Description

Social Service Training Specialist

Are you ready to embark on the next step in your DSHS career? Bring your professionalism, integrity and dependability to work for us.

Economic Services Administration (ESA), Community Services Division (CSD) is seeking a Social Service Training Specialist (SSTS) to join our Statewide Customer Service Contact Center (CSCC).

This opportunity is open to applicants that live within WA State and is a hybrid teleworking role. The selected person will be required to occasionally travel to a nearby office based on business needs.

The Social Service Training Specialist is part of the CSCC team assigned responsibility to provide agency training which gives employees the skills necessary to succeed at their jobs. This SSTS is essential to executing the Community Services Division's (CSD's) integrated learning approach. In this role you will provide structured training to all WorkFirst staff throughout the CSCC, provide timely and relevant feedback to CSCC Management and Supervisors. You will in consultation with those leaders and other statewide stakeholders identify training needs and present solutions. This job is critical to establishing and maintaining the vision, mission and goals of the agency.

This work is essential to execute the Community Services Division’s (CSD’s) integrated learning approach—to be responsible for ensuring that:

• 
  All employees have access to required program training, relevant courses, and other development activities with the Statewide Customer Service Contact Center and regions;
• The Statewide Customer Service Contact Center and region management teams have access to consultation and training needs analysis regarding performance issues;
• There is a sustained focus on training outcomes, trends, and indicators that systematically trigger training needs assessment and follow-through;
• A major center of attention is on knowledge-sharing, such as, using training to translate best-practice performance into practice; and
• Senior Statewide Customer Service Contact Center and regional leaders have immediate, current, and accurate training status and program integrity reports.

Functioning as an expert on federal and state social service programs, this is an ideal role if you are looking to utilize your program skill and knowledge to inspire staff and provide program integrity and effectiveness of services provided to our clients. Traveling throughout the state as needed, you will provide social services training, instructional design, leadership consultation, and technical support.

Some of what you'll do

• This position is part of the Statewide Customer Service Contact Center team assigned responsibility to implement agency training activities which will provide employees with the skills necessary to succeed at their jobs. This position provides basic training for the Public Benefits Specialist (PBS) series, WorkFirst Program Specialists series, and Social Service Specialists series, as well as training related to financial, medical, food, employment, or social services
• Provide Core training for WorkFirst Program Specialists and Social Service Specialists, which may include case management, financial, medical, food, employment, and social services programs. Training will be delivered virtually as well as in-person
• This position works closely with a statewide functional administrative group within the Statewide Customer Service Contact Center including mid- and upper-level management, tribes, Employment Security, Social Security Administration, Commerce, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, Refugee and Immigration Assistance providers, Basic Food Outreach, multiple community-based organizations, and other division and headquarters and regional staff. Results of the work performed by this position directly affect the ability of CSD staff to provide services to the division’s clients statewide with all Federal and State programs
• Train and collaborate with other contracted entities that provide guidance to families at risk of dependency and serving clients with severe and intensive social service needs. This position trains staff when introducing new policies, procedures, and systems
• Designs and creates training including lesson plans, student handbooks, assessments, handouts, trainer guides, and other necessary materials for instructor-led training
• Facilitates subject matter expert groups to identify tasks needing to be trained. Trainings cover all areas of the program within CSD:

• 
  Eligibility and database processing for recent new hires in all of CSD’s job classes (Customer Service Specialists, Public Benefits Specialists, Social Service Specialists, WorkFirst Program Specialists, and their respective lead workers and supervisors).
• Eligibility and database developments and changes that affect any of the above job classes.
• Specialized training to comply with audits, corrective action plans, agreements and areas of concern.
• Other training as deemed necessary by managers, headquarters or other interested stakeholders and assigned by the unit supervisor.
• Review policy and complex case review; provide problem resolution and consultation
• Build and maintain excellent partner relationships
• Lead statewide groups, community meetings and training
• In all you do, promote respect, equity, diversity and inclusion in all training and interactions with staff/community partners.

What we’re looking for

• Experience conducting training presentations and workshops statewide
• Subject matter expertise and working knowledge of Federal and State laws, policies, rules, and regulations related to all programs administered by ESA. This includes WorkFirst, social, financial, and medical programs
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to various adult learning styles
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues
• Adaptability and ability to multitask in an environment of change
• Ability to make critical decisions, based on the integration of information from multiple sources
• Proven ability to identify problems, develop and implement solutions
• Ability to communicate information both orally and in writing so others will clearly understand
• Ability to successfully manage competing priorities
• Experience evaluating principles and practices

Who should apply?
Professionals with a Bachelor's degree in social work, a health or social science, or public administration or a related field plus one of the following:

• Four years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering the WorkFirst program; Or
• Two years of experience as a WorkFirst Program Specialist; Or
• Two years of experience as a Social and Health Program Consultant 2, WorkFirst Supervisor; Or
• Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for the required education. For example, six years of experience as a WorkFirst Program Specialist or six years of experience as a WorkFirst Supervisor.

Extensive statewide travel is required. May require evening and weekend work.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited institution

Interested?

Please complete an online application and include the following:

• Current chronological resume
• Letter of interest addressing your knowledge, skills and abilities to perform this job. Please include your vision as a Social Service Training Specialist within the CSD CSCC
• Three professional references with current contact information

If you have questions about the application process, email Kathy Simmons and reference #17523.

Our Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) mission to Transform Lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s mission that you bring an equity, anti-racism and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to create greater access and affirming representation of the communities we serve, including Black, Indigenous and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Note:
Employees of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Any offer of employment is contingent upon verification of your vaccine status. Please note medical or religious accommodation may be available once an offer of employment is made.

Supplemental Information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

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