Definition

Serves as the designated expert on federal and state social service programs and is responsible for providing training, instructional design, leadership consultation, and technical assistance for Community Services Offices (CSOs) within an assigned region or within a statewide functional administrative group within the Customer Service Contact Center.  This includes upper and mid-management staff; tribes; Employment Security; Social Security Administration; Commerce; State Board of Community and Technical Colleges; Refugee and Immigration Assistance providers; Basic Food Outreach; multiple community-based organizations; and other division headquarters, and regional staff. 

Examples of federal and state financial and/or social service programs include: community service, employment training, and programs, such as Basic Food; Medicaid; Medicare Supplemental; TANF; WorkFirst; Aged, Blind and Disabled; Pregnant Women Assistance; and Child Care Programs.

Typical Work

Reviews policy and provides procedure clarification and consultation; performs complex case review and problem resolution; provides statewide policy and procedure development input and consultation;  

Designs, creates, and updates lesson plans, student handbooks, assessments, handouts, trainer guides, and other necessary materials for instructor led training; 

Posts documents to shared website for use by statewide trainers;  

Oversees trainer feedback page for requested changes to content;

Facilitates subject-matter-expert groups, which consist of Financial Service Specialists, Social Workers, Child Care Specialists, and other field or policy staff to identify tasks needing trained and document steps for each task; 

Assigns course numbers; inputs course and course descriptions into DSHS Learning Center; 

Develops, updates, and assigns learning plans to staff in the DSHS Learning Center;  

Advises and assists administrators in planning and conducting local training programs; develops recommendations for management on training needs, assessments, and issues; 

Develops, schedules, and conducts orientation programs for new employees on department regulations and procedures, casework principles and methods, caseload management, community resources, individual and group behavior, and interviewing skills;  

Develops, schedules, and conducts training statewide on new policies and procedures and new state or federal regulations or requirements for public assistances programs; 

Develops and secures training materials, maintains training library; 

Keeps informed of current training and social service trends, practices, and materials;  

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of:  current working- or mastery-level knowledge of federal and state laws, policies, rules, and regulations related to social, financial, and health programs; principles and practices of program planning and evaluation; Community Services Division (CSD) standard operating procedures; supervision policy, procedures, methods, and the collective bargaining agreement; principles and practices of employee training; principles and techniques of teaching; principles of individual and group behavior; community organizations and resources; use of training aids. 

Ability to:  analyze and compile data to develop online, webinar, and classroom training courses and materials, presentations, and workshops; present complex concepts, changes, databases, rules, processes, procedures, and updates in a seamless, cohesive, intelligible manner consistently and repeatedly; conduct training courses, presentations, and workshops in a variety of settings for various audiences, to include staff, community partners, stakeholders; facilitate groups; secure and maintain employee and student participant interest and cooperation; speak in public and write clearly and effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships with officials, employees, students, community partners, supervisory staff, and line staff; adapt to changing programs and work environments; work independently, prioritize work, and meet multiple conflicting deadlines; navigate electronic systems currently in use by the organization; and utilize assigned computer software.

Legal Requirement(s)

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Desirable Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree in social work, a health or social science, public administration or a related field AND 

Four years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, or health services programs 

OR 

Two years’ experience as a WorkFirst Program Specialist or equivalent work experience with automated eligibility systems 

OR 

One year of experience as a Social and Health Program Consultant 2, Social Service Specialist 3 (formerly Social Worker 3), or Financial Services Specialist 4 or above.  

Note:  Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for the required education except for positions that require a degree in social work.  A degree in Social Work must be from an educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Class Specification History

Revised, effective June 1, 1964
New class code: (formerly 18320) effective July 1, 2007
Title change (formerly Social Service Training Specialist 2); adopted May 14, 2009, effective May 15, 2009.
Revises desirable qualifications, effective December 23, 2011.
Revised definition; Adopted August 8, 2013, effective August 9, 2013
Revised and added typical work and desirable qualifications (general revision), updated August 19, 2013.
Base range salary adjustment adopted 6/30/2017, effective 7/1/2017.
Base range salary adjustment adopted 5/17/2018, effective 7/1/2018.