Senior Eligibility Specialist

Job Description:

Senior Eligibility Specialist

Description

Position Information

Are you an experienced Eligibility Specialist looking for an opportunity to help our community's most underserved members?

If so, join the County of Sonoma Human Services Department (HSD) as a

S enior Eligibility Specialist !

Starting salary up to $ 43.11 /hour ($ 89,975 /year) plus a competitive total compensation package!

Senior Eligibility Specialists in the Economic Assistance Division are responsible for determining eligibility and performing case management for complex or specialized eligibility cases. They will assist junior Eligibility Specialists with the resolution of eligibility determinations and grant maintenance challenges. Senior Eligibility Specialists may also be assigned to work independently in out-stationed settings, in order to provide subject matter expertise related to Medi-Cal, General Assistance, CalFresh, and/or the County Medical Services Program. Additional responsibilities include:

• Interpreting policies, rules, and regulations for clients and the general public
• Performing specialized assignments, which requires considerable inter-program knowledge of eligibility regulations, policies, and procedures
• Providing training, coaching, and mentoring to new hires; and may back-up supervisors as needed
• Performing quality assurance by reviewing casework, and conducting desk reviews
• Monitoring customer service interactions between staff and clients
• Communicating with clients and diffusing difficult situations in person and over the phone
• Distributing work to staff in a fair and equitable manner

The Ideal candidates for these positions will possess many of the following:

• A comprehensive understanding of the Affordable Care Act, Covered California, and the CalHEERs Program
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work with people with a variety of personalities
• A working knowledge of the regulations governing social service programs with technical expertise in the systems that are utilized
• Strong critical thinking, public speaking, and writing skills
• A solution-oriented approach to complex eligibility challenges
• The ability to shift gears quickly and work in a fast-paced environment
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to conduct research and come up with novel solutions
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are desired but not required

About the Human Services Department (HSD)

As the largest agency in Sonoma County government, the Human Services Department’s mission is building upon strengths, we bridge people to opportunity through responsive safety-net services. We work to protect vulnerable children and adults, to help people rise above poverty and thrive in our community, and to promote maximum independence and well-being for individuals and families. HSD is responsible for child and adult protective services, veteran services, and administration of state and federal programs, including CalFRESH, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and In-Home Supportive Services. The department is dedicated to providing responsive, client-focused services so that all in our community can live freely chosen lives up to their full potential throughout their lifespan. The core values that drive our work are dignity, humility, integrity, responsiveness, partnership, and belonging.

HSD fosters a positive work environment, where our commitment to providing opportunities for advancement is strengthened by a robust staff development program. We believe in the merits of work/life balance and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that our work contributes to the betterment of our community.

The Department works collaboratively at the federal, state, and local levels to find creative solutions to support the well-being of individuals, families, and the community. To meet that goal, the department has fostered strong relationships with other public and private sector partners, including other government agencies, community-based organizations, and business leaders. For more information regarding HSD's services please visit http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services .

What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing your contributions work to better our shared community. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

This recruitment is being conducted to fill two Senior Eligibility Specialist positions in the Human Services Department. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified candidates who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education, training, and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. Normally, this would include:

One year of full-time experience performing duties equivalent to an Eligibility Specialist II.

OR

Three years of full-time experience performing duties equivalent to an Eligibility Worker II including experience assessing eligibility for Medi-Cal and/or private health insurance. Experience assessing eligibility for both Medi-Cal and private health insurance is highly desirable.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Special Skill Requirement: Designated positions may require the ability to speak, read, and write a language in addition to English

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: laws, rules, and regulations governing eligibility and determination for diverse public assistance programs related to Medi-Cal, private health insurance plans, and other public assistance and human service programs and related case administrative processes and procedures; principle sources of information necessary to establish eligibility of applicants or recipients for various public assistance programs including Medi-Cal, private health insurance plans, and other public assistance and human service programs; methods and techniques of conducting an investigative interview; principles and practices of effective customer service.

Working knowledge of: principles and techniques of leadership, training, and staff development; general goals and specific regulations, policies, and procedures of public assistance programs; health insurance plans and medical health plan options and associated terminology; tax regulations, rules, terminology, forms, and household filing status; research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures; principles of cultural and human behavior required to deal effectively with clients and staff; mediation techniques required to resolve competing or conflicting interests; the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, punctuation, and grammar; modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination; computers and software programs (e.g. Microsoft software packages) to conduct research, assess information, and/or prepare documentation; techniques for developing effective working relationships with the public, other governmental agencies, and other personnel.

Knowledge of: supervisory techniques and practices, training program design, materials development, and presentation; economic and social problems that call for the use of public assistance programs.

Ability to: lead and direct the work of others; perform complex, responsible, and difficult technical administrative work involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative; plan, organize, and coordinate the work of technical and administrative support personnel; interpret and explain complex rules, regulations, and revisions affecting the eligibility determination and case management processes; conduct training for a variety of social service programs utilizing clear and concise materials and terms understandable to the targeted audience; determine eligibility and grant maintenance for the more difficult and complex cases; evaluate information and determine appropriate action in conjunction with learned rules and regulations; explain complex rules, regulations, and health insurance plan options and details in clear language to ensure clients' understanding; review a variety of tax documents to obtain needed household filing information; explain Advanced Premium Tax Credit implications to clients; conduct and control an investigatory interview effectively in a variety of settings; detect and evaluate potential fraudulent situations; determine appropriate course of action in emergencies; accurately complete complex mathematical computations; refer clients to other appropriate services as needed; assess and manage difficult and hostile persons or situations; know when to and call for intervention when appropriate; work in a fast-paced, professional office environment and prioritize a wide range of duties with varying time requirements to ensure timely completion; keep supervisor informed of progress, problems, work efforts, and results and make effective use of supervision; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of business (e.g., staff, the public, and other agencies); speak, read, and write English at a level sufficient to communicate clearly and concisely and explain complex regulations and policies in plain language, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax with persons from a variety of socio-economic, cultural, and educational backgrounds; effectively use computer systems, applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the application, examination, and department selection processes.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: EP
HR Tech: EV

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan : Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan : Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 10/8/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$74,030.15 - $89,975.74 Annually