Human Service Worker IV

Fairfax County • Alexandria (Ln29), VA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

At the Department of Family Services (DFS), we are committed to improving the well-being of Fairfax County residents by working together to protect, empower, and guide individuals and families toward self-sufficiency. We’re searching for a dedicated Human Service Worker IV to join the Public Assistance & Employment Services Division, and lead caseworkers in delivering essential public assistance services. If you’re ready to turn your expertise, leadership skills, and passion into action, this opportunity is for you!

Requirements

• 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
• 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 which 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 of self and others sufficient to meet deadlines
• Ability to read, interpret and apply program policies and procedures
• Ability to use automated technology to conduct research, to establish and maintain case records, and to produce correspondence and reports
• Ability to interpret and analyze data
• Ability to handle multiple deadlines, high volume of client contact, high caseloads, and competing priorities
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, other human service providers and the general public
• 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
• Ability to work effectively 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 case work
• 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 best proactive approaches to service delivery
• Ability to make public presentations
• Completion of a criminal background check and child protective services check

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with Public Assistance Programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF and demonstrated ability to interpret, understand, and effectively apply complex policies, regulations, and procedures with precision and confidence
• 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 to meet deadlines and organizational goals
• Experience utilizing Human Services Case Management systems and Proficiency with Virginia Department of Social Services' computer systems and programs such as VaCMS, SPIDER, and MMIS
• Proven ability to train new employees as needed in TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly, concisely, 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, professional relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, clients, and community partners
• Advanced proficiency and experience in analyzing data, generating insights, and using data to make informed decisions that drive operational efficiency and results
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools
• Formal policy training in the following public assistance programs: TANF, Medicaid, and SNAP
• Bilingual in English and another language

Responsibilities

• Act as an expert for the following public assistance programs SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF along with the Virginia Case Management system
• Supervise a team of caseworkers conducting initial eligibility determinations for the following public assistance programs TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid
• Provide training in SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and case management to meet the demands of daily deadlines
• Collaborate with the management team to ensure services are delivered effectively and consistently across our 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 full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations for TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid
• Review cases regularly to ensure that eligibility determinations are accurate and timely
• Analyze complex data, generate actionable insights, and create detailed reports to monitor program performance
• Leverage technology to streamline operations and ensure accurate documentation while consistently applying policies to assist those in need
• Conduct individual conference to provide coaching and performance-based feedback
• Conduct team meetings to provide division, policy, and procedural updates along with mini training sessions to support continued growth
• Provides day-to-day guidance, direction, and mentoring to a group of professional staff on case related issues, policies and procedures, agency initiatives, and professional development
• Plans caseloads, assigns cases and reviews case records
• Ensures all program timeframes and performance outcomes are met
• Communicates performance expectations and monitors performance and accomplishments of staff and overall unit against the goals and objectives of the program
• Regularly conducts individual conferences with staff to discuss specific case problems and monitors casework progress
• Identifies crisis situations and provides crisis intervention as needed to address difficult or dangerous situations
• Interviews job applicants and makes recommendations for hiring
• Prepares and conducts formal and informal performance evaluations in a timely manner
• Handles performance and discipline issues in a timely manner and in accordance with County personnel policy
• Plans for and facilitates the professional growth of staff
• Interprets, applies, and explains complex federal, state and County policies to applicants, service providers, the general public and other interested parties
• Participates in inter and intra agency multidisciplinary work groups and teams
• Makes public presentations on programs and services
• Monitors and assures efficient, effective coordination of services provided to clients, identifies service delivery gaps and takes action to improve operations
• Evaluates the effectiveness of policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations
• Prepares or oversees and presents narrative and statistical reports documenting the work of the unit and/or in relation to case activity

Benefits

• Hybrid telework schedule option (after just 30 days of employment)
• Access to professional growth opportunities
• Collaborative and dedicated team
• Workplace culture that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion

What This Job Offers

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