Protective Services Specialist 3 - Wasilla

Job Description

This position is open to current

Department of Family and Community Services employees only.

Please check the definition below to determine if you qualify.

The Department of Family and Community Services,

Office of Children's Services (OCS)

is

recruiting for full-time

Protective Service Specialist 3

in Wasilla, Alaska

What You Will Be Doing

The individual in this position is responsible for Child Protection Services. Depending on the needs of the agency, this position can either be in Family Services or Investigations & Assessment, or a Generalist covering both. This is a Level 3 (advanced) position, depending on experience and qualifications.

-This position has a wide range of duties, including investigating reports of abuse and/or neglect.

-Preparing intervention plans by soliciting the cooperation of family members and other.

-Gathering information about family dynamics and functioning.

-Developing plans to ensure child safety while assisting parents in addressing diminished protective factors.

-Placing children outside the home with a relative or in a licensed foster home when necessary.

-Providing ongoing and/or in-home services to families.

-Writing and submitting reports to the Court. -Working closely with Tribal/Community Partners.

-Maintaining frequent face-to-face and telephone contact with parents and caregivers of children in custody and making referrals to other service providers and agencies.

For more information regarding the different programs within the Office of Children’s Services, please review the OCS Practice Model posted on our website.

Our Organization, Mission, and Culture

The

Office of Children's Services

strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully.

The Mission of the Office of Children's Services is: Ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children by strengthening families, engaging communities, and partnering with Tribes.

Everything we do is underpinned by our

Core Values

.

Benefits of Joining Our Team

The Office of Children's Services is committed to an organizational culture that values each team member. We are committed to building and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. We celebrate and value the diversity of our employees, partners, and families we serve.

Full-time benefits of this position include but are not limited to: Insurance Benefits; Retirement Benefits; Paid Leave; and twelve paid holidays per year. Please see the benefits tab on this posting for more information.

Working Environment You Can Expect

This position is in the Wasilla Field office, which is conveniently located next to many services and shopping centers such as Carrs/Safeway.

Our teams are based around having a strong work ethic and high ethical standards, believing in treating all people with dignity and respect, as well as being self-motivated, organized and honest. We are all about getting the job done while still contributing to a positive, upbeat work environment.

This position may require travel at times and may include overnight stays. Frequency of travel will normally be one to two trips per month, for up to a week at a time, depending on casework needs. This is to provide support/coverage to the rural areas as needed, with per-diem and accommodations paid by the State. The Office of Children's Services requires staff to work after hours and on call. Overtime is also an expectation when deemed necessary. OCS Staff are considered essential, so are expected to work during pandemic and other natural disasters.

For information on the Wasilla community (including schools, hospitals, housing) please review the

Alaska Community Profiles

.

We Are Seeking a Candidate with the Following Competencies:

Decision Making

: Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.

Self-Management

: Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.

Advocacy

: Develops and presents the client’s, patients, and/or customer’s interests in all matters.

Special Note

• A valid Alaska Driver's license is required.

• All OCS employment offers are conditional upon successful completion of a background investigation, including fingerprinting and criminal history checks.

• For positions within this job class, a child protective history check will be conducted in accordance with AS 12.62.160 and/or 13 AAC 68.315.

• State vehicles may not always be available; employees may be required to use a personal vehicle for work-related travel. Mileage reimbursement is provided in accordance with State policy. Employees using a personal vehicle for State business must maintain current automobile insurance coverage.

• The selected candidate may be required to attend mandatory training courses, which are typically held in Anchorage.

• Travel may be required, generally one to two trips per month lasting two to three days, depending on operational and casework needs.

• Due to the possibility of travel, employees must possess a valid REAL ID-compliant driver's license or other acceptable identification for air travel.

A cover letter is NOT required for this position.

Your complete application will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.

To view the general description and example of duties for a Protective Services Specialist 3 please go to the following link:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/alaska/classspecs/892156?keywords=protective%20services&pagetype=classSpecifications

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the applicant with competencies in

Analytical Thinking/Problem Solving:

Uses a logical, systematic, and sequential approach to address problems or opportunities or manage a situation by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.

Customer Service

:

Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.

Integrity/Honesty

:

Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.

Interpersonal Skills:

Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.

Oral Communication

:

Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.

W

riting:

Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.

T

echnical Credibility:

Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise equivalent to those typically gained by training in a social science, behavioral science, health science, guidance and counseling, or a closely related field and/or progressively responsible professional experience providing assistance, information or referrals to the general public related to soci