Social Services Associate - Kenai

at  State of Alaska

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Below are the knowledge, skills, and experience that demonstrate the skills we are seeking:

• Communication skills: Able to communicate information courteously, accurately, and effectively. Team members are encouraged to present ideas to stakeholders, provide feedback to colleagues, articulate progress towards initiatives and report any concerns.
• Innovation: Encouraging the exploration and implementation of evidence-based practices and creative solutions to enhance the effectiveness of interventions and services for complex cases.
• Professionalism: Ability to treat all people with respect and dignity no matter their age, gender, beliefs, or background. Maintaining a professional demeanor during challenging conversations where parties may have conflicting ideas or priorities, and discretion in handling confidential information and situations.
• Accountability: Ability to work independently, ask questions when need of assistance, and execute tasks with sound judgment.
• Comprehension: Able to read, comprehend, and apply written materials/procedures, follow oral and written instructions, and apply them to specific situations; and give clear oral and written instructions.

Special Note:

• A child protective history check will be performed per AS 12.62.160 and/or 13 AAC 68.315 including a background and fingerprint check.
• This position requires staff to work after hours and on-call. OCS staff are considered essential and must maintain business operations during disasters, holidays, and pandemics.
• This job may require travel, depending on the agency’s needs.
• This position requires a valid Driver’s License.
• Additionally, while the Division does have vehicles assigned to it, they may not always be available for staff use. Mileage reimbursement is available when a personal vehicle is used for work-related matters. Current automotive insurance must be in place prior to use of a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the State.
• The successful candidate may be required to attend multiple training courses normally located in Anchorage.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

One year of any combination of postsecondary or vocational education and/or experience in assisting clients, customers, the general public, or other staff in the explanation and application of guidelines, policies, or services.

EDUCATION:

To verify education being used to meet the required minimum qualifications, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. 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. (Unofficial are okay, please ensure that the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application, provided at the time of interview or if not provided, transcripts will be required prior to appointment.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION:

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. Omission of required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application and you will not receive further consideration.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

When using work experience not already documented in your application, please provide the employer’s name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported, and minimum qualifications are clearly met. Work experience needed to meet the minimum qualifications must be documented in the application. If the application does not support minimum qualifications, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment. A resume will not be used to determine that minimum qualifications have been met for the position in which you are applying.
If you are currently or previously been appointed to a flexibly staffed position, please ensure your work experience within a flexibly staffed position indicates the actual dates employed at each level. Ensure your time and any subsequent flex promotion(s) are documented as a separate position. This is required as there are minimum qualifications that require experience at a particular level in which the lower level may not be considered. If this information is not accurately reflected in your application this may cause the processing of your application for consideration to be delayed.

As a Social Services Associate, you will work closely with case workers by supporting them in their efforts to provide services and support to families and children. Services are intended to enhance families’ capacities to give their children a healthy start, provide them with safe and permanent homes, maintain cultural connections, and to help them realize their potential.
You will be responsible for a variety of duties, including assisting with searching for relatives, providing placement support to resource families, helping connect parents with services, conducting referrals, collecting collateral information, documenting case information in the electronic and hard case files, coordinating and overseeing family visits, and other duties that support the case workers as deemed necessary.