Human Service Worker IV

About the Role

Join the Department of Family Services (DFS) and make a meaningful impact in your community. We are committed to improving the well-being of Fairfax County residents by protecting, empowering, and guiding individuals and families toward self-sufficiency. As a Human Service Worker IV in the Public Assistance & Employment Services Division, you will lead caseworkers in delivering essential public assistance services.

Responsibilities

• Act as an expert for public assistance programs including SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF, along with the Virginia Case Management system.
• Supervise a team of caseworkers conducting initial eligibility determinations for TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid.
• Provide training in SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and case management to meet daily deadlines.
• Collaborate with the management team to ensure effective and consistent service delivery across branch offices.
• Lead staff allocation efforts to meet high-demand times and balance workloads.
• Identify and address gaps in service delivery to enhance operations and maximize impact.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices to maintain compliance with federal, state, and local regulations for TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid.
• Review cases regularly to ensure accurate and timely eligibility determinations.
• Analyze complex data, generate actionable insights, and create detailed reports to monitor program performance.
• Leverage technology to streamline operations and ensure accurate documentation while applying policies to assist those in need.
• Conduct individual conferences to provide coaching and performance-based feedback.
• Conduct team meetings to provide division, policy, and procedural updates, along with mini training sessions for continued growth.
• Collaborate with other supervisors and managers to ensure holistic service delivery.
• Provide day-to-day guidance, direction, and mentoring to professional staff on case-related issues, policies, and procedures.
• Plan caseloads, assign cases, and review case records to ensure program timeframes and performance outcomes are met.
• Communicate performance expectations and monitor staff and unit accomplishments against program goals.
• Identify crisis situations and provide crisis intervention as needed.
• Interview job applicants and make hiring recommendations.
• Prepare and conduct formal and informal performance evaluations in a timely manner.
• Handle performance and discipline issues according to County personnel policy.
• Facilitate the professional growth of staff.
• Interpret, apply, and explain complex federal, state, and County policies to various stakeholders.
• Participate in inter- and intra-agency multidisciplinary work groups and teams.
• Make public presentations on programs and services.
• Monitor and ensure efficient coordination of services, identify service delivery gaps, and improve operations.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of policies, procedures, and best practices for compliance with regulations.
• Prepare or oversee narrative and statistical reports documenting unit work and case activity.

Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of complex federal, state, and local laws governing public assistance and welfare reform.
• Knowledge of basic human behavior and social problems.
• Knowledge of social, economic, health, and cultural factors that can serve as barriers to employment.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to make mathematical computations.
• Ability to schedule, organize, and manage workload for self and others to meet deadlines.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply program policies and procedures.
• Ability to use automated technology for research, case records, correspondence, and reports.
• Ability to interpret and analyze data.
• Ability to handle multiple deadlines, high client contact volume, 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 well with clients and coworkers from various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality of client information.
• Ability to work in a team environment and with people under stress.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service.
• Ability to identify clients in crisis and intervene to stabilize the situation.
• Ability to identify client issues requiring referral to other human service providers (e.g., substance abuse, spousal abuse).
• Ability to supervise the work of others effectively.
• Ability to provide ongoing, timely, and constructive feedback to staff regarding casework.
• Ability to develop, train, mentor, and motivate staff.
• Ability to review cases for consistency, best practice, timeliness, accuracy, and appropriateness of action.
• Ability to accept changes in work assignments and environment.
• Ability to recognize and implement proactive approaches to service delivery.
• Ability to make public presentations.

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 four years of professional human services or related work experience.

Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions may require specific certification(s) prior to employment or 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

• Experience working with Public Assistance Programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF, and demonstrated ability to interpret, understand, and apply complex policies, regulations, and procedures.
• Experience determining eligibility for public assistance programs.
• Experience with the initial application or intake process for public assistance programs.
• Supervisory experience guiding professional staff, providing constructive feedback, coaching for professional growth, and coordinating team workloads.
• Experience utilizing Human Services Case Management systems and proficiency with Virginia Department of Social Services' computer systems such as VaCMS, SPIDER, and MMIS.
• Proven ability to train new employees in TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and professionally to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to excel under pressure, managing competing priorities with a calm and focused approach.
• Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, clients, and community partners.
• Advanced proficiency and experience in analyzing data, generating insights, and using data to make informed decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.
• Formal policy training in TANF, Medicaid, and SNAP.

Physical Requirements

• Sufficient mobility to attend meetings throughout the area and visit DFS offices as needed.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to use automated technology.
• Ability to function well under extreme pressure.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Benefits

• Opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of community members.
• Hybrid telework schedule option (after 30 days of employment).
• Access to professional growth opportunities alongside a collaborative and dedicated team.
• A workplace culture that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Fairfax County encourages candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.