POSITION TITLE: Work Services Specialist
WORK HOURS: Vary according to client needs and staff schedules.
SUPERVISOR: Lead Work Services Specialist TEAM: Work Services
CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt Salary
GENERAL FUNCTION: The Nine Star’s Work Services Specialist provides Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP) recipients who are unemployed and under-employed with the skills to obtain and retain employment and overcome barriers. Work Services Specialists I utilize a holistic approach to assist clients in achieving economic self-sufficiency.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
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Implement principles of welfare reform and the work first philosophy while managing a caseload of ATAP recipients.
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Application of the Nine Star’s Philosophy of Care: Compassion, Excellence, and Collaboration.
- Meet or exceed the Work Services Performance Measures categories as defined by the Division of Public Assistance.
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Obtain, track, monitor, and report ATAP client data for caseload according to the Alaska Work Verification Plan.
- Assess clients to obtain employment, educational/training, family composition, support network, and other information to identify strengths/challenges/barriers, to achieving economic self-sufficiency.
- Meets clients a minimum of once monthly as required.
- Develop family Self-Sufficiency Plans to direct the activities of clients in moving toward economic self-sufficiency.
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Monitors clients to ensure they are achieving goals that lead to employment.
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Establish, maintain, and review client files as well as prepare data for required reports accurately and promptly.
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Identify and appropriately manage angry or hostile clients in crisis.
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Refer clients to appropriate community resources for services that address and meet specific needs as identified.
- Refer clients to training projects that will lead to a higher level of self-sufficiency.
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Prepare for and attend case review hearings with clients.
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Participate as a team member in weekly program staff meetings and other meetings as required.
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Works with other Nine Star Work Services staff as a team to collaborate and meet the needs of all clients.
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Maintain connectivity with DPA eligibility staff in serving client needs.
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Make client work site and home visits as necessary.
- Other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
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Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office and FileMaker Pro database.
- Adept at working independently as well as with team members.
- Possess excellent customer service skills.
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.
- Able to organize and prioritize a variety of tasks.
- Work with minimal supervision.
- Able to coordinate multiple tasks and follow-up despite frequent interruptions.
- Maintain a professional attitude with enthusiasm and dependability.
- Exercise exceptional time management skills.
- Flexible and willing to take on new tasks with eagerness to learn new skills as needed.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Possess an Associate’s Degree in Human or Social Services, Vocational Education, or a related field.
- Relevant experience may substitute for educational requirements on a year-for-year basis.
- Have a minimum of one year of progressively responsible experience in case management or related field.
