3 Craig or Juneau (PCN 063862)

State of Alaska•See Recruitment Details, AK

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS) is recruiting for full-time Protective Services Specialist 1/2/3 in Craig or Juneau Alaska. The position is open to Alaska Residents Only. As a Protective Services Specialist (PSS), you will be responsible for Child Protection Services in the Family Services unit, the Investigations & Assessment unit, or as Generalist covering both. This position is based out of the Craig Field Office or Juneau Field Office. The Southeast Regional Field Offices consist of Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka, and Craig. If working in the Craig Field Office, incumbents would only travel as needed for coverage primarily to Craig and other communities throughout Southeast Alaska and to the Southeast Regional Field Office locations. If working in the Juneau Field Office, incumbents in this position will typically work two weeks in the office (50%) and spend two weeks traveling (50%) each month. Travel from Craig or Juneau could range from a day trip to a full week or longer and may involve small aircraft or other forms of transportation. Successful applicants will start at a level 1, 2 or 3 depending on experience and qualifications. This case carrying position has a wide range of duties, including investigating reports of child abuse and/or neglect, preparing plans for intervention by soliciting the cooperation of the family and others, and gathering information about family dynamics/functionality. The Protective Services Specialist will 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, frequent face-to-face and telephonic contact with parents and caregivers of children in custody and make referrals to other service providers and agencies. 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 is dedicated to a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount. Employees all contribute to building a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully. Everything we do is underpinned by our Core Values. The Office of Children's Services is committed to an organizational culture that values each team member. We are committed to building and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. We celebrate and value the diversity of our employees, partners, and families we serve. 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 telework within the duty station is an option upon eligibility. This position is region-wide and covers Family Services and Initial Investigations or Generalist as needed, typical in remote Southeast Alaska locations. The Southeast Regional Field Offices consist of Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka, and Craig. This position is based out of the Craig Field Office or Juneau Field Office. The Craig Field Office is located on beautiful Prince of Wales Island in the village of Craig, Alaska. Prince of Wales is a world class hunting and fishing location, with hundreds of miles of roads through stunning scenery where wildlife abounds. A vibrant culture adds to the richness of life on Prince of Wales. If working in the Craig Field Office, the incumbent in this position would only travel as needed for coverage primarily to Craig and other communities throughout Southeast Alaska and to the Southeast Regional Field Office locations. Travel to be expected is day trips and occasional overnights, 0-2 times a month or 0-2 times a year. The Juneau Field Office is located in the heart of the Mendenhall Valley, conveniently located near shops, restaurants and the bus line. If working in the Juneau Field Office, the incumbent in this position will typically work two weeks in the office (50%) and spend two weeks traveling (50%) each month with occasional day trips and some overnights to other southeast communities. Child protection work requires working in small villages, often located significant distances apart in isolated communities. Protective Services Specialists need to be adept at engagement in both Initial Assessment and Family Services work with families served. The work we perform is critical and significantly impacts the communities we serve. As a result, the Office of Children's Services (OCS) requires staff to work after hours and on-call, work in the evenings and weekends as well as weekdays, so overtime is expected when deemed necessary. OCS staff are considered essential, so are expected to work during pandemic and other natural disasters. Travel may be frequent or minimal. Travel varies and is based on regional needs. Travel to villages or cities for placement or visitation varies based on regional needs. Travel in outlying areas may involve small aircraft or other forms of transportation and overnight stays. The typical workweek may include some caseworker visits at school or in resource family homes, virtual and in-person court attendance, and mostly working independently in an office setting. Our teams are based around having a strong work ethic and high ethical standards, believing in treating all people with dignity and respect, as well as being self-motivated, organized and honest. We are all about getting the job done while still contributing to a positive, upbeat work environment.

Requirements

Competency Based Minimum Qualifications (MQs)
Competencies in 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.
Competencies in 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.
Competencies in 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.
Competencies in Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; 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.
Competencies in Oral Communication: Expresses information 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.
Competencies in Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information that is appropriate for the intended audience.
Competencies in Technical Credibility: Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.
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.
Training in a social science, behavioral science, health science, guidance and counseling, or a closely related field and/or progressively responsible professional 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.
Valid Real ID Alaska driver’s license
Current automotive insurance must be in place prior to use of a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the State.
Child protective history check will be performed per AS 12.62.160 and/or 13 AAC 68.315 including a background and fingerprint check.

Nice To Haves

Stress Tolerance: Deals calmly and effectively with high stress situations (for example, tight deadlines, hostile individuals, emergency situations, dangerous situations).
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.
Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.

Responsibilities

Investigating reports of child abuse and/or neglect
Preparing plans for intervention by soliciting the cooperation of the family and others
Gathering information about family dynamics/functionality
Developing plans to ensure child safety while assisting parents in addressing their diminished protective factors
Placing children out of the home with a relative or licensed foster home when necessary
Providing ongoing and/or in-home services to families
Writing and submitting reports to the Court
Working closely with Tribal/Community Partners
Frequent face-to-face and telephonic contact with parents and caregivers of children in custody
Making referrals to other service providers and agencies
Working after hours and on-call
Working in the evenings and weekends as well as weekdays
Working during pandemic and other natural disasters
Caseworker visits at school or in resource family homes
Virtual and in-person court attendance
Working independently in an office setting