Social Service Representative

Full Job Description

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Southwest Region in Albuquerque, New Mexico to provide social work services to families and individuals, professional child welfare services, and financial assistance.

This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see USA Jobs What are bargaining units?

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual and Individual Occupational Requirements for GS-0187: Social Services Series).

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree, in an accredited college or university, is qualifying for GS-5 level positions.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: Major study -- social sciences. One full academic year of graduate study is qualifying for GS-7.

NOTE: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are also qualifying for grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable.

-OR- GENERAL EXPERIENCE (for GS-5 positions): Three years of general experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4, is qualifying for GS-5 level positions.

General experience is work in a social services activity or other organization that required the ability to conduct interviews; to collect and analyze pertinent facts; to provide needed information, advice, and practical assistance; and to prepare clear concise personal histories and factual reports.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE (for positions above GS-5): One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower level in the normal line of progression is qualifying for positions above the GS-5 level.

Specialized experience is experience in a program of direct social welfare services that required the application of program policy and operations knowledge in providing social welfare services and/or assisting social workers.

GS-07: Qualifying is one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level in the normal line of progression.

Specialized experience is work that involved the provision of direct social welfare services to families and individuals, which includes child welfare services.

Assist social workers with investigating, analyzing and reporting on client case files; prepares and manages case files; develops case plans or Individual Self-Sufficiency Plans (ISP); provides training and technical assistance on disposition of records; and conducts preliminary interviews with clients and explains program policy and federal regulations.

GS-06: Qualifying is one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level in the normal line of progression.

Specialized experience is experience in a program of direct social welfare services that required the application of program policy and operations to provide child welfare services to clients and/or assist social workers; process client applications, review referrals and service requests; perform program automated data processing functions; and provide records management.

GS-05: Qualifying is three years of general experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4 grade level.

General Experience is work in a social services activity or other organization that required the ability to conduct interview; to collect and analyze pertinent facts; to provide needed information, advice, and practical assistance; and to prepare clear concise personal histories and factual reports or 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree, in an accredited college or university.

(One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours) or a combination of experience and education which totals 100% of the requirement.

To compute, determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determine your education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; then add the two percentages.

The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date.

Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date. Major Duties:

• Provide casework services to assist with processing applications, reviewing referrals, service requests, interviewing applicants, assessing client’s needs and the needs of the client’s family/guardian when appropriate.
• Assist in the development of Case Plans or Individual Self-Sufficiency Plans (ISP).
• Interview, review resources, and determine eligibility of clients applying for Financial Assistance and Social Services based on federal regulations, policies and procedures.
• Conduct preliminary interviews and make home visits to further assess financial assistance eligibility.
• Assist in maintaining budget, financial statements, and current balance for the Social Service program’s account.
• Maintains case records, letters, and prepares reports and recommendations as required.