Human Services Assistant III

Virginia Department of Social Services•Rocky Mount, VA

About The Position

Human Services Assistant III is an administrative position. The HSAIII assists the unit/units or agency in capacity requested by Director. Employees serve as the initial point of contact for employees and clients. Duties are specific to the unit/units or workload assigned by Supervisor. Screens clients for benefits and services; Interviews clients and explains programs, services, policies and procedures; Assists clients with applications; Evaluates and approves agency providers; Researches information; Serves as initial point of contact for applicants; Interviews applicants for benefits and/or service programs; Provides information regarding various programs and benefits, general eligibility requirements, policies and procedures; Assists clients with completing applications and performs initial screening of applications; Provides information to clients seeking services and directly makes referrals for services; Researches a variety of databases to obtain and/or verify information needed to process applications; Maintains logs of client documentation received; Schedules and coordinates appointments for clients to meet with benefit, employment or services staff; Contacts clients for requested/needed information and responds to routine questions in person, e-mail or by telephone; Analyzes needs and coordinates resources that will support families/clients and generates payment for services when appropriate. Independently manages the Provider program requirements; Interviews clients and conducts assessment for emergency needs; Manages voucher system and prepares vouchers for ongoing expenditures; Facilitates placement of adults in Adult Living Facilities; Creates and prepares complex statistical reports; Verifies hours and accuracy of time sheets for In-Home Providers; Reviews expenditures and researches operational cost effectiveness; Prepares, processes, and reconciles budget for various adult programs; Attends and testifies at administrative hearings; Prepares periodic, special and other reports for statistics; Provides assistance in the orientation/training of new staff; Sends packets out for placement; Pulls necessary systems to locate families; Contacts families, fictive kin or others for placement; Completes necessary applications and paperwork for clients coming into care or in care; Reaches out for necessary paperwork required for clients to provide when requesting assistance in any program; Conducts adoption searches via court records, library, agency files, Internet, City directory, and makes initial contact if a match is found; Assists with subsidy billings and payments; Prepares a variety of financial, statistical forms and reports, case documentation and court reports; Assists in conducting supervised visitation; Coordinates special event programs such as Toys for Tots, Annual Art Sale, Bags & Bears and unit events; Helps participant in writing resumes, filling out applications for jobs/apartments etc; Follows up on referrals to partnering agencies/vendors/government entities etc., in person and in writing; Locates resources for clients needing appropriate interview clothing and helps clients in making appropriate clothing choices by taking to shops or online; Drives clients when necessary to needed appointments or other designations etc.; Takes participants on educational/career exploration field trips.

Requirements

Considerable knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services (including customer needs assessment, meeting of quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction).
Considerable knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Considerable knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, spreadsheets, managing files and records, and other office procedures and terminology.
Working knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; mathematics and research methods.
Working knowledge of eligibility requirements for the programs assigned.
Working knowledge of available community resources.
Some knowledge of laws, regulations, requirements and policies of Local, State, and Federal social, assistance and housing programs.
Skill in operating a variety of automated office equipment to include calculator, fax/copier.
Skill in the use of computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet, graphics and file maintenance programs.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with program participants.
Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and prioritize own work schedule.
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain working relationships with clients, professionals, co-workers, and the public sufficient to exchange ideas and coordinate activities.
Demonstrated ability to accept direction and follow established procedures.
Demonstrated ability to counsel others.
Demonstrated ability to organize, and post, date, from records, reports and other sources using the appropriate format.
Demonstrated ability to exhibit solid interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution in working with clients, professionals and employees.
Demonstrated ability to create forms, charts, and graphs.
Demonstrated ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Demonstrated ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Demonstrated ability to make screening decisions based upon specific criteria’s.
Demonstrated ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, manuals.
Demonstrated ability to conduct effective interviews both face-to-face and by telephone.
High school diploma supplemented with postsecondary coursework in subjects such as social work, human services, gerontology, or one of the social or behavioral sciences, business or related field, and relevant work experience in public administrative support work OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Responsibilities

Assists the unit/units or agency in capacity requested by Director.
Serves as the initial point of contact for employees and clients.
Screens clients for benefits and services.
Interviews clients and explains programs, services, policies and procedures.
Assists clients with applications.
Evaluates and approves agency providers.
Researches information.
Serves as initial point of contact for applicants.
Interviews applicants for benefits and/or service programs.
Provides information regarding various programs and benefits, general eligibility requirements, policies and procedures.
Assists clients with completing applications and performs initial screening of applications.
Provides information to clients seeking services and directly makes referrals for services.
Researches a variety of databases to obtain and/or verify information needed to process applications.
Maintains logs of client documentation received.
Schedules and coordinates appointments for clients to meet with benefit, employment or services staff.
Contacts clients for requested/needed information and responds to routine questions in person, e-mail or by telephone.
Analyzes needs and coordinates resources that will support families/clients and generates payment for services when appropriate.
Independently manages the Provider program requirements.
Interviews clients and conducts assessment for emergency needs.
Manages voucher system and prepares vouchers for ongoing expenditures.
Facilitates placement of adults in Adult Living Facilities.
Creates and prepares complex statistical reports.
Verifies hours and accuracy of time sheets for In-Home Providers.
Reviews expenditures and researches operational cost effectiveness.
Prepares, processes, and reconciles budget for various adult programs.
Attends and testifies at administrative hearings.
Prepares periodic, special and other reports for statistics.
Provides assistance in the orientation/training of new staff.
Sends packets out for placement.
Pulls necessary systems to locate families.
Contacts families, fictive kin or others for placement.
Completes necessary applications and paperwork for clients coming into care or in care.
Reaches out for necessary paperwork required for clients to provide when requesting assistance in any program.
Conducts adoption searches via court records, library, agency files, Internet, City directory, and makes initial contact if a match is found.
Assists with subsidy billings and payments.
Prepares a variety of financial, statistical forms and reports, case documentation and court reports.
Assists in conducting supervised visitation.
Coordinates special event programs such as Toys for Tots, Annual Art Sale, Bags & Bears and unit events.
Helps participant in writing resumes, filling out applications for jobs/apartments etc.
Follows up on referrals to partnering agencies/vendors/government entities etc., in person and in writing.
Locates resources for clients needing appropriate interview clothing and helps clients in making appropriate clothing choices by taking to shops or online.
Drives clients when necessary to needed appointments or other designations etc.
Takes participants on educational/career exploration field trips.