Social Services Associate Utqiagvik (PCN 063855)

State of Alaska • Utqiagvik (Formerly Barrow), AK

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS) is recruiting for full-time Social Services Associate (SSA) located in Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska. This position is open to Alaska Residents. A Social Services Associate is an administrative position. You will be supporting professional staff by gathering information for assessments, case planning and evaluation, while performing duties that can include providing parenting support during family contact to enable parents to practice parenting skills in a safe environment, accessing electronic databases, and providing information to professional staff to make necessary referrals for families to other agencies. As a Social Services Associate you will work with families and children, helping to provide services that will enhance families' capacities to give their children a healthy start, to provide them with safe and permanent homes, to maintain cultural connections, and to help them realize their potential. The successful incumbent will be courteous, professional in language and presentation, calm, motivated, efficient, and have strong critical thinking skills. This position will require traveling 0-2 times a month or 0-2 times a year. The length of these trips varies based on casework needs, within the day or overnight. The Office of Children's Services requires staff to work overtime when deemed necessary. OCS Staff are considered essential, so are expected to work during pandemic and other natural disasters. The agency also supports a healthy work/life balance for all staff.

Requirements

• 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.
• Must be able to attend multiple training courses normally located in Anchorage.
• One year of any combination of postsecondary or vocational education and/or experience in assisting clients, customers, the public, or other staff in the explanation and application of guidelines, policies, or services.
• Must have a legal right to accept employment in the United States.
• 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.
• 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.
• Adaptability: Adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.
• Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
• Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.

Nice To Haves

• Copy of college/academic transcripts with your application if you will be using education to meet the minimum qualifications and/or competencies desired for the position.
• A list of three (3) professional references including daytime telephone numbers and email address; at least two (2) of these must be from a current or former supervisor.
• Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials being used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position and are required with each application.
• Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Responsibilities

• Gathering information for assessments, case planning and evaluation.
• Providing parenting support during family contact to enable parents to practice parenting skills in a safe environment.
• Accessing electronic databases.
• Providing information to professional staff to make necessary referrals for families to other agencies.
• Working with families and children to enhance families' capacities to give their children a healthy start, to provide them with safe and permanent homes, to maintain cultural connections, and to help them realize their potential.
• Working after hours and on-call.
• Working during pandemic and other natural disasters.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree