State of Connecticut - Department of Social Services

Compensation

Full Description

Introduction Looking for a chance to start your career in Social Services?  If so, we are seeking you, to be part of our First Touch Contact Center! The State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services (DSS) is recruiting anticipated vacancies for multiple Social Services Assistants to work in the First Touch Contact Center located in Hartford, CT. Position Highlights: Full Time (40 hours per week) First (1st) shift 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM & 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday-Friday Hartford, CT About Us: If you enjoy helping others and flourish in a fast-paced environment, you might be a fit for the Department of Social Services, Social Services Assistant position. The Department of Social Services (DSS) mission is to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of Connecticut’s individuals, families, and communities. Bring your eagerness to enhance the lives of others and an ability to government programs, policies, and procedures; and we’ll provide the in-depth training and support needed to be successful in this role. The Role: A Social Services Assistant within the Department of Social Services (DSS) is responsible for high-volume call management and the preliminary assessment of client needs for the purpose of referral, gathering and sharing of information concerning client problems primarily over the phone. Please Note: DSS provides customer service in a variety of ways, including answering calls and/or providing face-to-face assistance in our Resource Centers. THE SOCIAL SERVICES ASSISTANT WILL: Communicate clearly and empathetically with clients and colleagues. Be flexible and able to adhere to frequent instructions, directives and changes in assignments. Be able to multi-task. Example: Using various computer applications and programs at once. Update the DSS computer system with clear and concise case notes. Respond to client concerns and complaints. Attend all mandatory meetings/trainings via Teams and in person. Keep up to date with program and policy changes through trainings and written communications. OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL: Have excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills. Have experience working with culturally diverse populations. Have experience in conducting in-depth interviews. Work independently, as well as a part of a team. Have strong data entry, research, record maintenance and analytical skills. Critically think and critically review work. Multitask, organize workflow and adapt to shifting priorities to meet challenging deadlines. Navigate through multiple computer systems and software concurrently. Understand and apply federal and state guidelines and statutes. Possess a high-level organization with strong attention to detail and accuracy while working expeditiously in a fast-paced environment. What’s In It For You: Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page! Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities. A healthy work-life balance to all employees. State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service. Click here for more information. Discover the opportunity to: Engage in a rewarding career Assist our employees so they can achieve success Make a difference in the public sector Work together in a collaborative team environment Selection Plan FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING: Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process. BEFORE YOU APPLY: Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below. Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency. Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift. Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov. Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other. Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting. AFTER YOU APPLY: Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression! Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks. The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class. Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics. QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP: Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to at Christopher.Lavallee@ct.gov. Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence! PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK) In a social service agency or institution this class is accountable for performing work of a paraprofessional nature in direct service or public assistance areas. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES Assists professional and technical personnel in providing necessary supportive services and basic needs to clients; Provides assistance to agency clients who have come into office or have phoned by identifying client problem or need and referring client to agency or community resources to meet the need; Provides information concerning agency programs and policies to clients, public and other state and community agencies; Assists clients in completion of agency forms related to assistance or service requests or reviews; Under supervision assists in various activities related to licensing of family day care homes; May be required to prepare reports relating to their assignment; Performs related duties as required. KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY Skills interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; Ability to follow oral and written instructions; maintain records and prepare reports. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS High School graduation or equivalency OR any experience and training which would provide the skills and abilities listed above. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Customer Service experience and/or experience in a Human Services field. Experience with high-volume call management and addressing client complaints through conflict resolution and technical support. Experience guiding clients through problem-solving processes, and de-escalation. Experience working with Microsoft 365 and customer relationship management (CRM) software such as Salesforce. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Incumbents in this class may be required to travel. Conclusion AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.