Protective Services Specialist 2 (Medical Social Worker, PCN 20-6583)

Anchorage, AK - USA

Hourly Salary: USD 33 - 33

Posted on: 19-10-2025

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Job Description

The Department of Corrections Division of Health and Rehabilitative Services is recruiting for a Protective Services Specialist 2 located at the Anchorage Central Office in Anchorage Alaska.

Watch Alaska DOCs video here:

Alaska DOC HARS video here:
You Will Be Doing:

This position (aka Medical Social Worker) will work with a diverse and underserved population of individuals conducting social casework with inmates who experience some level of medical or cognitive need and therefore need assistance while in custody or transitioning back into the community. Social casework includes release planning pregnancy planning interagency collaboration for adults and juveniles and end-of-life planning.

Our Mission Values and Culture:

We are dedicated to providing essential health care and to promoting rehabilitation. We are committed to a culture of professionalism quality and safety. We seek applicants who are interested in furthering the HARS Mission and who will strive to uphold the Divisions Core Values of Respect Integrity Compassion Teamwork and Safety.

Benefits of Joining Our Team:

We are seeking applicants who are highly motivated and competent professionals to join our diverse team and provide care to an underserved group of people across the State of Alaska. This position will provide you with an opportunity for professional growth and assisting people in returning to the community as better citizens. Upon successful completion of probation this position has the potential to offer a hybrid telework schedule.

The Working Environment You Can Expect:

This position is located in the Atwood building in beautiful downtown Anchorage; covered parking at the Linny Pacillo parking garage is provided for employees. This position works primarily out of Anchorage Central Office but will work with inmates throughout all State facilities.

Who We Are Looking For:

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

Human Services: Knowledge of the concepts principles theories and practices used in the planning design and implementation of programs that provide a broad range of social supports to individuals and families.
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.
Adaptability: Adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.

Minimum 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 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.

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 and unaccredited sources and long-duration (such as a post-secondary degree) and short-duration (such as a seminar) programs.

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.

Additional Required Information

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

If selected for an interview the applicant must provide the following:

Last three (3) performance evaluations
Education transcripts/copy of degree if applicable
Three (3) professional references

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 as an employer sponsor.

EDUCATION

If post-secondary education is required to meet the 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 if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position. Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of interview.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the 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. post-secondary institution 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 post-secondary institution. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

WORK EXPERIENCE

If using work experience not already documented in your application also provide the employer 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. If they are not the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

PREA NOTIFICATION

The Department of Corrections follows and maintains federal and state requirements standards including but not limited to Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards which apply to all public and private institutions that house adult or juvenile offenders. PREA standards preclude the department from hiring or promoting anyone who has engaged in or been convicted of any conduct which would violate PREA standards related to sexual assault including:

Sexual abuse in a prison jail lockup community confinement facility juvenile facility or other institution;
Convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force overt or implied threats of force or coercion or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or
Has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described above.

CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS/APSIN/ACOMS

Please be aware this position requires the use of the Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN). A security clearance issued by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is necessary to use APSIN. DPS will deny security clearance for any applicant who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in this state or another jurisdiction or who may be a fugitive from justice. Additionally security clearance will be withdrawn if DPS discovers that material information was falsified or omitted at the time of the initial application for security clearance.

FINGERPRINT NOTICE

All Department of Corrections employees are required to be fingerprinted. The successful candidate must pass a criminal history check.

DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENT

Applicants must possess a valid drivers license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation auxiliary aides or services or alternative communication formats please call 1- or 465-4095 in Juneau or (TTY) or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P. O. Box 110201 Juneau AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal-opportunity employer.

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 in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to

For applicant password assistance please visit: Information

Nekeysha Taylor
Chief Medical Social Worker / PSS 3

Required Experience:

Job DescriptionThe Department of Corrections Division of Health and Rehabilitative Services is recruiting for a Protective Services Specialist 2 located at the Anchorage Central Office in Anchorage Alaska.Watch Alaska DOCs video here: Alaska DOC HARS video here: You Will Be Doing:This position (aka ...