Job Description

Posting number: 2027-07353

Department: PARKS, RECREATION & COMM SVCS

Job classification: SOCIAL SERVICES SPECIALIST SENIOR

Posting type: Open

Categories: Social Services

Summary

Are you looking for a position with a work/life balance? Do you want to earn four (4) weeks off during your first year of employment? Do you want low and no cost health insurance options? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to complete your application now. Work for the city you love!!!

The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department is actively seeking a Social Services Specialist Senior.

Did you know as a City of Jacksonville employee, you would also have twelve (12) paid holidays and a personal leave day as well? In addition to health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance and flexible spending plans are also available. City of Jacksonville employees are also eligible for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness after ten (10) years of public service and on-time payments.

This is professional work at the lead worker level in developing, coordinating, and providing social service and public assistance programs to qualified clients. Work requires a basic understanding of and application of the theories, principles and practices of social work; an understanding and application of varied social services and public assistance federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations, usually gained through degree granting schools, or an equivalent level of practical knowledge gained through experience. May schedule, assign, monitor and review the work of others. Contacts with clients and others require skills in understanding and/or influencing people and are important in providing client services. Skills of persuasiveness or assertiveness as well as a sensitivity to others point of view are often required to influence behavior, change an opinion, or turn a situation around. The work is standardized in that tasks are covered by substantially diversified procedures and specialized standards, and because of changing priorities, or differing situations, the employee has the latitude to consider which of the many procedures should be followed and in what sequence. Work is performed primarily in an office environment though the employee may be required to make field visits to clients in order to provide or ascertain services needed. The physical demands consist mainly of sitting at a work station for extended periods of time, occasionally lifting and moving light objects weighing less than 40 pounds, and visiting clients who are homebound, in hospitals, or in nursing homes. Operates standard office equipment such as personal computer using word processing, spreadsheet, database, and other related software, peripheral and electronic devices, copier, and other standard office equipment. Operates a motor vehicle. The work is performed under limited supervision where the work assignments are subject to established procedures, practices, precedents, methods, techniques and well-defined policies, and the worker plans and organizes the work, determines his or her own priorities, and the work is reviewed, usually after the fact, in terms of quality, timeliness, and for adherence to established methods and policies.

Examples of duties

• Develops, coordinates, and provides social service and public assistance programs.
• Collects data, monitors and evaluates program effectiveness, and prepares reports.
• Monitors changes in social services and public assistance related laws, rules, and regulations.
• Reviews request for and authorizes payment of social services.
• Inspects and evaluates facilities and services provided by contracted service providers to ensure compliance with contractual agreement and regulations governing program.
• Interviews and assesses needs of clients, provides counseling, determines eligibility, and refers clients to appropriate social service or public assistance agencies.
• Visits clients to provide or ascertain services needed.
• Counsels clients, in family, or in other small groups regarding plans for meeting needs; mobilizing clients' inner capacities and environmental resources to improve social functioning; and modify clients' attitudes and patterns of behavior.
• Represents clients with respect to claims or applications for benefits, social services, and public assistance and appeals of denial of such benefits, services, or assistance.
• Schedules, assigns, monitors and reviews the work of others.
• Develops, conducts, and/or provides training to other employees and clients.
• Provides technical assistance to other employees and clients.
• Plans, develops, and presents programs to large groups regarding social services-related issues.
• Responds to inquiries from clients, general public, and private industry regarding available social services and public assistance programs.
• Compiles data and prepares reports and/or oral presentations.
• Prepares correspondence and technical reports as required.
• Establishes and maintains records, files, and reports.
• Operates a personal computer using word processing, spreadsheet, database, and other related software, peripheral and electronic devices, copier, and other standard office equipment.
• Operates motor vehicle.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the City of Jacksonville’s competencies.
• Performs related work as required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of theories, principles and practices of social work.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local social services and public assistance programs.
• Knowledge of social services and public assistance-related laws, rules, and regulations.
• Knowledge of interviewing and counseling techniques, methods, and procedures.
• Knowledge of medical and legal terminology.
• Skill in interviewing and data-gathering techniques.
• Skill in researching, analyzing, interpreting and applying social services or public assistance-related federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations.
• Skill in assessing and determining the needs of clients and matching such needs to federal, state, and local social services and public assistance programs.
• Ability to develop, monitor, coordinate, and evaluate social service and public assistance programs.
• Ability to counsel clients, in family, or in other small groups regarding plans for meeting needs; mobilizing clients' inner capacities and environmental resources to improve social functioning; and modify clients' attitudes and patterns of behavior.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to develop and make presentations to large groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain records.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations.
• Ability to compile and interpret statistical data.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships.
• Ability to operate a personal computer using word processing, spreadsheet, database, and other related software, peripheral and electronic devices, copier, and other standard office equipment.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Supplemental information

• Five years of education and/or experience in providing and determining eligibility for social services or public assistance programs or a related field.
• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a major in social work, sociology or psychology is preferred.

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license during employment in this class.
• Must qualify for, obtain, and maintain a City of Jacksonville public driver certification for employment in this class.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• The probationary period for this class is six (6) months.
• This classification performs safety-sensitive functions and is subject to pre-employment and random drug/alcohol testing programs as set forth in the City of Jacksonville’s Drug Free Workplace Policy (Directive 0401).
• Must pass background screening on a local, state and federal level as required by the State of Florida Children and Family Services.

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APPLICATION:

• A FULLY COMPLETED ONLINE APPLICATION IS REQUIRED. Apply at www.jacksonville.gov.
• Complete details for all relevant employment and volunteer work (employer, dates, number of hours worked per week, and duties) are required to verify your eligibility. Incomplete submissions may delay or disqualify your application.
• When meeting/basing qualifications on education, a copy of your college transcript is required with your application. U.S. transcripts do not need to be official, but must state your name, the school’s name, classes taken, grades received, type of degree, and date degree was conferred. Transcripts outside the U.S. must be converted to U.S. standards.

VETERANS PREFERENCE:

• Certain service members and veterans, and the spouses and the family members of such service members and veterans, receive preference and priority, and certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for post-secondary educational requirements, in employment and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.
• If claiming veteran's preference, you must attach a DD-214 (Member Form-4 copy) or military discharge papers, or equivalent certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs listing military status, dates of service and character of discharge. You must also attach the Veterans Preference Certification Form and if applicable, the additional forms as noted here: http://www.coj.net/departments/employee-services/veterans-preference. Failure to attach required documents will delay veterans preference status.
• If a candidate believes he or she was not afforded veteran’s preference, he or she may file a written complaint, within sixty (60) calendar days upon receipt of notification of the hiring decision, requesting an investigation to:

Florida Department of Veterans Affairs

Attention: Veterans’ Preference Coordinator

11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 311-K

Largo, FL 33778-1630

Email: VeteransPreference@fdva.state.fl.us

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
• Please note residence is no longer required, but it is preferred.
• This position is in an office and is not a remote position.
• Please ensure your application includes all employers within the last 10 years.
• Part-Time and volunteer work experience may be considered if an applicant has worked/volunteered 20 hours per week or more. If applying for a full-time position, these hours must add up to full-time equivalency. To receive consideration, complete work/volunteer history must be provided in the application.
• To ensure you receive email notifications, make “info@governmentjobs.com” a trusted sender. You may also track the status of your application and see notifications by logging into your account. For further information regarding the application process. please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on the website.