Human Services Assistant

Customer Experience: It's Our Business, It's Our Passion.
The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services is hiring a
Human Service Assistant
for their Benefits team to help individuals and families in Chesterfield County and Colonial Heights by providing administrative and customer service support in one or more program areas such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medical Assistance, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Childcare, General Relief and Refugee Cash Assistance.

What You Do And How You Do It
As a
Human Services Assistant
, you will need to demonstrate excellent organizational, oral/written communication, strong customer service, professional and interpersonal skills necessary to work in a team setting. You will also need to have computer experience with word processing, electronic records, and basic spreadsheets. While working in the Benefits team, you will assist our Benefit Programs Specialist by registering applications in the VaCMS automated system. You'll help our clients by conducting searches, assigning client identification numbers, creating case numbers, or associating applications to existing cases. Part of the
Human Services Assistant's
tasks include screening applications for expedited services, scheduling intake and ongoing interviews, and ensuring all the necessary documents have been received for the application process. Perform other duties as required.

As a
Human Services Assistant
, you would be responsible for various duties to support the Administration and Finance, Benefits and Family Services Divisions. This position will work within the Benefits Division. The position can be rotated to assist with Benefits teams, Customer Relations and Documents Management Teams to serve both internal and external customers on an as needed basis.

Duties Also Include But Are Not Limited To

• Clear communication with internal and external customers
• Sorting mail; scanning, faxing, and filing documents
• Working in a call center; providing customer assistance at the front desk
• Data entry (sometimes confidential and sensitive information)
• Processing work orders and inventory of supplies
• Troubleshooting/problem solving issues related to daily operations of the Agency.

Here's What You Need

• High school diploma supplemented with post-secondary coursework in subjects such as social work, human services, gerontology, or one of the social or behavioral sciences, business or related field, and relevant work experience in public administrative support work; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Skills 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.

The Ideal Candidate Will Possess

• Strong attention to detail, ability to multitask, good time management, the ability to work accurately and timely under pressure, and the ability to compile and review data from multiple systems.
• Some college course work in Human Services field preferred.
• Two years of experience in office support and administration practices and procedures, clerical, and/or direct customer service within social services/human services, business, or related field.
• Relevant work experience in local government or public administration support work preferred.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish candidates are encouraged to apply

All full-time agency employees are required to participate on an Emergency Shelter Team, reporting for shelter duty when shelters are activated. Perform other work as required.

Current valid driver's license and good driving record required. Based on the Virginia DMV point system, record must not reflect a total of six or more demerit points within the twenty-four months preceding the anticipated hire date, or one major violation of six demerit points within the preceding thirty-six months. Out of state driving records must be obtained by applicant and presented at time of interview. Records must reflect at least three years of history and be dated within thirty days of interview date. Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check, and education/degree verification request.
Real Talk
We'll be honest-you will work hard in this job. There's a lot to keep track of and it will be hectic at times, but having a positive attitude helps you handle it in stride. Much of your job is sitting at a desk using multiple automated systems, managing a high volume of telephone calls, and using problem solving skills. That's not all. You must be comfortable with handling multiple priorities and several interruptions all day. Being a Human Service Assistant isn't for everyone, but if you are committed to making a real difference in the lives of others and are looking for a career rather than a job, we want you on our team.

Chesterfield County offers an attractive benefits package. As a local Department of Social Services, Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services may offer incentives, approved through the Virginia Department of Social Services, to candidates hired who possess additional relevant training, skills and experience. Those incentives apply to individuals who possess: a Masters or Bachelors Degree in Social Work, Masters in Human Services, LCSW, Child Welfare Stipend participants, completion of COVLC new worker training or are Bilingual (Spanish & ASL).
Did you know that working for a local government provides credit towards the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)?

Visit

to view instructions and to complete and submit an application.
Monday - Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.Social Services