Protective Services Specialist 1/2 Fairbanks (PCN 063182M)

About the role

As a Protective Service Specialist (PSS) located in Fairbanks, Alaska, you will be responsible for Child Protection Services in the Family Services Unit, the Investigations & Assessment Unit, or as a Generalist covering both. This position requires travel throughout the interior of Alaska approximately four times a month.

• Investigate reports of child abuse and/or neglect.
• Prepare plans for intervention by soliciting the cooperation of the family and others.
• Gather information about family dynamics/functionality and develop plans to ensure child safety while assisting parents in addressing their diminished protective factors.
• Place children out of the home with a relative or licensed foster home when necessary.
• Provide ongoing and/or in-home services to families.
• Write and submit reports to the Court.
• Work closely with Tribal/Community Partners.
• Maintain frequent face-to-face and telephonic contact with parents and caregivers of children in custody.
• Make referrals to other service providers and agencies.

OCS has opportunities across several units. During the hiring process, we work with applicants to match them with a position that best aligns with their strengths, experience, and interests. Strong writing skills, the ability to manage your workload independently, and a collaborative approach are important in ensuring the safety and well-being of children throughout Alaska. Child protection work can involve making critical decisions in urgent situations. Staff must be prepared to respond quickly and confidently to protect children and maintain their own safety, including in situations that may involve potential physical risk.

Mission and Values

The Mission of the Office of Children's Services is: Ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children by strengthening families, engaging communities, and partnering with Tribes. The Office of Children's Services strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully. Core Values: Hope, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy.

Benefits

Your first twelve months in the agency are probationary and considered a training period, with formal virtual training, on-the-job training with your supervisor, and with other colleagues. While this is a field-based position that involves working in the community, part-time teleworking within the duty station may be an option upon eligibility.

• Insurance Benefits
• Retirement Benefits
• Paid Leave
• Twelve paid holidays per year

Working Environment

The Interior Rural Field Office serves approximately 30 rural communities in the Interior of Alaska. The home base location is in the Fairbanks Field Office, which serves the Fairbanks area, North Pole, and surrounding communities. This position requires travel in small aircraft, all-terrain vehicles, or small boats to remote villages, communities, or rural locations in Alaska. Some communities lack modern conveniences, hotels, or bed and breakfasts, so you may need to sleep in offices, schools, tribal community buildings, or other accommodations if an overnight visit is required. Frequency of travel is expected to be 4+ times a month, including day trips and occasional overnight stays in rustic conditions with exposure to extreme winter weather. You may also assist other field offices within the Northern Region on an as-needed basis.

The work is critical and significantly impacts the communities served. Office of Children’s Services operates evenings, weekends, and weekdays, so overtime and on-call work on a rotational basis are expected. Staff are considered essential and are expected to work during pandemics and other natural disasters.

Requirements

We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following competencies:

• Self-Management: Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.
• Stress Tolerance: Deals calmly and effectively with high-stress situations (e.g., tight deadlines, hostile individuals, emergency situations, dangerous situations).
• Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
• Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving: Uses a logical, systematic, and sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
• Customer Service: Works with clients and customers to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
• Integrity/Honesty: Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.
• Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, and concern; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
• Oral Communication: Expresses information (e.g., ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information; makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
• Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.

Minimum Qualifications

Equivalent to training in a social science, behavioral science, health science, guidance and counseling, or a closely related field and/or experience providing assistance, information, or referrals to the general public related to social services, health care, or legal services; in child, adult, family, or group case management, licensing, or probation services; or providing care or services to delinquent juveniles.

Some positions require a valid Alaska driver's license and/or a background investigation including fingerprinting. These requirements will be indicated at the time of recruitment.

Additional Information

At the time of the interview, please provide the following:

• Copy of academic transcripts (unofficial acceptable) if using education to meet the minimum qualifications and/or competencies desired for the position.
• A list of three professional references including daytime telephone numbers and email addresses; at least two must be from a current or former supervisor.