Job Abstract

Works within the Division of Public Assistance & Employment Services (PAES). As an agency, DFS is committed to strengthening the well-being of its diverse community by protecting and improving the lives of all children, adults, and families through assistance, partnership, advocacy, outreach, and quality services. To learn more about DFS and its Mission, Vision, and Values, please click here.

Performs comprehensive assessments for medical and financial needs. Conducts in-depth phone interviews, assists in gathering necessary information, aides in making appropriate referrals. Determines initial and ongoing eligibility for federal and state programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP), Medicaid, Temporary Relief for Needy Families (TANF), General Relief and/or Refugee Cash Assistance. Applies, explains, and interprets highly complex federal, state, and local policies to clients, service providers, the public, and other interested parties. Works with clients to assist with gathering of information necessary to establish eligibility. Works in a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines, high caseloads, and competing priorities. Performs needs assessment of clients to aid in making appropriate referrals to other services. Uses complex state and local IT systems as well as Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word software in their daily work to document, obtain, and verify information, and to generate reports.

This position may be filled as an underfill at the Human Service Worker I level. Underfill requirements are noted below in the Employment Standards section.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)
Maintains knowledge of current public assistance and employment policies and applies, explains and interprets federal, state, and local policies to clients, service providers, attorneys, the public, and other interested parties;
Conducts in-depth interviews of clients to determine and reassess eligibility of clients for financial, publicly supported medical services and/or medical public assistance programs;
Performs client needs assessments to aid in making appropriate referrals to other services;
Works with clients to assist with gathering the information required to establish eligibility;
Compiles and maintains data and documents and may prepare written narratives to support eligibility determinations;
Ensures timely processing of applications to meet client needs and program policy mandates;
Authorizes public assistance (e.g., medical aid, financial assistance, food stamps) based on client circumstances and public assistance program requirements;
Uses various forms of automated technology to document, obtain, and verify information, to generate reports, and to authorize benefits and services for clients; providers, attorneys, the public, and other interested parties;

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Knowledge of basic human behavior and social problems;
Knowledge of complex federal, state and local laws governing public assistance and welfare reform;
Ability to read, interpret and apply complex program policies and procedures;
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
Ability to make mathematical computations;
Ability to schedule, organize and manage workload sufficient to meet deadlines;
Ability to use automated technology to establish and maintain case records;
Ability to handle multiple deadlines, computer systems, high volume of client contact, high caseloads, and competing priorities;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers and other human service providers;
Ability to work effectively with people under stress and those from various socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds;
Ability to maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality of client information;
Ability to provide excellent customer service;
Ability to work in a team environment;
Ability to maintain flexibility;
Ability to manage a complex caseload;
Ability to assess client needs through collection and analysis of employment history and other personal, family and cultural information;

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree, plus one year of professional work experience in human services or a related field.

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Some positions in this classification may be assigned to the Public Assistance Program in which the one year of professional level human services or related experience referenced above must specifically be in public assistance programs. Candidates appointed to these positions without the requisite year of professional public assistance programs experience will be hired at the Human Service Worker I grade level, and upon satisfactory completion of a one year Public Assistance Program training appointees will be eligible for a non-competitive promotion to the Human Service Worker II grade level.

Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement.

UNDERFILL REQUIREMENTS:
This position may be underfilled as an Human Service Worker I (Grade S18; $49,842.83 - $83,071.46 Annually). The employment standards for the Human Service Worker I are: any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree. Candidates appointed to these positions at the Human Service Worker I grade level will be eligible for a non-competitive promotion to the Human Service Worker II grade level upon successful completion of the underfill agreement.

Underfill candidates must be able to meet the minimum qualifications of the Human Service Worker II within two years of the job announcement's closing date of 6/14/24.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree.
• 1 year of current or recent experience determining eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP, and/or other public assistance programs in the state of Virginia. Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws governing Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Relief, and/or Refugee Cash Assistance programs and the ability to apply them correctly.
• Experience in using Virginia state systems; VaCMS, MMIS, and SPIDeR.
• Clear and concise oral and written communications skills.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to schedule and manage large workloads and the ability to meet stringent deadlines.
• Experience and proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel computer software applications; and the willingness to learn new applications and systems as needed.
• Ability to be flexible, multi-task, prioritize, and manage multiple activities simultaneously in a face-paced, changing environment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Team player with the ability to take initiative and work well independently.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include practical exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.