Social Service Representative

Full Job Description

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Superintendent, Mescalero Agency in Mescalero, New Mexico.

In this position you will provide social work services to families and individuals, professional child welfare services, and financial assistance to the tribe.

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

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for GS-0187: Social Services Series.) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE, GS-09: Qualifying is one year of specialized experience or the equivalent to at least the GS-08 grade level in Federal service.

Examples of specialized experience includes work that involves direct social services conducting interviews with clients and explaining rules and procedures; assessing client needs; applying social work practices; receiving and responding to assigned service requests/referrals alleging child and/or adult neglect/abuse; conducting home visits; completing and submitting required paperwork seeking court intervention in child welfare matters; conducting risk assessments; developing, reviewing, monitoring, and updating Individual Self-Sufficiency Plans and case plans to address identified needs; serves as Awarding Official's Technical Representative (AOTR) for contracts and assists with program audits, contract compliance and reviewing tribal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) reports.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE, GS-08: Qualifying is one year of specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service.

Examples of specialized experience includes work that involves the administration and management of all facets of a human services program and works with program recipients from a wide variety of backgrounds and needs; identifies needs and provides tailored assistance across a wide range of cases; formulates recommendations for the use of resources and services; receiving and responding to assigned service requests/referrals alleging child and/or adult neglect/abuse; developing case plans and preparing case closure; updates client data for welfare assistance and case management activities; handles client cases using considerable independence but keeps supervisor informed of issues or problems; proposes appropriate changes to service plans.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE, GS-07: Qualifying is one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service.

Examples of specialized experience includes work that involved providing information and referring clients to appropriate agencies for public welfare, medical care, vocational guidance, unemployment benefits and other such programs; assisting social workers with investigating, analyzing, and reporting on client case files; assisting in developing case plans or individual self-sufficiency plans; conducts preliminary interviews with potential clients and explains regulations and procedures.

-OR- EDUCATION: Major study -- social sciences (18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours or equivalent). One full academic year of graduate study is qualifying for GS-07.

Graduate education is not creditable for positions above the GS-07 level.

An equivalent combination of education and experience is also qualifying for the GS-07 grade level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: Graduate education must be related to the occupation and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE: A combination of graduate level education and appropriate specialized experience that together meet the qualification requirements of this position is qualifying.

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:

• Conducts preliminary interviews with potential clients to determine eligibility for services and resources.
• Implements and provides all facets of child welfare services to eligible clients.
• Conducts home visits and reassessments of clients when needed.
• Provides testimony for scheduled hearing with tribal court on social services cases.
• Establishes service plans for clients.
• Establishes and maintains client case records.
• Retrieves and logs mail, correspondence and routes to appropriate personnel.
• Reviews outgoing correspondence.
• Performs timekeeper functions.
• Files and records management data necessary to complete required monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Serves as the Awarding Official’s Technical Representative.