Protective Services Specialist 1/2/3 Nome (PCN 069398)

State of Alaska • Nome, AK

12h • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS) is recruiting for full-time Protective Service Specialist 1/2/3 in Nome, Alaska. This position is responsible for all aspects of Child Protection Services in the Family Services Unit, the Investigations & Assessment Unit, or as a Generalist covering both. Duties include investigating reports of abuse and/or neglect, preparing plans for intervention, gathering information about family dynamics, developing plans to ensure child safety, placing children out of the home when necessary, providing ongoing and/or in-home services, coordinating referrals, writing and submitting reports to Court, working closely with Tribal/Community Partners, and frequent face-to-face and telephonic contact with parents and caregivers. 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.

Requirements

• Competency 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.
• Competency 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.
• Competency 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.
• Competency 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.
• Competency 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.
• Competency 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.
• Competency 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.
• 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
• Successful completion of a background investigation, including fingerprinting and a criminal records check
• 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.
• Experience in the field of child protection services.
• Familiarity with the Nome community and surrounding areas.
• Experience working with Tribal/Community Partners.
• Experience with small aircraft, all-terrain vehicles, or small boats for travel.

Responsibilities

• Investigating reports of 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
• Provide ongoing and/or in-home services to families
• Coordinating referrals to other service providers and agencies
• Writing and submitting reports to Court
• Working closely with Tribal/Community Partners
• Frequent face-to-face and telephonic contact with parents and caregivers of children in custody
• Travel as required dependent on the client location
• Making referrals to other service providers and agencies

Benefits

• Insurance Benefits
• Retirement Benefits
• Paid Leave
• Twelve paid holidays per year
• Mileage reimbursement is available when a personal vehicle is used for work-related matters.
• Relocation reimbursement costs may be provided by the State of Alaska.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed