Self-Sufficiency Specialist I

Hiring Range: $35,452.00 to $50,000.00

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

VDSS is one of the largest Commonwealth agencies, partnering with 120 local departments of social services, along with faith-based and non-profit organizations, to promote the well-being of children and families statewide. We proudly serve alongside nearly 13,000 state and local human services professionals throughout the Social Services System, who ensure that thousands of Virginia's most vulnerable citizens have access to the best services and benefits available to them. The Clarke County Department of Social Services is a part of the Virginia Social Services System. Our agency is the central resource dedicated to delivering public assistance, child welfare, and aging and adult services to the people of Clarke County.

Clarke County Department of Social Services is seeking to fill the Self-Sufficiency I position within the Benefit Programs/ Services team. The selected candidate will work with our families to achieve self-sufficiency.

A Self-Sufficiency Specialist determines eligibility for a variety of entitlement programs offered by Social Services. Proficiency in the Virginia Case Management System (VaCMS) is a critical component of this position. The Self-Sufficiency Specialist is proficient in determining eligibility in Medicaid, Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program with the Virginia Initiative for Education & Work (VIEW) component as well as childcare. 

The Self-Sufficiency Specialist I represents the entry level in the Self-Sufficiency occupational group for employees working under direct supervision of the Benefit Programs Supervisor while being trained in determining eligibility for a variety of entitlement programs as well as assessing employability of clients to aid in their effort to achieve self-sufficiency.   This level is distinguished from the Self-Sufficiency Specialist II by the latter’s performing all the assigned eligibility and employment service duties independently and making judgments following agency practices and procedures and mandated federal, state, or local laws and policies. 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Process TANF, SNAP, Families & Children Medicaid and childcare applications, renewals and changes. 
• For customers required to participate in VIEW, needs will be assessed, and service plans will be developed utilizing job search, work experience, education and training. 
• Determine childcare needs for customers requesting assistance. Prepare purchase of service orders and processes childcare invoices to ensure fiscal funds are accurately appropriated.
• Reassess customers at prescribed intervals to ensure that they are making satisfactory progress in the VIEW program and to monitor their work/educational status
• Communicate with customers to collect needed information for case records and answer questions/concerns. Reported changes will be addressed timely. Initiate and impose sanctions for non-compliance with program requirements and/or the established self-sufficiency plan.
• Promote employment service programs and maintain contact with community agencies to coordinate delivery of services. Explore opportunities for employment to divert the customer’s need for public assistance. Assign customers to various employment service program components. 

Knowledge- 

Working knowledge of: 

practices of public social service organizations; employment services; State, Local and Federal guidelines, regulations and policies to make eligibility and employability decisions; economic and human behavior; financial assistance programs; mathematics to calculate percentages, formulas and averages to solve mathematical problems; and interviewing techniques such as data collection and investigation.

Skills- 

Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated office and agency software.

Abilities- 

Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing with broad spectrum of individuals to include, but not limited to, customers, employers, courts, and medical professionals in person and on the phone; interview, gather information, re-evaluate each client’s situation, and make referrals; determine a client’s ownership share in situations; make mathematical computations; make eligibility and employability decisions; independently identify customers’ employment needs and develop employment plans; analyze information and determine from a variety of sources missing information and gaps; use various types of automated technology to establish and maintain case records, access data such as estates, retirement accounts, and real estate, reports, and manipulate data; maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality; exercise sound judgment, discretion, tact and resourcefulness in solving problems and drawing logical conclusions; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with applicants and recipients, other public and private agencies, associates, and the public in a positive and tactful manner under sometimes stressful situations.

Education and Experience-

High school diploma supplemented with additional training and related work experience OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Special Requirements

Employees must be willing to work in the community emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.

Applicants are subject to a Criminal History background check, including an FBI Fingerprint Background search, Central Registry search, DMV/driving record check. 

All employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory results of the required checks and screenings.

Special Instructions:

Applications for this position must be submitted through this website.

Mailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications will not be accepted.

Consideration for an interview is based solely on the information within the application/resume.