Human Service Worker I

Fairfax County • Reston (Ee26), VA

18h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Human Service Worker I is an entry-level position in Fairfax County’s Department, based in the department’s office in Reston, Virginia. The role determines applicants’ eligibility for public assistance programs, including LIHEAP, PIPP, SNAP, and Medicaid. Workers assist applicants in gathering information needed to establish eligibility and apply, explain, and interpret federal, state, and local policies to clients, service providers, the public, and other interested parties. The position operates in a fast-paced team environment and uses automated technology to document, obtain, and verify information and generate reports.

The position is eligible for remote work for 60% of the work week after the first 30 days of employment. The announcement may be used to fill two or more positions and may also be used for additional positions within the Department.

Requirements

• Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree.
• Satisfactorily complete a criminal background check and a Child Protective Services check.
• Read, interpret, and apply program policies and procedures.
• Understand and apply federal, state, and local laws governing public assistance and welfare reform.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Perform mathematical computations.
• Schedule, organize, and manage workload to meet deadlines.
• Use automated technology to establish and maintain case records.
• Handle multiple deadlines, computer systems, high-volume client contact, high caseloads, and competing priorities.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, coworkers, and other human service providers.
• Work effectively with people under stress and people from varied socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
• Maintain professional ethics, including confidentiality of client information.
• Provide excellent customer service and work effectively in a team environment.
• Maintain flexibility.
• Input, access, and retrieve information from a computer; perform repetitive hand, arm, wrist, and shoulder movements; and have visual acuity to review detailed documents. Duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience working with data systems such as VACMS and ECMS, and Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Experience with public assistance programs.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws governing public assistance and the ability to apply them correctly.
• Clear and concise oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to schedule and manage workloads to meet established deadlines.
• Experience using automated technology.
• Preparation through education or experience to motivate, counsel, and support clients; make sound independent decisions by learning complex policies and procedures; and plan, manage, coordinate, and prioritize multiple varied activities.
• Bilingual ability in English and another language is encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Learn, apply, explain, and interpret federal, state, and local policies to clients, service providers, attorneys, the public, and other interested parties.
• Conduct in-depth client interviews to determine and reassess eligibility for financial assistance and publicly supported medical services or programs.
• Assess client needs and make appropriate referrals and connections to other services.
• Help clients gather information required to establish eligibility.
• Compile and maintain data and documents, and prepare written narratives to support eligibility determinations as needed.
• Process applications in a timely manner to meet client needs and program policy requirements.
• Authorize public assistance based on clients’ circumstances and program requirements.
• Use automated technology to document, obtain, and verify information, generate reports, and authorize benefits and services.
• Help clients obtain resources to meet emergency needs and coordinate services with other providers as needed.
• Coordinate and manage clients’ participation in a variety of services.
• Participate in case staffings with county staff or community organizations to assess and address client needs.
• Prepare appeal documents and potentially represent the agency in administrative appeals filed by clients.
• Assist with operation of an employment resource center.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level