Social Services Associate - Kotzebue

Job Description The Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children's Services (OCS) is recruiting for full-time Social Services Associate (SSA) located in Kotzebue, Alaska. This position is open to Alaska Residents only. What You Will Be Doing A Social Services Associate is an administrative position. You will be supporting professional staff by gathering information for assessments, case planning and evaluation, while performing duties that can include providing parenting support during family contact to enable parents to practice parenting skills in a safe environment, accessing electronic databases, and providing information to professional staff to make necessary referrals for families to other agencies. As a Social Services Associate you will work with families and children, helping to provide services that will enhance families' capacities to give their children a healthy start, to provide them with safe and permanent homes, to maintain cultural connections, and to help them realize their potential. The successful incumbent will be courteous, professional in language and presentation, calm, motivated, efficient, and have strong critical thinking skills. For more information OCS Practice Model. 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 is committed to an organizational culture that values each team member. We are committed to building and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. We celebrate and value the diversity of our employees, partners, and families we serve. Your first 12 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 This position will be located in Kotzebue Field Office and supports communities in the Northern region. The work we perform is critical and significantly impacts the communities we serve. As a result, the Office of Children's Services works on evenings and weekends as well as weekdays, so overtime and on-call work are expectations of our workers. Frequency of travel to villages or cities for placement or visitation varies, 4+ times per month and length of trip varies based on casework needs, with both day trips and occasional overnights. This position is located in a rural area - travel may include unconventional means such as ATV, snowmachine, boat, and small planes. The Office of Children's Service's staff are considered essential and are required to work after hours, on-call hours, through pandemics- natural disasters, and all holidays that land on their rotational work week. For information on the Homer, Alaska community (including schools, hospitals, housing), please review the Alaska Community Profiles. Who We Are Looking For We are seeking a candidate with the following desired 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 Service Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services. Adaptability Adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment. Computer Skills Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work. Teamwork Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals. To view the general description and example of duties for a Social Services Associate, please visit following link: 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 Copy of college/academic transcripts with your application if you will be using education to meet the minimum qualifications and/or competencies desired for the position. (Unofficial are acceptable but must include the institution name/URL on the transcripts) Please provide a copy at the time of the interview if they are not included in your application. 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. Special Note This position requires a valid Real ID 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr Holland America-Princess (Holland America Dawson City Inn)