03/10/1994 41670

INCOME MAINTENANCE PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVE

DEFINITION: This is responsible professional and administrative staff support work providing direction and technical consultation to County Assistance Offices (CAOs) within an assigned geographic area of the Commonwealth.

An employee in this class assists the Office of Income Maintenance Operations Director or an Area Manager in all phases of planning, organizing and directing the Income Maintenance Program of for multiple CAOs in an assigned geographic region of the state. The work involves providing consultative support and technical assistance to CAO administrators and staff in the implementation, clarification and enforcement of all policies and procedures relating to income maintenance service delivery programs. Work includes reviewing and evaluating the overall effectiveness of the individual CAO operations; identifying the need for operational changes, responding to problems by recommending and implementing action for improvements, resolving administrative and managerial issues which cross interoffice lines and which directly relate to the coordination, integration and delivery of income maintenance program services and coordinating and monitoring corrective action efforts to ensure compliance with established policies and service delivery standards. Work is performed with a high degree of independence under the general direction of the OIM Operations Director or an Area Manager and is reviewed through conferences, reports and evaluation of results.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Provides technical assistance to CAOs in implementing the administrative processes and operational methods for income maintenance program services delivery.

Communicates income maintenance policies and procedures and recommends changes based on review and analysis of audits, quality control findings, and fair hearing decisions.

Reviews and evaluates all programs and operations within the scope of income maintenance including, but not limited to, Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance and Food Stamps under the purview of CAOs.

Reviews and determines if programs are being administered in accordance with DPW regulations and policy, and identifies operational weakness and strengths.

Advises and recommends to the OIM Operations Director or the Area Manager regarding policies and procedures which will result in the refinement and promotion of improved management procedures in the income maintenance program service delivery and reporting systems.

Investigates and responds to questions, problems, complaints and allegations related to the operations and delivery of income maintenance programs.

Assists the Area Manager and Operations Director in identifying needs for operational changes to improve service delivery and reporting systems.

Develops new and/or improved administrative procedures to promote management methods and problem solving techniques in income maintenance operations.

Confers with local government officials, representatives of public and private welfare groups, departmental program administrators, and other interested groups on matters concerning the administration of income maintenance programs.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of federal and state legislation, policies, Departmental procedures, rules and regulations governing the Income Maintenance Program.

Knowledge of the operations of CAOs.

Knowledge of the principles, dynamics, and structure of community organization and available community public and private resources as related to income maintenance services.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of administration, fiscal operations, personnel, and reporting procedures and requirements.

Ability to plan, integrate, and coordinate all income maintenance programs and services within an assigned geographic area.

Ability to study, evaluate, and interpret existing income maintenance program operational and reporting procedures and to make recommendations for improvements.

Ability to develop methods and techniques in the analysis of service delivery and reporting systems and to evaluate the effectiveness of systems operations.

Ability to plan and coordinate problem solving efforts to correct programmatic and operational deficiencies at CAOs.

Ability to establish effective working relationships with staff at all levels within the CAOs, as well as the community level with reference to the Income Maintenance Program operations.

Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, and to speak effectively in public.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Three years of experience in the field of income maintenance, two years of which must have been in an administrative, consultative or supervisory capacity and a bachelor's degree;

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Any equivalent combination of experience and training.