HUMAN SERVICES SPECIALIST 2

Definition

Under the supervision of a designated supervisor in a welfare agency, does the field and office work involved in the collection, recording, analysis, and evaluation of data, to include the employability, the medical status and the physical or mental health of applicants/clients, for the purpose of determining applicants'/clients' eligibility for program services; analyzes information on forms, applications and other financial assistance documents for completeness and accuracy; negotiates with absent parent to arrange a voluntary consent support agreement; conducts initial assessment of applicants employability and makes appropriate referrals; provides information to families and individuals to achieve self sufficiency through employment opportunities and/or child support services; duties performed involves more discretion and independent judgment than those performed by the Human Services Specialist 1; does other related work.

Examples of work

• May guide lower level staff in the methods for handling routine activities.
• Analyzes information on forms, applications, and other financial assistance documents for completeness and accuracy during the eligibility process.
• Interviews clients, verifies data and determines program eligibility.
• Completes the necessary forms for applicants program eligibility and acceptance.
• Explains the process for filing for Child Support, Paternity and associated programs to applicants.
• Conducts initial assessment of applicants employability and makes appropriate referrals.
• Investigates and verifies information furnished by clients and alleged absent parent.
• Collects information from additional sources in order to locate absent parent.
• Identifies possible financial resources for applicants when appropriate; provides applicants with information to seek benefits from other agencies such as the Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration, and State Employment Service.
• Advises and assists families or individuals who require information to achieve self-sufficiency.
• Negotiates with absent parent to arrange a voluntary consent support agreement.
• Compiles information necessary to obtain a family court order directing individuals to make support payments when voluntary agreement for payment cannot be reached.
• Responds to client complaints and takes appropriate action.
• Performs the technical, statistical and financial work involved in eligibility determinations, including but not limited to, rates, fees, refunds, credits, benefits, cash values, payments, collections or other amounts, consistent with schedules, formulas or other established procedures.
• Performs the field and office work involved in determining the economic needs of clients and their eligibility for various financial and other public assistance programs.
• Collects, analyzes, and records data and information to evaluate the client's need for support services.
• Provides referrals to internal programs or other agencies for assistance in financial budgeting, money management, locating housing, homemaker's assistance, job training, and day care services.
• Prepares summaries of cases involved in hearings; attends hearings when required.
• Conveys information to the general public; informs clients of available public assistance and other related programs.
• Consults with the supervisor to discuss the resolution to difficult and complex issues relating to a client's eligibility.
• Collaborates with appropriate staff members to plan and carry out program services for clients.
• May act as liaison with community, religious, civic organizations, and other agencies.
• Provides information to the applicants on occupation opportunities including job requirements and training facilities, and assists them in formulating sound vocation plans.
• Conducts group job search and counseling sessions for unemployed or underemployed applicants.
• Establishes and maintains a working relationship with community agencies to provide employability or supportive services to program participants.
• May conduct periodic follow up contacts on placements.
• Monitors and assesses enrollee's participation in mandated programs.
• Prepares reports and correspondence containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
• Maintains essential records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Sixty (60) semester hour credits from an accredited college or university.

Experience

One (1) year experience involving any combination of the following: securing/verifying information and making determinations or recommendations relating to eligibility or qualifications of applicants for loans, insurance, credit, employability, and/or job training services, or entitlements to cash awards, financial benefits or adjustment and settlement of insurance claims; investigations involving the collection of facts and information by observing conditions, examining records, interviewing individuals, and preparing investigative reports of findings; or investigating, establishing and/or enforcing support obligations in a welfare board or agency, court system or related agency.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge of sources and methods of obtaining information regarding finances, property ownership, and financial resources. Knowledge of problems of economically and culturally disadvantaged persons. Knowledge of agencies that provide financial and employment assistance to disadvantaged persons. Knowledge of available programs, services, and eligibility requirements, regulations, guidelines, policies, and procedures for client/case disposition or referral. Knowledge of methods for reviewing/evaluating information in relation to eligibility criteria. Knowledge of sources of information that can be utilized in arriving at a determination of eligibility for public assistance. Knowledge of regulations, policies, and guidelines concerning the disposal or retention of assets by applicants/recipients. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative, courteous relationships with clients, businesspersons, employers, and associates. Ability to advise clients on financial matters pertaining to eligibility functions of the board/agency. Ability to gather, collect, analyze, and evaluate information relative to determining eligibility for public assistance, and other need based programs. Ability to review information for appropriate case disposition or client referral. Ability to interpret and communicate board/agency policies and philosophy to client. Ability to follow oral or written instructions and work independently. Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate and informative reports and correspondence containing findings, conclusions and recommendations. Ability to maintain essential files and records. Ability to work cooperatively with agency staff. Ability to make arithmetic computations. Ability to interview individuals to determine eligibility for assistance. Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. This job specification is applicable to the following title code(s) which are different work week or work month and/or variants of the job class title: Job Spec Code State, Local or Common Class of Service Work Week State Class Code Local Class Code Salary Range

Note

Examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position, using this title, may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on this job may not be listed. NOTE: Appointments may be made to positions requiring bilingual skills: Bilingual in Hindi and English. SPECIAL SKILL Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in Hindi and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. Bilingual in Vietnamese and English. SPECIAL SKILL Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in Vietnamese and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. Bilingual in Russian and English. SPECIAL SKILL Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in Russian and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. Bilingual in Spanish and English. SPECIAL SKILL Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in Spanish and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute additional experience as indicated on a year for year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one year of experience. LC N/A15-Bilingual In Spanish And EnglishLC N/A15-Bilingual In Russian And EnglishLC N/A15-Bilingual In Vietnamese And EnglishLC N/A15-Bilingual In Hindi And EnglishLC N/A15- This job specification is for government use only. Salary range is only applicable to state government. Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions. 6/23/2017