Human Services Assistant III

Salary Range: $32,752-Commensurate with Experience

Title Description- Human Services Specialist III:   This position serves as the initial point of contact for clients seeking benefits and/or services and screens clients for benefits and services.  Assist clients applying for benefits and services; interviews clients and explains programs, services, policies and procedures, assist clients with applications: evaluates approves agency providers; researches information; serves as initial contact for of applicants; interviews applicants for benefits and/or service programs: provides information regarding various programs and benefits. general eligibility requirements, policies and procedures; assist clients with completing applications and performs initial screening of applications; provides information to clients seeking services and directly makes referrals for services researches a variation of databases to obtained and/or verify information needed to process applications; maintains logs of clients documentation received; schedules and coordinates appointments for client to meet with benefit employment or services staff; contacts clients for requested/needed information and responds to routine questions in person, email or by telephone; and analyzes needs and coordinates resources that will support families/clients and generates payments for services when appropriate.

Considerable knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services (including customer needs assessment, meeting for quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction); structure and content of the English language including meaning and spelling for words, rules of composition and grammar; and administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, spreadsheets, managing files and records and other office procedures and terminology.  

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with programs participants; plans, organize. and prioritize own work schedule; establish and maintain working relationships with clients, professionals, coworkers, and the public sufficient to exchange ideas and coordinate activities, accept direction and follow established procedures; counsel others; organize, and postdate, from records, reports and other sources using appropriate format; exhibit sold interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution in working with clients, professionals and employees; create forms, charts and graphs; add, subtract; multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole number, common fractions, and decimals; compute rate ratio  and percentages to draw and interpret bar graphs; make screening decisions based upon specific criteria's; read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operation and maintenance instructions, manuals; and conduct effective interviews both face to face and by telephone.

Preferred Qualifications: High School diploma supplemented with post-secondary coursework in subjects such as social work, human services, gerontology, or one of the social or behavioral sciences, business or related field and relevant work experience in  public administrative support work or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Work experience interpreting and applying policies and procedures. Bilingual English/Spanish skills

Special Requirements:  Applicants may be subject to a Criminal History Background search, Central Registry search, DMV/driving record check, and must be able to meet agency insurance policy standards. and/or pre-employment drug screen.

The investigation may include: fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, employment verification and references, verification of education (relevant to employment), credit checks (relevant to employment) and other checks requested by the hiring authority.

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

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

This position is covered under Code of Virginia §63.2-1601.1 or §63.2-1720 requiring the finalist candidate to submit to fingerprinting and provide personal descriptive information for a criminal history record check through the Central Criminal Records Exchange and a search of the Central Registry.

Special Instructions to Applicants:  Applications/resumes for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications and resumes will not be accepted. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted for consideration. Consideration for an interview is based solely on the information provided. Please refer to your Local HR Connect account for the status of your application and this position.

Contact Information

Name: Marie Hopkins

Phone:  540-564-6163

Email: marie.hopkins@dss.virginia.gov 

Address: Harrisonburg Rockingham Social Services District 

110 North Mason Street Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802

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 citizen have access to best services and benefits available to them.