Human Services Specialist (Overstrength)

The Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD) within the Department of Human Services (DHS), is hiring a Human Services Specialist for the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) within the Agency on Aging (AAA). This is a program that strives to ensure older adults live as an integral part of society with dignity and access to programs and services that meet their needs and preferences. The ADRC is the Division's No Wrong Door entry point for Arlington residents aged 60 and older, persons with disabilities and caregivers who are seeking information, referrals, and emergency assistance. The Human Service Specialist will provide short-term case management and support to connect these residents to long-term services and resources which allow them to effectively age and live in the community.   

The ADRC is part of the Agency Aging in the Community Supports and Coordination Bureau (CSCB), a dynamic and innovative team of professionals. CSCB provides comprehensive wrap around supportive services helping older and vulnerable adults and their caregivers to maintain the highest level of independence and quality of life in their community of choice. CSCB also oversees multiple contracted services and monitors trends, legislation and policy impacting older adults. To learn more about ADSD and DHS click here.

Specific duties include:

• Conducting intakes by phone, email or in-person to clients seeking program services and support or emergency assistance;
• Completing initial assessment and reassessment to determine eligibility and need for services and AAA programs;
• Performing short term case management to connect the client to the needed/requested service(s);
• Documenting all interactions in the No Wrong Door System of Record (Peer Place);
• Recording clients' progress and maintains record-keeping system.
• Supporting monthly outreach efforts at the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC);
• Collaborating with the ADRC team and seeking advice and direction in consultations with clinical staff for complex cases and situations;
• Performing other related duties as assigned or as directed by Supervisor.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Interpersonal skills to persuade or manage others and to resolve complaints; and
• Problem solving skills to gather relevant information to solve vaguely defined practical problems.

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs. 

Minimum:

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Mental Health, or Counseling; plus

Experience: Some experience in human services/social services program delivery including teaching/applying behavior management techniques, counseling, training/teaching, and/or making human services/social services referrals.

Substitution: Additional directly related experience can substitute for the education requirement. A Master's degree in a directly related area may substitute for up to one year of experience.

Desirables: Preference may be given to candidates with experience in or one or more of the following:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Mental Health, or Counseling;
• Working in an Aging and Disability Resource Center;
• Providing support and social work services to older adults and persons with disabilities who choose to live independently and age-in-place;
• Documenting client encounters in an electronic record keeping system, with a No Wrong Door system of record and/or Peer Place electronic database;
• Working with individuals from diverse cultural/ethnic backgrounds;
• Coordinating and delivering services through an integrated service model and throughout the range of service intensity in the continuum of care; and/or
• Bilingual in Spanish, Korean, Amharic, or Vietnamese.

Special Requirements

Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence, or the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of tra