Under general supervision, this position is responsible for providing professional employment counseling services, needs assessments, vocational evaluations, employment preparation, and training for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) Pilot Program participants. Duties include but are not limited to: contact Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants referred from eligibility workers through letters, pre-assessments forms, or telephone. Perform Assessment and interview SNAP participants for inclusion in the SNAP E&T Pilot Project; explain client responsibility, rights, and program availability; administer Assessment tools to determine interest and suitability for the Pilot program; refer participants to Adult Basic Education instructors or other staff for testing. Enroll participants in the state reporting system. Employee is responsible for determining eligibility for a variety of social services government assistance programs and assessing employability of clients to aid in their effort to achieve self sufficiency. Work is performed within established policies, procedures and guidelines, but certain aspects of eligibility determination require independent judgment, especially as related to evaluation of social factors influencing eligibility and employment. Employees seek supervisor help for difficult or unusual situations only. Explains the employment services program. Handles intake for both the eligibility and service programs. Assessed customer needs and develops employment/child care plans. Develops, conducts job search and job readiness workshops. Establishes and monitors self-sufficiency goals. Monitors case reports/records in accordance with regulations. Explains the child care program and makes assessments of customer needs. Interview persons for assistance, obtains necessary information. Explains nature of temporary assistance benefit programs and determines reasons and need for assistance. Processes applications for financial assistance and diversion. Determines eligibility for assistance and benefit levels using automated systems and manual methods. Evaluates employability status of clients and explores potential sources of income. Explains client responsibilities, rights and program availability. Refers clients to service worker as a result of overall assessment of situation. Prepares reports and maintains client records. Identifies possible fraud and makes referrals as appropriate. Identifies clearly discernible social problems and makes referrals to Social Workers. Gives applicants or recipients information about other agencies where they may go for service they seek and are able to utilize without explanation or supportive services.
Minimum Qualifications
General knowledge of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) Program and the SNAP E&T Pilot Project. Be experienced in the use of personal computer desk top software applications to include MS Office (Outlook, Word, and Excel). Ability to: communicate effectively orally and in writing; work independently; establish effective lines of communication; work collaboratively with other external Pilot staff to accomplish goals; collect and analyze information and organize, plan, prioritize and manage work. In addition to general Employment Service Worker skills, candidates should have strong sales skills to â??sellâ?? the program to potential participants; the ability to cultivate and build relationships with the participants; strong follow-up skills to make certain the participants remain connected; listening skills so that barriers can be addressed; and be personable and approachable. Be able to provide in-depth employment and supportive counseling as needed; update employability plans; and performs re-assessments at prescribed intervals to ensure satisfactory progress. Working knowledge of practices of public social service organizations; employment services; State, Local and Federal guidelines, regulations and policies to make eligibility and employability decisions. Knowledge of economic and human behavior; financial assistance programs; mathematics to calculate percentages, formulas and average to solve mathematical problems and interviewing techniques such as data collection and investigation. Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated office and agency software. Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing with broad spectrum of individuals to include, but not limited to, customers, employers, courts, and medical professionals in person and on the phone; interview, gather information, re-evaluate each clientâ??s situation, and make referrals; determine a clientâ??s ownership share in situations; make mathematical computations; make eligibility and employability decisions; independently identify customersâ?? employment needs and develop employment plans; analyze information and determine from a variety of sources missing information and gaps; use various types of automated technology to establish and maintain case records, access data such as estates, retirement accounts, and real estate, reports, and manipulate data; maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality; exercise sound judgment, discretion, tact and resourcefulness in solving problems and drawing logical conclusions; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with applicants and recipients, other public and private agencies, associates, and the public in a positive and tactful manner under sometimes stressful situations.
Preferred Qualifications
Knowledge of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) and the SNAP E&T Pilot Project. Experience in the use of computer software and hardware. Experience in sales skills, communication, relationship building, and listening skills. Also have the ability to provide employment and supportive counseling, complete service plans, and assessments. Completion of Employment Services Programs training OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. High school diploma supplemented with additional training and related work experience with experience in benefit programs, use of computer software and hardware, and completion of required Benefit and Employment Services Programs training OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Special Requirements
This is a federally funded position and is limited to three (3) years. This is a wage position and the employee will be limited to working an average of twenty (20) hours a week for fifty (50) weeks each year. Wage positions carry no benefits. Applicants are subject to a Criminal History Background search, Central Registry search, DMV/driving record check, and/or pre-employment drug screen. The investigation may include: fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, employment verification and references, verification of education (relevant to employment), credit checks (relevant to employment) and other checks requested by the hiring authority. All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory results of the required checks and screenings. Information from each new employee’s Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) will be entered into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization. Employee must be willing to work disaster related assignments, including emergency shelter duty, in the event of a natural disaster or emergency. Applications for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered applications will not be accepted.
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