APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE ASSOCIATE BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST TITLE Family Independence Administration provides temporary help to individuals and families with social service and economic needs to assist them in reaching self-sufficiency via essential and diverse programs/services, such as: temporary cash assistance, SNAP, childcare, eviction prevention services, adult protective services, job training, employment plans /economic support, domestic violence assistance, child support enforcement, etc.
Under the direction of the Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist III, the Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist II (ABOS II) is responsible for supervising team(s) of BOS staff, who provide various functions of eligibility determination, financial planning, economic support opportunities and monitoring other related services to persons in need, to promote individual and family self-sufficiency.
The ABOS II uses supervisory, program development, quantitative analysis, and other research skills in accomplishing all the goals of FIA/Benefits Access Center and its components (Application, Financial Planning, Economic Opportunity Services, Under care, etc.) The Family Independence Administration (FIA) is recruiting for two (2) Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist II, to function as Case Management Team Leaders, who will:
- Monitor the workflow of BOS workers who handle the entire application process for all new applicants; Family Assistance cases which have been closed for over sixty days; all Safety Net case reopens which have been closed regardless of date; and one-shot deals.
- Review specific cases and authorize benefits as required.
- Review the accuracy and timeliness of reports, including all relevant Work lists.
- Act as liaison to the Rental Assistance Unit.
- Conduct daily sweeps to ensure timely and proper service.
- Manage a team of BOS workers who interview applicants and assess eligibility for immediate needs grant (food and non-food); for employability and eligibility for public assistance, food stamps and Medicaid; works with applicants to remove barriers to employment and makes referrals to other services as needed.
- Manage a team of BOS workers who provide comprehensive service delivery to participants after the establishment of the participant’s case; Family Assistance case that have been closed less than sixty days or Safety Net cases that have been closed in error.
- Manage a team of BOS workers who manage all aspects of the case, including establishing on-going eligibility, assessing participants, developing appropriate Employment Assessment and Employment Plans, and executing specific strategies designed to help participants achieve self-sufficiency.
- Ensure adequate planning, scheduling, and monitoring of case management activities and will conduct regular reviews of outcome reports, work list, audits and assess client feedback to ensure the team is maintaining adequate levels of performance necessary to move participants toward self-sufficiency.
- Assist with case consultation on individual cases and guidance on difficult cases in the case planning process as necessary to ensure the appropriate approach is developed to suit the participant’s needs and achieve the best plan for the individual to progress to self-sufficiency.
- Oversee teams of clerical and BOS workers who provide quick service for those clients who walk-in or telephone the Center.
Additionally, the team will take appropriate action on reported changes, provide information and documentation as requested by the participants and maintain contact with other teams to ensure awareness of all activity that will affect the case management plan.
- Oversee staff that interview and determine housing needs of tenants at risk for homelessness or already homeless reporting to Benefits Access Centers.
Develop ant-eviction/housing plan of intervention for referred participants.
- Monitor conference activities and prepare regular reports on unit activities.
- Perform final review of packets prior to fair hearing and determines whether a resolution will be required prior to the hearing.
Using Strategies and techniques aimed at securing success in the hearing room, ardently represents the Agency.
- Prepare reports on key performance outcomes and ensure that necessary corrective actions are implemented in a timely manner.
- May conduct fields’ visits.
Hours/Shift: 8:30am – 5:00pm with Flex Schedules
Minimum Qualifications
- A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and three years of full-time satisfactory experience working directly in social/human services or a related setting, providing either: a) client services. b) employment planning/counseling services which involves job development, skills assessment, and employment placement or other economic opportunity programming.
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus eighteen months of full time satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist; or
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus eighteen months of full time satisfactory experience as described in one (1) above.
- College credit from an accredited college may be substituted for this experience on the basis of 60 semester credits for 9 months of the work experience described above. However, all candidates must have at least 18 months of full-time satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist or performing social/human services work as described in one (1) above.
Residency Requirement
New York City Residency is not required for this position
Additional Information
The Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services offers competitive salaries and the following benefits: Generous Pension Plans (The New York Employees' Retirement System); 401(k) and 457 Roth's Retirement Savings Programs; U.S. Savings Bonds Flexible Spending Program; Health Benefits, Dental, Vision Coverage, Prescription Drug Program; Training and Professional Development; Opportunity for Scholarship; College Savings Program; Paid Holidays and Generous Annual Leave;