DSHS ESA Social Service Specialist 2

Join our team as a Social Service Specialist 2 with the Economic Services Administration’s (ESA), Community Services Division (CSD) at the White Center Community Service Office in Seattle, where you will provide vital, client-centered support to individuals and families working to overcome barriers to stability and self-sufficiency. This position is dedicated to the Regional SSI Facilitation Team, supporting participants in both the WorkFirst and Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) programs.

About the role

In this role, you will support clients facing vocational, medical, psychological, and social challenges by conducting comprehensive assessments, developing individualized plans, and delivering ongoing case management. You’ll help clients navigate services, access resources, and move toward greater independence. You will also assist individuals in gathering, coordinating, and submitting documentation needed to support federal disability benefit claims, collaborating with medical providers, community partners, and internal teams to ensure accurate and timely claim processing.

This position involves both office-based work and occasional travel for home or alternate-site visits, allowing you to meet clients where they are and provide equitable, meaningful service.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management for people with social, cultural, vocational, and medical impairments of varying degrees.
• Conduct assessments and create case plans for participants in the WorkFirst program.
• Complete program assessments and eligibility determination for Aged, Blind, and Disabled/Housing & Essential Needs.
• Create, implement, monitor, and modify case plans for customers to help achieve self-sufficiency.
• Review and examine cases on a periodic basis to assess client progress and determine continuing compliance with social services programs.
• Coordinate services with other agencies such as behavioral health, Employment Security, substance abuse programs, vocational rehabilitation, and developmental disabilities.
• Apply medical diagnostic terminology and categories to assess and determine client employability or incapacity.
• Provide services collaboratively and with empathy and respect.
• Interview clients and provide a comprehensive assessment of vocational, educational, social, and health history.
• Authorize referrals to medical specialists and referrals to other agencies.
• Perform home and alternate site visits to assist customers experiencing poverty.

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 may 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 of six or more years.

Paid Social Service experience must include assessing risk and safety to children and/or adults and providing direct family-centered practice services.

Employees must successfully complete the formal training course within eighteen months of their appointment.

Skills

• Effective verbal and written communication skills when interviewing clients and interacting with coworkers, community partners, medical providers, attorneys, and community partners.
• Consistent ability to serve the public with respect, concern, courtesy, and responsiveness.
• Successful at de-escalation in situations.
• Willingness and commitment to work with underserved, homeless, people with mental illness, and chemically dependent clients.
• Ability to use automated software applications.

Benefits

• King County employees receive 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.
• Eligible to receive a free ORCA card for transportation use.

Additional Information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job.

This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.