Protective Services Specialist 1/2 Wasilla (PCN 069351M)

Come join the State of Alaska!

This job class uses Competency Based minimum qualifications (MQs). Please read the Competency Based MQ instructions below to learn more.

TheDepartment of Family and Community Services
Office of Childrens Services (OCS)is
recruiting for full-time Protective Service Specialist 1/2

in Wasilla Alaska.

The position is open to AK Residents.

What You Will Be Doing:
As a Protective Service Specialist (PSS) you will be responsible for Child Protection Services in the Family Services unit the Investigations & Assessment unit or as Generalist covering both. This 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 may be 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 with travel as required dependent on the client location and working On Call on a rotation basis. Making referrals to other service providers and agencies.

For more information: OCS Practice Model

Mission and Values/Culture:The Mission of the Office of Childrens Services is: Ensuring the safety permanency and well-being of children by strengthening families engaging communities and partnering with Tribes.

TheOffice of Childrens 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 Childrens 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.

The Working Environment You Can Expect:

This position is located in the Wasilla Field position is required to travel in the Southcentral Region 1 2 times per month and up to a week at a time dependent on casework needed.

These positions will either be in the Investigations & Assessment Unit or the Family Services Unit depending on the need for each unit. Starting as a level 1 or 2 dependent on experience and qualification. 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. 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.

Who We Are Looking For:
We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:

• Stress Tolerance: Deals calmly and effectively with high stress situations (for example tight deadlines hostile individuals emergency situations dangerous situations). (Level 1)
• 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. (Level 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. (Level 2)
• Advocacy (*): Develops and presents the clients patients and/or customers interests in all matters. (Level 2)

Special Note

• All positions require a valid Alaska drivers 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.

To view the general description and example of duties for the position please go to the following link: Qualifications

Competency Based Minimum Qualifications Instructions
This job class uses competency based minimum qualifications.Please ensure your application(through work history volunteer experience (duties summary) training education licenses certifications etc.) supports how you have gained the knowledge skills abilities and behaviors (competencies) and that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.

Competency Description
The competency description(s) listed below have been designed to promote a common understanding of the essential elements of the job class. They highlight the more general and customary knowledge skills abilities (KSAs) tasks and behaviors used to describe the competency. They typically list expectations as opposed to specific tasks and are to be used only as parameters and guidelines. A competencys description is not intended to exclusively define every KSA task and behavior needed to successfully meet the competency but rather to provide the manager/agency with a broad reference of options as to how an applicant can meet the job expectation.

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 ones knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
• Customer Service: Works with clients and customers (that is any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces including the general public individuals who work in the agency other agencies or organizations outside State government) to assess their needs provide information or assistance resolve their problems or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
• Integrity/Honesty:Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization self and others; is trustworthy.
• 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: Expresses information (for example ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example technical sensitive controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others attends to nonverbal cues and responds appropriately.
• Writing: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.

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 experience providing assistance information or referrals to the general public related to social services health care or legal services; in child adult family or group case management licensing or probation services; or providing care or services to delinquent juveniles.

Typically gained by means the prevalent usual method of gaining the competencies expected for entry into the job.

Training and education in this guidance are synonyms for the process of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction. It includes instruction through formal and informal methods (such as classroom on-line self-study and on-the-job) from accredited andunaccredited sources and long-duration (such as a post-secondary degree) and short-duration (such as a seminar) programs.

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 social services health care or legal services; in child adult family or group case management licensing or probation services; or providing care or services to delinquent juveniles.

Progressively responsible means indicating growth and/or advancement in complexity difficulty or level of responsibility.

Professional experience means work that is creative analytical evaluative and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the professions principles concepts theories and practices; and is performed with the power or right to decide or act according to ones own judgment.

Special Note:
Some positions require a valid Alaska drivers license and/or a background investigation including fingerprinting. These requirements will be indicated at the time of recruitment.

At the time of the application please provide the following:

• Copy of academic transcripts with your application if you will be using education to meet the minimum qualifications and/or competencies desired for the position. (Unofficial are acceptable but must include the institution name/URL on the transcripts). Please provide them at the time of the interview if they are not included in your application.
• A list of three (3) professional* references including daytime telephone numbers and email address; at least two (2) of these must be from a current or former supervisor.

*Professional is defined as a supervisor or an individual who has direct knowledge of your work performance.

Supplemental Questions

For your application to be evaluated you must answer the Supplemental Questions. The State of Alaska (SOA) uses four levels of proficiency to measure and describe an applicants level of competence in applying certain behaviors knowledge skills and abilities to accomplish a specific task. The proficiency levels are Mastery Fluency Literacy and Discovery. You will need to rate your proficiency for each competency listed in the supplemental questions.

You must also complete the References section in the the reference section please provide contact details for a minimum of three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance technical skills and job competencies in which one (1) of the three (3) references must be a current or former direct supervisor.

Please be sure to check your junk folder for any messages that may be sent to you about this recruitment.

NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety.Noting see resume or CV or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

COVER LETTER:
A cover letter isnotrequired for this position.Your complete application including supplemental questions that will be used as a writing sample will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.

FLEXIBLE STAFFING:
This position is flexibly staffed. The level of the job offer will be based on the selected candidates credibly possessed and proven competencies. If hired at the lower level you will be promoted to the higher level after completing the training plan and demonstrating competency in the work.

EDUCATION:
To verify education being used to meet the required minimum qualifications you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials being used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial are okay please ensure that the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application provided at the time of interview or if not provided transcripts will be required prior to appointment.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION:
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university.It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.Omission of required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application and you will not receive further consideration.

WORK EXPERIENCE:
When using work experience not already documented in your application please provide the employers name your job title dates of employment and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. Work experience needed to meet the minimum qualifications must be documented in the application. If the application does not support minimum qualifications the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment. A resume will not be used to determine that minimum qualifications have been met for the position in which you are applying.

If you are currently or previously been appointed to a flexibly staffed position please ensure your work experience within a flexibly staffed position indicates the actual dates employed at each level. Ensure your time and any subsequent flex promotion(s) are documented as a separate position. This is required as there are minimum qualifications that require experience at a particular level in which the lower level may not be considered. If this information is not accurately reflected in your application this may cause the processing of your application for consideration to be delayed.

RECRUITMENT SCOPE:
This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check ourresidency definitionto determine if you qualify.

LEGAL EMPLOYMENT:
The States online recruitment system Workplace Alaska requires applicants to certify that they have a legal right to accept employment in the United States. It is the responsibility of the employee to maintain the appropriate documentation to accept or continue legal employment. The State of Alaska does not function in the role of an employer sponsor.

NOTE:The State of Alaska does not provide VISA Employer sponsorships.

WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1- (toll free) or if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to

For applicant password assistance please visit: specific information in reference to the position please contact the hiring manager:

Maria Cunningham

Talent Acquisitions Specialist