Case Worker-Temporary Cash Assistance

Salary: $48,997.00 Annually

Location : Department of Social Services – Frederick, MD

Job Type: Full-time Regular

Job Number: FY24-00218

Department: Social Services

Division: Social Services – State Reimbursement

Opening Date: 10/25/2023

Closing Date: 11/8/2023 4:00 PM Eastern

JOB INFORMATION
Exempt; full-time; 40 hours per week; Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm; full-benefits

This position meets with Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) applicant(s) to screen for barriers and explain initial program guidelines for the Frederick County Department of Social Services. This position completes and reviews assessments of the customer’s strengths and barriers to assist customers in identifying a specific plan to result in employment/career path. This position enters, interviews, reviews, and processes all assigned TCA and Food Supplement applications and determines eligibility, completing all associated case actions. Supervision is received from a Family Investment Supervisor.

Frederick County Government recognizes the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to Frederick County Government today.

TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE:
Frederick County offers an extensive compensation package to reflect how much we value our employees. The following is what you can expect in your first year as a full time benefited Frederick County Government employee.

• 11 days of Vacation leave with increase after 2 years of employment
• 15 days of Sick leave with unlimited annual carryover
• 11 paid scheduled holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays
• Day 1 coverage of comprehensive Medical Insurance Plan option to include generous County HSA contribution (if enrolled in the high-deductible plan). This is part of a full range of benefits including Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending
• 100% County paid 2x annual salary Group Term Life Insurance benefit
• Work/Life balance programs include: Employee Assistance Program and Employee Wellness Program
• Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
• County and Employee funded Defined Benefit Pension Plan
  • Vesting after 10 years of service
  • Additional service credit for eligible previous public service, military service, etc
• Other employee paid benefits such as Deferred Compensation Plan, Legal Resources, Supplemental Life Insurance, etc.

For more information, visit our benefits page on the Frederick County Government job opportunities webpage

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify customers’ interests, skills and aptitudes to facilitate career exploration and career planning
• Provide initial assessment, crisis intervention, information and referral for services to meet customer needs
• Accomplish initiatives of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act and maintain and facilitate partnerships
• Serve as a resource and advocate for program customers and assist them in navigating services and other community agency resources
• Monitor and document customers’ attendance, progress and training activities
• Respond to inquiries from the customers within established timeframes
• Develop Family Independence plans and track progress
• Maintain records and produce reports to track participation
• Determine eligibility for any and all potential programs administered by the Department of Social Services
• Coordinate orientation sessions for program customers
• Participate in agency team meetings to assure coordination of service delivery to customers
• Create, update and maintain computerized and manual files and filing systems
• Update and maintain in-depth knowledge of current policies and procedures while assisting customers to maintain program compliance
• Perform other related duties as required

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Any single position may not be assigned all duties listed above, nor do the examples cover all duties that may be assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
The qualifications / requirements, knowledge/skills/abilities and physical demands or working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services or a closely related field
• Minimum 2 years work experience in human services providing case management/coaching/customer care to adults and families
• Possession of a valid automobile operator’s license
• NOTE: Possession of LBSW will substitute for a portion of the work experience

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS / ABILITIES:

• Ability to maintain County Authorized Driver privileges
• Knowledge of human behavior, human growth and development, sociology and other social sciences, and fundamental principles of economics
• Ability to effectively access and utilize computerized systems and equipment – preference may be given for experience working with Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of persons including entry level workers, employers, hard-to-serve populations, other agency personnel, community organizations and the general public
• Ability to work with sensitive, personal information and maintain confidentiality
• Ability to effectively analyze and diagnose information, organize work, determine priorities and complete assigned duties with minimal supervision
• Ability to effectively demonstrate and utilize interpersonal skills (e.g. coaching and negotiation, intuition, perception), initiative, creativity and follow-through
• Strong and effective spoken and written (English) communication skills, with ability to prepare and present clear, concise reports

PREFERENCE MAY BE GIVEN FOR:

• Related work experience providing employment and workforce support services for low-income families

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / WORKING CONDITIONS:

• While working in this position, the employee is required to frequently sit, reach and perform repetitive motions; occasionally walk; and rarely climb, stoop, lift up to 20 pounds, push up to 40 pounds, and drive
• While working in this position, the employee is required to constantly work indoors

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / EXAMINATION PROCESS

• Ability to provide own transportation, as needed, for on-site visits and other appointments
• Available for occasional evening and weekend hours as needed

KIND OF EXAMINATION (may include)

1. An evaluation of training and experience
2. One or more interviews
3. Evaluation of a writing sample
4. A pre-employment background investigation conducted via a public records search
5. A pre-employment physical examination and drug test

This description reflects management’s assignment of essential duties; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Retirement Plan:
A defined benefit retirement plan is provided for all regular County employees. Employees are automatically enrolled in either the Uniformed Plan (5 year vesting) or the Non-Uniformed Plan (10 year vesting) depending upon position classification. The majority of support for the plan is provided by the County; however, employees are required to make a mandatory pre-tax contribution towards their benefit. Retirement benefits are payable at normal, early or delayed retirement. Retirement benefits are also payable upon termination and in the event of death or disability.

Health Insurance:
County employees have a choice of two medical insurance plans, an In-Network (HMO) Plan or a High Deductible medical plan with a Health Care Savings Account, to provide coverage for medical and surgical expenses, hospital and emergency care expenses, mental health expenses and prescription drugs. The County and participants share in the cost of the health insurance with the employee having the benefit of pre tax contribution deductions. Medical insurance goes into effect on the first day of active employment.

Dental Insurance:
Employees may select coverage from one of three dental plan options, ranging from a PPO plan to a dental HMO plan. Coverage includes preventive care, fillings, crowns, bridges and dentures, and the cost of dental insurance is shared by both the County and the employee. Dental insurance goes into effect on the first day of the month that follows the eligible employee’s completion of 30 days of active employment

NOTE: Employees working 75% or greater of a 35 or 40 hour position are eligible for health & dental insurance.

Flexible Spending Accounts:
The Flex Spending plan allows employees to pay health and day care expenses with pre-tax dollars. Employees may set aside part of their salary in a special account that can be used throughout the year to reimburse themselves for out-of-pocket medical expenses. The maximum contribution is $2,700 per year for Health Care Spending and $5,000 for Dependent Care Spending (work-related day care expenses). Examples of expenses that can be reimbursed for Health Care Spending include, but are not limited to: deductibles, co-payments, dental fees, chiropractors’ services, and eyeglasses / contact lenses.

Life Insurance:
Employees are insured for 2 times their annual salary in case of death plus 2 times their annual salary for accidental death. Employees do not contribute to the premiums for this coverage. A Voluntary Life Insurance Program is offered to regular County employees. The plan allows employees to purchase individually owned term life insurance for themselves, spouses and dependents.

Savings Plan – Deferred Compensation:
The County offers a Section 457 Plan. Deferred compensation plans allow participants to save for retirement in either a pre tax or post tax (Roth) investment account. Contributions are invested at the employee’s direction into one or more of the variety of investment options offered by the plan. Changes may be made to the contribution levels, investment options, etc. at any time.

Educational Reimbursement Program:
County employees who have successfully passed their probationary period may take up to two job-related courses per semester at any accredited educational institution. The benefit also covers the costs of job-related non-credit courses. If the employee receives a grade of at least a C, or successfully passes a non-credit course, the County reimburses the employee 75% of the costs of tuition, fees and books. If an employee doesn’t remain employed with Frederick County Government for two years after a class is taken, the benefit needs to be reimbursed to FCG.

Employee Assistance Program:
This confidential assessment, referral and counseling service is available at no cost to all employees who may need help with a personal or job-related problem.

Leave
Annual Leave – Employees are eligible to use Annual Leave after their 6 month probationary period. Annual Leave accrues as follows: Years of service days per year
0 – 2 years 11 days
2 – 10 years 17 days
10 + years 24 days

Sick Leave – Employees will earn sick leave at a rate of 15 days per calendar year.

Sick Leave may also be used for illness of an employee’s child, dependent, spouse, parent or parent-in-law. There is no limit on the amount of sick leave accumulated. Unused Sick Leave may be used for additional credit in the pension plan at the time of retirement.

NOTE: Regular benefited part-time employees earn annual and sick leave on a pro-rated basis based on their actual number of hours worked biweekly up to their assigned number of regularly scheduled work hours.

Other available types of leave include, but are not limited to, Family Medical Leave, Bereavement, Jury, Military.

Holidays:
The County observes 10 holidays every year and 11 are observed on years of General Elections.

For additional information on Frederick County Governments benefit package, please visit the Division of Human Resources website at

All hires before January 1, 2012, will follow the all benefit and leave rules as described in the Personnel Rules amended October 3, 2013.

01

Have you earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services or a closely related field?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you possess a License as a Bachelor of Social Work (LBSW)?

• Yes
• No

03

How many years work experience in human services providing case management/coaching/customer care to adults and families do you have?

• I do not have this experience
• Less than 1 year work experience
• 1-2 years work experience
• 2 or more years work experience

04

Please provide details regarding that work history in the text area below. The work history details provided should include the employer or organization name, dates of employment/service and the duties you performed.NOTE: If Human Resources staff is unable to confirm your related work experience, based on the information submitted, you will not be granted the requirement.

05

Do you have related work experience providing employment and workforce support services for low-income families?

• Yes
• No

06

Please provide details regarding that work history in the text area below. The work history details provided should include the employer or organization name, dates of employment/service and the duties you performed. NOTE: If Human Resources staff is unable to confirm your related work experience, based on the information submitted, you will not be granted the requirement.

07

Do you have possession of a valid automobile operator’s license?

• Yes
• No

Required Question