Human Services Assistant III

Title Description- Human Services Assistant III represents the specialist level in the occupational group for Human Services Assistants. Employees serve as the initial point of contact for clients seeking benefits and/ or services and screens clients for benefits and services. 
General Work Tasks (Illustrative Only) – 

• Screens clients for benefits and services;
• Interviews clients and explains programs, services, policies and procedures;
• Assists clients with applications;
• Evaluates and approves agency providers;
• Researches information;
• Serves as initial point of contact for applicants;
• Interviews applicants for benefits and/or service programs;
• Provides information regarding various programs and benefits, general eligibility requirements, policies and procedures;
• Assists clients with completing applications and performs initial screening of applications;
• Provides information to clients seeking services and directly makes referrals for services;
• Researches a variety of databases to obtain and/or verify information needed to process applications;
• Maintains logs of client documentation received;
• Schedules and coordinates appointments for clients to meet with benefit, employment or services staff;
• Contacts clients for requested/needed information and responds to routine questions in person, e-mail or by telephone; and
• Analyzes needs and coordinates resources that will support families/clients and generates payment for services when appropriate.
• In addition to the above other illustrative program area assignment/tasks follow:
• Interviews clients and conducts assessment for emergency needs;

General Work Tasks (continued) – 

• Prepares periodic, special and other reports for statistics; and
• Provides assistance in the orientation/training of new staff.
• Foster Care:
• Conducts adoption searches via court records, library, agency files, Internet, City directory, and makes initial contact if a match is found;
• Assists with subsidy billings and payments;
• Prepares a variety of financial, statistical forms and reports, case documentation and court reports;
• Assists in conducting supervised visitation; and
• Coordinates special event programs such as Toys for Tots, Annual Art Sale, Bags & Bears and unit events.
   

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 
 Knowledge- Considerable knowledge of: principles and processes for providing customer and personal services (including customer needs assessment, meeting of quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction); structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of 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. Working knowledge of: human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; mathematics and research methods; and eligibility requirements for the programs assigned; and available community resources. Some knowledge of laws, regulations, requirements and policies of Local, State, and Federal social, assistance and housing programs.
 Skills- Skill in: operating a variety of automated office equipment to include calculator, fax/copier; and the use of computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet, graphics and file maintenance programs.
 Abilities- Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively with program participants; plan, organize, and prioritize own work schedule; establish and maintain working relationships with clients, professionals, co-workers, and the public sufficient to exchange ideas and coordinate activities; accept direction and follow established procedures; counsel others; organize, and post date, from records, reports and other sources using the appropriate format; exhibit solid 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 numbers, common fractions, and decimals; compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs; make screening decisions based upon specific criteria’s; read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, manuals; and conduct effective interviews both face-to-face and by telephone.
 Education and Experience- High school diploma supplemented with post-secondary coursework in subjects such as social work, human services, gerontol