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Abolished 9/28/2003 ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST I4301D2 Pay Grade: 21 DEFINITION OF WORK Summary This is human services work assisting persons in achieving independence and financial stability, and in meeting necessary daily living needs. Work also involves preparing public assistance recipients to become employed. Work involves determining the eligibility of adults, children, or families for one or more federal and state human service programs; assisting clients to become more employable by addressing and overcoming barriers such as poor self-image, transportation needs, child care needs, and limited job search and work skills; coordinating services from multiple programs; and assisting clients in short-term and long-term financial planning. Work includes authorizing the disbursement of funds for clients from human service program resources; may also involve developing community partnerships and resources to increase client employability and levels of self-sufficiency; and planning, organizing and delivering group activities; and assisting clients in overcoming barriers to independent living. Standard Classification Factors Supervision Received - LEVEL B: "Under general supervision…" Employees working under general supervision usually receive some instructions with respect to the details of most assignments but are free to develop their own work sequences within established procedures, methods and policies. They are often physically removed from their supervisor and subject to only periodic checks. Difficulty - LEVEL B: Average… Where the employee is confronted with a variety of duties susceptible to different methods of solution which, in turn, places a correspondingly higher demand upon resourcefulness and concentration. Positions which require the analysis and evaluation of raw data and the rendering of conclusions would, in many instances, fall into this category. Complexity - LEVEL C: Work is of a standardized nature that may involve a variety of duties. Analytical thought becomes more important at this level due to increased data and changing situations. Tasks usually have several steps, some of which may not be directly related. Alternatives may exist for processes or methods to be used in solving problems. Workers at this level exercise a moderate amount of independent judgment. Work is controlled by routine review and reporting to or consultation with supervisors. When guidelines exist at this level, they tend to be more complicated or technical in nature requiring careful interpretation. Consequence of Actions or Decisions - LEVEL C: Consequences of actions or decisions at this level are limited in scope and effect as the work is reviewed occasionally. Errors may cause moderate inefficiency. Costs due to errors may be significant. Contacts - LEVEL C: The purpose of the contact is to influence, motivate, conduct interviews, make formal presentations or counsel to achieve common understanding or solutions to problems when the information is sensitive in nature or the individuals or groups are skeptical or uncooperative. Communication techniques and well developed communication skills become an important requirement at this level. Physical Demands - LEVEL B: The work requires light physical exertion. The employee may be required to perform handling activities with lightweight or easily moved items (e.g. books, file folders, boxes of office supplies, small machine parts, etc.); perform moving activities for brief periods; operate light equipment; perform repetitive motions for brief periods; confined to a work area. Environmental Conditions - LEVEL C: The work environment involves hazards, risks or discomforts typical of working with or around machinery with exposed moving parts, irritant chemicals, heavy equipment or abusive or hostile clientele and patients. Exposure to disagreeable weather conditions and extreme levels of temperature, ventilation, lighting and sound are normal. Protective clothing or gear and specific safety standards or procedures may be required. Serious injury is possible. Supervision/Leadership - LEVEL A: No supervisory or leadership responsibility; may explain work instructions or assist in training others. Distinguishing Features Differs from the Economic and Employment Support Specialist II class which involves quality control reviews, lead worker responsibilities, assisting others in handling more difficult cases, as well as training and orientating new staff. EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED Determines the eligibility and assesses the needs of clients for assistance and work programs by interviewing clients, contacting employers, landlords, district and juvenile courts, bank representatives, insurance companies, Registrars of Deeds, and other collateral contacts to obtain information. Assesses clients to identify barriers to employment including: work habits, lack of job search skills, lack of work skills, and lack of supporting services such as transportation or child care. Develops goals with clients including time lines for completion of all work activities; referrals may include JOB CLUB, living skills sessions, and education and training. Referrals may be made to JTPA, Department of Human Resources, service providers and community resources. Documents eligibility decisions and retains copies of client identification, financial, psychological, medical, vocational and court records in order to provide accountability for the expenditure of state and federal funds by recording information in case logs and client files. Verifies information provided by clients and investigates discrepancies. Develops and maintains individual and organizational contacts with other agency and community services in order to promote self-support programs and to enhance individual service plans; maintains telephone and written communications to support the client's participation in meetings and training sessions. Assists clients in obtaining child care, clothing, and medical services and in locating support groups by providing the client with information about the availability of services and referring or recommending the client to appropriate agencies, departments or community programs. Prepares appeal summaries for administrative hearing officers. Initiates referrals and gathers supporting evidence for attorney's use in welfare fraud trials and for administrative fraud disqualification hearings. Testifies at administrative hearings and court actions. Assesses and refers clients to a variety of other agency programs such as Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Child Support Enforcement, and Rehabilitation Services. Also refers clients to community organizations such as local helping agencies, health departments, mental health centers, homeless shelters, Centers for Independent Living and Area Agencies on Aging for the purpose of obtaining additional support and independent living services. Explores financial issues with clients in order to provide them with information to make informed decisions regarding their financial options by explaining complex issues such as the division of assets, burial accounts, property transfers and household budgeting. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS Knowledge *Knowledge of the principles of interviewing and other information-gathering techniques. *Knowledge of the social, economic and environmental factors which influence poverty and unemployment. *Knowledge of the principles of human behavior and motivation. Knowledge of the community resources available for clients. Knowledge of available state and federal human service assistance programs and their eligibility requirements. Knowledge of employment patterns. Abilities Ability to interpret and apply state and federal regulations in specific case situations. Ability to use basic arithmetic procedures in order to develop household budgets, perform financial planning and determine program eligibility. *Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers and the community. *Ability to apply logical reasoning in order to make timely, effective decisions. Ability to understand basic legal principles and medical terminology. *Ability to communicate complex information effectively. *Ability to evaluate information received from or about clients for accuracy and completeness. Ability to develop and present program specific orientation and training. *Ability to maintain self-control under stressful situations. *Necessary at Entry MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Job knowledge at an entry level in human service assistance. NC: 11/98 |