Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Eligibility Services Technician IV (Promotional)

Recruitment #17-1573-01

Introduction

   YOU MUST BE AN ALAMEDA COUNTY EMPLOYEE TO APPLY FOR THIS RECRUITMENT.   

THIS IS A NEW PROMOTIONAL ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list may last approximately one year, but can be extended. Participation in this examination requires current employment and completion by August 28, 2017; of the equivalent of six months of continuous service following a regular appointment in the Alameda County classified service (non-classified service includes the District Attorney’s Office, the Medical Center, and the Superior Court).  A regular appointment does not include provisional, TAP (Temporary Assignment Pool), or STEP-UP appointments.  APPLICATIONS FOR THIS RECRUITMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY.

 

Supplemental Questionnaire:  A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application.  Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification. 

 

 

DESCRIPTION

THE AGENCY

 

The Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) is comprised of 2,200 men and women working collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations to serve the needs of the community. Services are provided through four departments: Agency Administration, Adult, Aging and Medical Services, Children and Family Services, and Workforce and Benefits Administration.

The Agency assists approximately 11.3 percent of Alameda County's residents. Benefits programs contribute over $278 million to the local economy through cash assistance and CalFresh (formerly known as Food Stamps). Every month, more than 52,000 people receive CalWORKs (assistance for families with children), CalFresh and General Assistance. Every month health insurance is made available to more than 78,000 people through the Medi-Cal program. More than 11,000 frail, elderly and disabled individuals receive in-home care, adult protection and support managing their affairs monthly and 16,000 seniors will receive services through the Area Agency on Aging throughout the year. 3,700 children are in foster care. More than 1,600 reports of child abuse or neglect are filed with SSA each month. Emergency shelter is made available to 415 people nightly.

THE POSITION

Eligibility Service Technicians are specialists in assisting individuals, families and children to enroll in or maintain health coverage and determining initial and on-going eligibility for such programs as CalFresh, General Assistance or CalWORKs. The current openings are in Oakland and Hayward. There are four levels of staffing for the Eligibility Services Technician Series.  Eligibility Services Technicians I—III are a flexibly-staffed class.  Eligibility Services Technician IV represents the senior level of the class series.  Incumbents are required to perform the more complex and difficult functions of determining public assistance eligibility.  Eligibility Services Technician IVs provide advice, guidance and consultation to eligibility staff. 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate for the position of Eligibility Services Technician IV must have exceptional knowledge and expertise interpreting and applying complex county, state and federal procedures and regulations pertaining to public assistance programs.  The ideal candidate will have excellent oral and written communication skills, will have the ability to learn new regulations and procedures quickly and efficiently and will be able to accurately disseminate information to co-workers and clients.  The candidate will be adaptable, organized, and able to multi-task and work independently within strict timelines.  The candidate will have excellent customer service skills and work habits, demonstrated professional behavior and is able to maintain a positive demeanor when facing challenges and difficult work situations.  The ideal candidate will have a collaborative working style and is able to work well with culturally diverse employees and clients. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

In order to participate in the examination process, applicants must qualify through one of the following patterns:

Either Pattern Number I



The equivalent of one-year full-time experience in the class of Eligibility Technician III or Eligibility Services Technician III in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

Or Pattern Number II

The equivalent of two years’ full-time and recent (within the last three years) experience in a position that required determining eligibility and computing budgets or public assistance at a level comparable to that of Eligibility Services Technician III in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

License: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license is required.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Eligibility requirements for all aid categories.
• Functions of public assistance agencies and the principles of income maintenance and public social services.
• Provisions of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, the Social Security Act, and other pertinent legislation in the field of public welfare.
• Modern office practices and procedures, including business correspondence and filing and standard office equipment operation.

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with the general public, culturally diverse populations, other departments/agencies, co-workers, and other groups and organizations.
• Analyze and evaluate situations, reach sound conclusions, and make appropriate recommendations.
• Work effectively with minimal supervision.
• Communicate well both in writing and orally.
• Enter and maintain case records effectively.
• Deal impartially and with restraint in stressful situations.
• Demonstrate good customer service, interpersonal sensitivity and diplomacy when working with others regarding sensitive or crisis situations.
• Perform mathematical computations accurately.
• Follow complex oral and written instructions.
• Use computers and software applications effectively.
• Use office equipment such as fax, printers, copiers and scanners.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION:

 

The examination will consist of the following steps:

 

Review for Minimum Qualifications:

If you do meet the minimum qualifications, you will be notified via email. You must fill out the application completely.  Not filling out the application and/or providing incomplete work history will disqualify you from the examination. Resumes submitted in place of complete applications will not be accepted.

 

Panel Interview Examination (Weighted as 100% of the final examination score): Week of

Once it has been established that you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be invited via email to participate in a panel interview where you will be asked about past job experiences relating to the core competencies that successful incumbents of the job possess. The candidates who pass this portion of the exam will then be scored and put into rank order. The panel interview examination may also serve as the hiring interview at the discretion of the hiring authority. The dates listed above are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the department.

 

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Selection Plan

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

 

Deadline for Filing:

Monday, August 28, 2017

Review for Minimum Qualifications:

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Panel Interviews:

Week of October 2, 2017

 

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statues. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statues.

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Welfare Benefits

  • Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
  • Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
  • Vision
  • Basic Life Insurance 
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
  • County Allowance
  • Health Flexible Spending Account
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
  • Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
  • Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

  • Short-term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

  • 11 paid holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Management Paid Leave**
  • Group Auto/Home
  • Commuter Benefits Program
  • Guaranteed Ride Home
  • Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
  • Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
  • Child Care Resources
  • 1st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

 

Ione Bell, Human Resources Analyst

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

510-272-6456