Social Services Specialist

Full Job Description

Are you looking for a position with a work/life balance? Do you want to earn four (4) weeks off during your first year of employment? Do you want low and no cost health insurance options?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to complete your application now. Work for the city you love!!!

The Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department is actively seeking a Social Services Specialist.

Did you know as a City of Jacksonville employee, you would also have twelve (12) paid holidays and a personal leave day as well?

In addition to health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance and flexible spending plans are also available.

City of Jacksonville employees are also eligible for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness after ten (10) years of public service and on-time payments.

This is professional work in providing social services to qualified clients. Work requires knowledge of techniques, methods, and procedures used in the varied benefits, social services, and public assistance-related programs which involves the use of specialized skills, which is acquired through a combination of training and considerable on the job experience. Contacts require skills in understanding and/or influencing people and are important in providing client services, including skills of persuasiveness, assertiveness, and sensitivity to others point of view that are required to influence behavior, change an opinion, or turn a situation around. The work is semi-routine in that tasks are covered by procedures or precedents, but some latitude is permitted to consider the most appropriate method, technique or procedure to follow; however, the work also involves differing situations requiring comparison of problem elements to reference points within one's own experience and exercise of judgment to match the prior decision. Work is performed primarily in an office environment though the employee may be required to make field visits to clients in order to provide or ascertain services needed. The physical demands consist mainly of sitting at a work station for extended periods of time, using standard office equipment, such as personal computers using word processing, spreadsheet, database, and other related software, peripheral and electronic devices, copiers, calculators and other related equipment on an ongoing basis, occasionally lifting and moving light objects, such as file boxes, weighing less than 40 pounds, and visiting clients who are homebound, in hospitals, or in nursing homes. Operates a motor vehicle. The work is performed under general supervision where the work assignments are varied, and although subject to standard practices and procedures, the worker is permitted some latitude to set own priorities subject to superior’s approval.

Requirements

• Interviews and assesses needs of clients, provides counseling, determines eligibility, and refers clients to appropriate social service or public assistance agencies.
• Visits clients to provide or ascertain services needed.
•  Instructs and guides clients in preparing family budgets.
• Represents clients with respect to claims or applications for benefits, social services, and public assistance and appeals of denial of such benefits, services, or assistance.
• Reviews requests for and authorizes payment of social services or public assistance provided to clients through contracted providers such as child day care centers.
• Monitors changes in social service and public assistance-related laws, rules, and regulations.
• Plans, develops, and presents programs to large groups regarding social services-related issues.
• Compiles data and prepares reports and/or oral presentations.
• Responds to inquiries from clients, general public, and private industry regarding available social services and public assistance programs.
• Prepares correspondence and technical reports as required.
• Establishes and maintains records, files, and reports.
• Operates motor vehicles and standard office equipment.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the City of Jacksonville’s competencies.
• Performs related work as required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of federal, state, and local social services and public assistance programs.
• Knowledge of social services and public assistance-related laws, rules, and regulations.
• Knowledge of interviewing and counseling techniques, methods, and procedures.
• Knowledge of medical and legal terminology.
• Skill in interviewing and data-gathering techniques.
• Skill in researching, analyzing, interpreting and applying social services or public assistance-related federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations.
• Ability to assess and determine the needs of clients and match such needs to federal, state, and local social services and public assistance programs.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to develop and make presentations to large groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain records.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations.
• Ability to compile and interpret statistical data.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships.
• Ability to operate a personal computer using word processing, spreadsheet, and related software applications.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment.
•  Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Additional Information

• Four years of education and/or experience in determining eligibility for and providing social services or public assistance-related programs or a related field.
• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a major in social work, sociology, or psychology is preferred.

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION:

• A valid driver’s license is required prior to appointment and must be maintained.
• Must qualify for prior to appointment, obtain and maintain during employment a City of Jacksonville Certification as a Public Driver.
• Dependent on assignment, CPR and First Aid Certification is required within six months of appointment and must be maintained.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• The probationary period for this class is six (6) months.
• Must pass background screening on a local, state and federal level as required by the State of Florida Children and Family Services or Elder Affairs.
• This position performs safety-sensitive functions and is subject to pre-employment and random drug/alcohol testing programs as set forth in the City of Jacksonville’s Drug Free Workplace Policy (Directive 0401).

A FULLY COMPLETED ONLINE APPLICATION IS REQUIRED. Apply at www.jacksonville.gov. Work history is required for all employment/volunteer work in which qualifications are being based.

When meeting/basing qualifications on education, a copy of your college transcript, with your social blacked out, is required with your application. U.S.

transcripts do not need to be official, but must state your name, the school’s name, classes taken, grades received, type of degree, and date degree was conferred. Transcripts outside the U.S.

must be converted to U.S. standards.

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please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on the website.

Certain servicemembers and veterans, and the spouses and the family members of such service members and veterans, receive preference and priority, and certain servicemembers may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements, in employment and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

If claiming veteran's preference, you must attach a DD-214 (Member Form-4 copy) or military discharge papers, or equivalent certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs listing military status, dates of service and character of discharge.

You must also attach the Veterans Preference Certification Form and if applicable, the additional forms as noted here: http://www.coj.net/departments/employee-services/veterans-preference.

If a candidate believes he or she was not afforded veteran’s preference, he or she may file a written complaint, within sixty (60) calendar days upon receipt of notification of the hiring decision, requesting an investigation to:

Florida Department of Veterans Affairs

Attention: Veterans’ Preference Coordinator

11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 311-K

Largo, FL 33778-1630

Email: VeteransPreference@fdva.state.fl.us