Human Service Worker III

About the Role

This position is located within the DFS Public Assistance & Employment Services, Long Term Services and Support (LTSS) Unit in Fairfax, VA. The role involves performing comprehensive assessments for medical and financial needs, conducting in-depth phone interviews, assisting in gathering necessary information, and determining initial and ongoing eligibility for federal and state programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. The position requires close collaboration with community partners, including the Community Service Board and Adult and Aging services.

This is a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines, high caseloads, and competing priorities. The role involves applying, explaining, and interpreting highly complex federal, state, and local policies to clients, service providers, attorneys, and the public.

Responsibilities

• Maintains knowledge of current public assistance and employment policies and applies, explains, and interprets complex federal, state, and local policies.
• Conducts in-depth interviews to determine and reassess client eligibility for financial, publicly supported medical services, and/or medical public assistance programs.
• Performs client needs assessments to aid in making appropriate referrals to other services.
• Works with clients to gather information necessary to establish eligibility.
• Compiles and maintains data and documents, and may prepare written narratives to support eligibility determinations.
• Ensures timely processing of applications to meet client needs and program policy mandates.
• Authorizes public assistance (e.g., medical aid, financial assistance, food stamps) based on client circumstances and program requirements.
• Uses various forms of automated technology to document, obtain, and verify information, generate reports, and authorize benefits and services.
• Assists clients in obtaining resources to meet emergency needs and coordinates these with other service providers.
• Coordinates and manages clients' participation in a variety of services.
• Participates in case staffings with other county staff or community organizations to assess and address client needs.
• Prepares appeal documents and may represent the agency in administrative appeals filed by clients.
• Provides guidance and assistance to employers and clients in the operation of an employment resource center.
• Performs employability assessments of economically disadvantaged clients to develop service plans for securing employment.
• Works with clients to identify and address barriers to employment.
• Provides career counseling and assists job seekers with job search and resume development.
• Participates in curriculum development, facilitates workshops, and collaborates with businesses and workforce partners.
• Plans and participates in orientations and workforce-related workshops.
• Identifies, recruits, and develops job opportunities with employers, including job sites for community work experience and on-the-job training.
• Tracks, monitors, and reports on employment resource center resources, job leads, and employment databases.
• Develops marketing and presentation materials for the business community, the public, and other human service providers.
• Researches available grants and determines feasibility of acquisition of funds and appropriate projects for funding.
• Assists with writing grant applications and proposals for funding.
• Prepares required reports on federal, state, and local grant performance outcomes.
• Oversees and coordinates a program or project.
• Assists the supervisor with duties that may include training, coaching, and reviewing the work of less experienced staff.
• Serves as a policy expert in one or more program areas, providing guidance, direction, and information to other staff.
• Assists in the development of service strategies.

Requirements

• Knowledge of basic human behavior and social problems.
• Knowledge of social, economic, health, and cultural factors that can serve as barriers to employment.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and policies governing public assistance and welfare reform.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex program policies and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to make mathematical computations.
• Ability to schedule and manage workload sufficient to meet deadlines.
• Ability to use automated technology to establish and maintain case records.
• Ability to handle multiple deadlines, computer systems, high volume of client contact, high caseloads, and competing priorities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, and other human service providers.
• Ability to work effectively with people under stress and those from various socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality of client information.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service.
• Ability to work in a team environment and maintain flexibility.
• Ability to manage a complex caseload.
• Ability to assess client needs through collection and analysis of employment history and other personal, family, and cultural information.
• Ability to use supportive counseling techniques to enhance and develop clients' problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to identify clients in crisis and intervene to stabilize the situation.
• Ability to identify client issues needing referral to other human service providers (e.g., substance abuse, spousal abuse).
• Ability to lead and coach other professional-level staff.
• Ability to develop and present training programs.
• Ability to conduct research to identify grant opportunities.
• Ability to develop presentations using automated technology.

Qualifications

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree plus two years of human services or related professional work experience.

Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment.

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and child protective services check to the satisfaction of the employer.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• At least one year of experience determining eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP, and/or other public assistance programs in the state of Virginia.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws governing Medicaid, SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Relief, and/or Refugee Cash Assistance programs, and the ability to apply them correctly.
• At least one year of experience using Virginia state systems: VaCMS, MMIS, and SPIDeR.
• Clear and concise oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to schedule and manage large workloads and meet stringent deadlines.
• Supervisory experience and/or experience reviewing the work of less experienced staff.
• Experience and proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel computer software applications; willingness to learn new applications and systems as needed.
• Ability to be flexible, multi-task, prioritize, and manage multiple activities simultaneously in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Team player with the ability to take initiative and work well independently.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer.
• Ability to perform repetitive hand, arm, wrist, and shoulder movements.
• Visual acuity to review detailed drawings, plans, and documents.

All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.