This is a State Merit System Services (MSS) classification. Please go to www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mss

to view the actual job classification and to apply for this position.

At the Department of Social Services we strive to partner with our community to assist, empower and protect those we serve. We foster an agency culture that supports family life and encourages fun filled activities and agency committees. This is more than an invitation, it’s a commitment to offer opportunities for personal and professional growth to everyone! We ask people to grow with us and make the agency even better.

Click here to learn more about the Social Services Department.

Click here to learn more about Tehama County!

About the Position :

The Eligibility Specialist Trainee is the classroom and on-the-job trainee level in the Eligibility Specialist series where emphasis is on learning the basic regulatory and statutory requirements of multiple public assistance programs. Incumbents may receive classroom instruction and/or on-the-job training prior to being assigned casework or tasks. Once incumbents are placed in a unit, they will continue to participate in on-the-job training and may be assigned a variety of duties, including some casework/tasks which will assist them in learning to determine initial and continuing eligibility for one or more public assistance programs. Incumbents work under close supervision to complete initial case functions as they continue to learn procedures and complex regulations and acquire the ability to apply the regulations during the training period.

The Eligibility Specialist classifications determine the eligibility of applicants and recipients for public assistance programs through interactive interviewing and fact gathering; maintain current knowledge of program regulations and procedures necessary for multi-program caseload administration; initiate and process casework through automated systems; identify needs and make appropriate referrals for health, social, and/or employment services; and perform related work as required.

The Perfect Match :
Will have a strong emphasis on continuous quality improvement; strong work ethic and ability to prioritize assigned work tasks and follow through in a timely manner. Posses excellent listening skills as well as strong written/verbal communication skills; excellent customer service skills and initiative; solution based problem solving skills; experience in maintaining cooperative relations and communications with customers, management, and staff; ability to maintain a high standard of professionalism; proficiency in MS Office suite as well as basic knowledge of software and database programs.

What Will You Do? :

Acting as the first contact for individuals seeking public assistance; interviewing applicants and recipients to obtain and verify information needed to determine initial and/or ongoing eligibility for public assistance. This often requires obtaining information in difficult and/or emotional situations on issues such as earnings and financial obligations and/or parental status and living arrangements and maintaining control of the interview if the client becomes hostile or angry over the interview questions; learning numerous state and federal program regulations and specific county practices through intensive training prior to full case assignment and ongoing training thereafter.

An Eligibility Specialist is not responsible for working with clients to attempt to resolve their personal or social problems, they are responsible to verify and grant eligibility for public assistance. Eligibility Specialists are expected to handle a high volume of deadline driven work which requires them to keep up to date on changes in rules, laws, procedures, etc. that effect processing timelines. Applicants must be able to prioritize, plan and project their work, but at the same time be flexible to changes at any moment, such as unscheduled visits from customers. It is important to understand that the actions you take as an Eligibility Specialist affect the lives of clients and their families .

CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES:
Eligibility Specialist’s may be required to take actions that conflict with your own values. An Eligibility Specialist must be able to accept customers' differences and interact with them in a non-judgmental manner.

Click the on the job title for full job description:

In addition to the education and experience requirements specified in the Merit Systems/Cooperative Personnel Services classification specification, Tehama County requires:

Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Pattern 1: Two (2) years of full-time clerical experience involving public contact, interviewing, math computations, completion of forms or eliciting information from the public;

OR

Pattern 2: One year of full-time experience determining eligibility for loans, financial assistance, unemployment or veterans benefits, or publicly or privately funded health, counseling or social services programs;

OR

Pattern 3: Completion of sixty (60) semester or ninety (90) quarter college units.

Qualifying experience or education may be combined in order to meet the above requirements. When combining education and experience; fifteen (15) semester units or twenty-two and a half (22.5) quarter units equals six months of experience.

License & Special Requirements:

Requires a valid California Class C driver’s license.

HOW TO APPLY: This recruitment closes on May 28, 2024 . To apply please submit your application through Merit System Services:https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/MSS. You must click on the link, search for this job between the opening and closing dates, and submit your application. This job will only be posted between the opening and closing dates on the flyer. After filing your application you will be notified by Merit System Services as to whether or not your application met the minimum qualifications. Following the closing date those that met minimum qualifications will be contacted by the County for the next steps in the recruitment process. Only the qualified candidates will be invited to test & interview.

The department is recruiting for multiple vacancies.

In addition, Tehama County is establishing an eligibility list to fill future vacancies for an Eligibility Specialist Trainee (Merit) , as well as subsequent vacancies which occur during the life of the eligibility list.

New employees should anticipate being hired at the beginning step of the salary range. Candidates who exceed entry level qualifications may be considered, with approval from the Board of Supervisors, for placement at other than A step.

For questions about this recruitment please contact:

Jose Ventura

(530) 528-4095 / jventura@tcdss.org

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of background, fingerprinting, drug test and physical examination provided by the County.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER / AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANT / VETERANS' PREFERENCE POLICY / DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE

Eligibility Specialist Trainee - Merit

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