing stress, and de-escalating conflict while maintaining focus, professionalism, and a steady presence for the people you support.
Benefits
- King County employees receive 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.
- Eligible to receive a free ORCA card for transportation use.
Schedule
Work schedule: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.