DSHS HCLA Social Services Specialist

Benefits, Questions, Description, Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA) is excited to have Social Service Specialist 3 opportunities for professionals to join our team. These amazing career opportunities offer you the ability to grow with DSHS and join a dedicated team focused on protecting Washingtonians in Western WA (Region 3).

• Conduct and complete face-to-face comprehensive assessments and reassessments at the client’s residence.
• Develop initial and ongoing care plans which provide the support necessary to allow clients to remain in or return to the community from nursing facilities, hospitals, or other institutional care settings or offer an alternative to nursing home placement through other HCS programs.
• Provide case management services to clients meeting criteria set forth in Aging and Disability Services Long Term Care manuals and policy.
• Make referrals to other community resources.
• Consult and staff cases with supervisor.
• Authorize service payments and complete forms.
• File care documents, draft letters and respond to administrative request for reports or constituent responses.
• Take part in case staffing meetings.
• Staff difficult complex cases in accordance with the HCLA complex case staffing protocol for shared decision making.
• Take part in work groups and committees established to review medically related issues for HCS/HCLA planning.
• As a mandatory reporter, appropriately identify situations presenting risk to vulnerable children and/or adults and promptly refer to CPS, APS, and/or CRU.
• Attend trainings and meetings as scheduled.
• Respond to quality assurance requests.

• Must be able to complete assessments in the homes and residences of individuals.
• Must be able to perform the physical requirements of this position, such as moving/transferring equipment (such as a laptop, files, manuals, etc.).
• Ability to communicate and comprehend, through oral and written forms of communication, with management, peers, clients, and the public.
• Ability to prioritize, organize workload and reprioritize tasks and assignments to meet workload expectations.
• Ability to resolve complaints between persons and groups with diverse personalities and goals.
• Ability to identify and evaluate social dynamics affecting client choice and decision making.
• Possess word processing and data input (keyboarding) skills.
• Knowledge of Medicaid terminology, regulations, and policies.
• Ability to analyze a variety of programmatic issues/problems and develop workable solutions.
• Ability to use and learn software applications (e.g. Word, Outlook, and Internet).
• Knowledge of payment systems (MMIS, SSPS, etc.) and service authorization procedures.

• Benefits
• Flexible/Hybrid Work Arrangement
• Paid Time Off
• Retirement Plan
• Health Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Paid Holidays
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Leave

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that People find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring an equity, anti-racism, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS.