Protective Services Specialist 1/2 - Interior Rural Fairbanks (PCN 069191M) - State of Alaska

What you will be doing:
As a Protective Service Specialist (PSS), you will be responsible for Child Protection Services in the Family Services unit or the Investigations & Assessment unit. These case-carrying positions offer a range of duties, including investigating reports of child abuse and/or neglect, preparing plans for intervention by soliciting the cooperation of the family and others, and gathers information about family dynamics/functionality. A PSS will develop plans to ensure child safety while assisting parents in addressing their protective factors, placing children with a relative or licensed foster home when applicable, provide ongoing and/or in-home services to families, writing and submitting reports to Court, working closely with Tribal/Community Partners, frequent face-to-face and telephonic contact with parents and caregivers of children in custody, and making referrals to other service providers and agencies.

For more information: OCS Practice Model 

Our organization, mission and culture:
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.

The Office of Children's Services is dedicated to a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and wellbeing are paramount. Employees all contribute to building a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully.
 
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.

Your first twelve months in the agency are probationary and considered a training period, with formal virtual training, on-the-job training with your supervisor, and with other colleagues.
 
While this is a field-based position that involves working in the community, part-time telework within the duty station is an option upon eligibility.

Full-time benefits of this position include but are not limited to: Insurance Benefits; Retirement Benefits; Paid Leave; and eleven paid holidays per year. Please see the benefits tab on this posting for more information.
 
Working environment you can expect:
The Interior Rural Field Office serves approximately 30 rural communities in the Interior of Alaska. The home base location is in the Fairbanks Field office. This position requires frequent travel to rural communities in the interior, by car and plane.

The work we perform is critical and significantly impacts the communities we serve. As a result, the Office of Children's Services works on evenings and weekends as well as weekdays, so overtime and on-call work are expectations of our workers.

The Office of Children’s Services requires staff to work after hours and on-call. Overtime is also an expectation, when necessary, as PSS staff members are considered essential. 

For information on the Fairbanks community (including schools, hospitals, housing) please review the Alaska Community Profiles.
 
We are seeking a candidate with the following competencies:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Advocacy: Develops and presents the client’s, patients, and/or customer’s interests in all matters.
4. Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
5. Stress Tolerance: Deals calmly and effectively with high stress situations. (For example, tight deadlines, hostile individuals, emergency situations, dangerous situations.)

Special Note:

• All positions require a valid driver's license and successful completion of a background investigation, including fingerprinting and a criminal records check.
• Additionally, while the Division does have vehicles assigned to it, they may not always be available for staff use. Mileage reimbursement is available when a personal vehicle is used for work-related matters. Current automotive insurance must be in place prior to use of a personal vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the State.
• Relocation reimbursement costs may be provided by the State of Alaska.
• For positions in this job class, a child protective history check will be performed per AS 12.62.160 and/or 13 AAC 68.315 including a background and fingerprint check.
• The successful candidate may be required to attend multiple training courses normally located in Anchorage.

A cover letter is NOT required for this position. Your complete application, including supplemental questions, 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 1/2 please go to the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/classspecs