Social Services Specialist

Job Overview

Performs information gathering and dissemination duties to assist in determining client eligibility to receive benefits under public social services programs.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate for this Social Services Specialist role will be a detail-oriented and analytical professional with a strong background in data entry, reporting, and billing processes within a social services or healthcare environment. They will play a key role in supporting the Aging Services Quality Management team by ensuring accurate documentation, timely reporting, and proper billing for services rendered. 

Key qualities include:

• Proven experience with data management systems, including accurate and efficient data entry.
• Familiarity with billing procedures and the ability to obtain and verify service provider information for payment authorization.
• Strong skills in report generation, record keeping, and maintaining documentation for audits and quality assurance.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and local social service program guidelines.
• Comfortable working independently with minimal supervision, while also contributing to a collaborative team environment.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, especially when handling sensitive client and program data.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software tools for reporting and documentation.
• Strong communication skills in writing and telephonically with clients.   Bilingual preferred.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a structured, data-driven environment and is passionate about supporting the delivery of high-quality services to older adults through behind-the-scenes operational excellence.

Salary

Min $36,732.80 annually

Mid $51,459.20 annually

Benefits

Click HERE to view our Benefits at a glance

• Generous PTO & Holiday Plan
• Health Plans
• Health Savings Account
• Dental & Vision Plans
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Cafeteria Benefit
• Life Insurance
• Short & Long-Term Disability Insurance

Core Competencies

• Customer Commitment - Proactively seeks to understand the needs of the customers and provide the highest standards of service.
• Dedication to Professionalism and Integrity - Demonstrates and promotes fair, honest, professional and ethical behaviors that establishes trust throughout the organization and with the public we serve.
• Organizational Excellence - Takes ownership for excellence through one's personal effectiveness and dedication to the continuous improvement of our operations.
• Success through Teamwork - Collaborates and builds partnerships through trust and the open exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives to achieve organizational goals.

Tier 2

Duties and Responsibilities

Note: The following duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform some or all of the activities described below.

• Interviews clients on the job site or through home visits, reviews documents, investigates, researches and completes forms to acquire a more than limited amount of readily available financial and other information which may be used for comparing against a variety of standards to determine eligibility for financial, medical, interment, head start, job placement, legal representation or other socioeconomic or health program.
• Collaborates with clients to develop, implement and follow-up on holistic socioeconomic case plans that address vocational, occupational, housing, food, and health needs; provide for continuity of care, effective service and progress toward self-sufficiency.
• Provides some social service program information to clients.
• Provides some social services directly to clients where program eligibility may be determined through established guidelines; refers clients to others where program eligibility requires more in-depth analysis; or refers clients to internal or external service providers.
• Schedules and administers client health screenings, coordinates client transportation needs, schedules meetings and public workshops, and monitors the status of these activities.
• Schedules meetings of clients, neighborhood groups, social services providers, and public officials to provide an opportunity for the exchange of information.
• Obtains information from service providers to authorize payment for their services.
• Performs data entry, report writing, filing, mail handling, photocopying, distribution, record keeping and other clerical duties.
• May supervise the work of others by assigning and reviewing work.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Job Specifications

• Knowledge of Federal, State, County, and community social service programs for which most clients are eligible: eligibility requirements, application procedures, and other relevant program policies.
• Knowledge of generally accepted social service case management procedures.
• Skill in interviewing clients to identify deficiencies in elementary personal, legal, social, economic, and health needs.
• Skill in dealing with social service clients under stressful situations.
• Skill in conducting speech, hearing, and other routine physical tests and documenting findings.
• Ability to work effectively with others.
• Ability to collect and compare data to established guidelines.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to use a computer terminal to quickly and accurately enter data.

Physical Requirements

• Performing duties while under pressure to meet unexpected deadlines, dealing with hostile and/or upset clients in person and on the telephone. 
• Sitting, standing, working in front of computer screen, and noise associated with office equipment. 
• Nature of this position is mentally demanding and at times chaotic, levels of patience and communication are tested on a daily basis.

Work Category

• Light work - Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg control requires exertion of forces greater than that of sedentary work and if the worker sits most of the time, the job is considered light work.

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Graduation from high school or possession of a GED Certificate; AND
• One year of experience interacting with clients in a social services environment gathering and providing information and developing case plans;

       OR

• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that would reasonably be expected to provide the job-related competencies noted above.

Emergency Management Responsibilities

In the event of an emergency or disaster, an employee may be required to respond promptly to duties and responsibilities as assigned by the employee's department, the County's Office of Emergency Management, or County Administration. Such assignments may be for before, during or after the emergency/disaster.

Additional Job Requirements

A department, depending on the nature of its mission and operations, may require that employees in all or certain positions in this job classification:

1. Maintain the ability to pass the background checks required for the position. These background checks may include but are not limited to:

• Criminal History Background Check using Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)
• Level 1 and Level 2 Background screening (Ch. 435 Florida Statutes)
• Child Abuse, Abandonment and Neglect Record Check using the State Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)
• Sex Offender and Sexual Predator record check using the list maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

1. Possess the necessary job related license(s) or certification(s) that may include possession of a Florida Driver License (Class E) or an applicable Commercial Driver License (CDL) 

Career Progression

Employees in this classification that acquire the competencies and minimum qualifications for the next tier will be able to apply for promotional opportunities through a competitive selection process. Employees will not automatically be upgraded to the next tier. Reclassifying a position is based on business need and financial impact and is not based solely on the job competencies or qualifications of the incumbent.