Social Services Associate - Juneau (PCN 063108)

State of Alaska•Juneau, AK

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS), is hiring a full-time Social Services Associate in Juneau, Alaska. The position is open to Alaska residents only. This administrative role supports professional staff by gathering information for assessments, case planning, and evaluation. Work may include providing parenting support during family contact so parents can practice skills in a safe environment, accessing electronic databases, and sharing information with professional staff to support referrals to other agencies. The associate works with families and children to help strengthen families' capacity to give children a healthy start, provide safe and permanent homes, maintain cultural connections, and help children realize their potential. The successful candidate is expected to be courteous, professional, calm, motivated, efficient, and able to think critically. The role may require travel for up to a week at a time, including travel to outlying areas by small aircraft and overnight stays. OCS staff are considered essential and may be required to work overtime, after hours, on-call hours, weekends, and holidays, including during pandemics and natural disasters. The agency states that it also supports a healthy work/life balance. The first six months are probationary and serve as a training period, with formal and on-the-job training from supervisors and colleagues. The position requires a valid Real ID Alaska driver's license. State vehicles may not always be available; mileage reimbursement is available for work-related use of a personal vehicle, which must have current automotive insurance. A child protective history check, background check, and fingerprint check will be conducted. The successful candidate may need to attend training courses, normally located in Anchorage.

Requirements

One year of any combination of postsecondary or vocational education and/or experience assisting clients, customers, the general public, or other staff in explaining and applying guidelines, policies, or services.
Valid Real ID Alaska driver's license.
Current automotive insurance is required before using a personal vehicle for state business.
Must complete a child protective history check, background check, and fingerprint check.
Must be an Alaska resident.
Must be prepared to work overtime when necessary and to work after hours, on-call hours, weekends, and holidays as required.
Must be prepared to travel based on casework or regional needs, including overnight trips and travel in outlying areas.

Nice To Haves

Interpersonal skills, including courtesy, empathy, tact, and the ability to build effective relationships and work with people from varied backgrounds.
Customer service skills, including assessing needs, providing information or assistance, and resolving problems.
Adaptability and critical thinking when managing changing demands and competing priorities.
Computer skills, including use of software applications, databases, and automated systems.
Teamwork skills, including fostering cooperation, trust, commitment, and team spirit.

Responsibilities

Support professional staff by gathering information for assessments, case planning, and evaluation.
Provide parenting support during family contact so parents can practice parenting skills in a safe environment.
Access electronic databases.
Provide information to professional staff to help make referrals for families to other agencies.
Work with families and children to support family capacity, child safety and permanency, cultural connections, and children's development.