Social Services Associate

Social Services Associate

The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS) is recruiting for full-time Social Services Associate located in Fairbanks, Alaska.

What you will be doing This Social Services Associate (SSA) position is assigned to the Fairbanks Permanency Unit you and serves as an integral part of the permanency process for youth in care. The support is primarily in para-professional, administrative duties. These support services include but are not limited to timely and accurate documentation and tracking of information regarding cases at various stages of the adoption and guardianship process, collecting necessary documents from a variety of sources and compiling thorough adoption/guardianship packets, frequent communication with OCS staff, Tribal representatives, adoption/guardianship attorneys, resource families, legal parties, etc. This is a fast-paced work environment that requires the ability to track multiple things at the same time.

Our organization, mission and culture The Office of Children's Services strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully. The Mission of the Office of Children's Services is: Ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children by strengthening families, engaging communities, and partnering with Tribes. Everything we do is underpinned by our Core Values.

Benefits of joining our team The Office of Children's Services offers a welcoming and professional environment to anyone looking for new challenges and an opportunity to work independently and in collaboration with agency staff, department leadership, and federal partners. The Office of Children's Services promotes a commitment to work-life balance and an organizational culture that values each team member. Your first 6 months in the agency are probationary and considered a training period, with formal and on-the-job training with your supervisor and your colleagues. Full-time benefits of this position include but are not limited to: Insurance Benefits; Retirement Benefits; Paid Leave; and twelve paid holidays per year. Please see the benefits tab on this posting for more information.

Working environment you can expect The Fairbanks Field Office serves the Fairbanks area, North Pole, as well as surrounding communities. The Office of Children's Services requires staff to work after hours and on-call. Overtime is also an expectation when deemed necessary. OCS staff are considered essential, so are expected to work during pandemic and other natural disasters. For information on the Fairbanks community (including schools, hospitals, housing) please review the Alaska Community Profiles.

We are seeking a candidate with the following competencies:

• Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
• Customer/Quality Focus: Anticipates, monitors, and meets the needs of customers and responds to them in an effective, appropriate manner. Demonstrates commitment to identifying customers' apparent and underlying needs and continually seeks to provide the highest quality service and product to all customers.
• Adaptability: Adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.

Special Note

• This position requires a valid Alaska driver's license.
• Additionally, while the Division does have vehicles assigned to it, they may not always be available for staff use. Mileage reimbursement is available when a personal vehicle is used for work-related matters. Current automotive insurance must be in place prior to use of a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the State.
• A child protective history check will be performed per AS 12.62.160 and/or 13 AAC 68.315 including a background and fingerprint check.
• The successful candidate may be required to attend multiple training courses normally located in Anchorage.

A cover letter is NOT required for this position. Your complete application will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.

Minimum Qualifications: One year of any combination of postsecondary or vocational education and/or experience in assisting clients, customers, the general public, or other staff in the explanation and application of guidelines, policies, or services. Special Note: Some positions require a valid Alaska driver's license, a background check, and fingerprinting. These requirements will be indicated at the time of recruitment.

Additional Required Information: At time of interview applicant is requested to submit:

• A copy of academic transcripts (unofficial are acceptable but must include the institution name/URL on documents provided) if required to meet minimum qualifications.
• A list of three (3) professional* references including daytime telephone numbers and email address; at least two (2) of these must be from a current or former supervisor. Professional is defined as a supervisor or an individual who has direct knowledge of your work performance.

Please read the below information carefully. This applies to your application submission. NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

EDUCATION To verify education being used to meet the required minimum qualifications, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials being used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial are okay, please ensure that the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application, provided at the time of interview or if not provided, transcripts will be required prior to appointment.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Omission of required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application and you will not receive further consideration.

WORK EXPERIENCE When using work experience not already documented in your application, please provide the employer name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. Work experience needed to meet the minimum qualifications must be documented in the application. If the application does not support minimum qualifications, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment. A resume will not be used to determine that minimum qualifications have been met for the position in which you are applying.

LEGAL EMPLOYMENT The State's online recruitment system, Workplace Alaska, requires applicants to certify that they have a legal right to accept employment in the United States. It is the responsibility of the employee to maintain the appropriate documentation to accept or continue legal employment. The State of Alaska does not function in the role as an employer sponsor. The State of Alaska does not provide VISA Employer sponsorships.

RECRUITMENT SCOPE (insert applicable statement) This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

MULTIPLE VACANCIES This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.

APPLICATION NOTICE You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or via hardcopy application. If you accessed this recruitment bulletin through a job search portal such as AlaskaJobs or any other database, you MUST use a Workplace Alaska online or hardcopy application to successfully apply. Instructions on how to apply with Workplace Alaska may be found on the Workplace Alaska "How to Apply" webpage, found here:

Questions regarding the application process can be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at View phone number on click.appcast.io (toll free) or View phone number on click.appcast.io. If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the 'govermentjobs.com' domains.

EEO STATEMENT The State of Alaska complies