09/19/1990 44730

INCOME MAINTENANCE CASEWORK SUPERVISOR

DEFINITION: This is professional and supervisory work directing staff involvement in providing income maintenance program services and benefits for economically disadvantaged clients at a county assistance office (CAO) for the Department of Public Welfare.

An employee in this class supervises and/or provides formal training for staff engaged in determining/redetermining clients eligibility for income maintenance program services and benefits, assisting eligible clients in obtaining inhouse services [i.e., employment and training and/or disability benefits through Disability Advocacy Program] and/or referring clients or their family members to appropriate agencies or community resources for needed social services and employment services. Work involves interpreting and conveying the local application of Public Assistance Eligibility Manual [PAEM] procedures and income maintenance program operational policies; providing formal guidance and leadership for staff regarding the processes, procedures and techniques of interviewing clients and reviewing and updating case records; and ensuring the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of decisions on clients' eligibility for benefits and services. Work includes distributing casework assignments; monitoring staff in accomplishing client interviews; exercising supervisory control over caseload management, case record reviews, and eligibility reviews for needed services and benefits; and directing staff to advocate for, represent and assist clients in obtaining services and benefits for which they are eligible and/or in locating employment. Work also includes providing on-the-job training for subordinate staff and/or implementing and conducting the on-the-job portion of the Income Maintenance Standard Training Program [IMSTP] for newly hired employees and conducting policy and procedure update training and training to develop or enhance professional skills for CAO staff and others. Work is performed independently in accordance with established policies and procedures under the direction of an administrative supervisor who reviews the work performed through conferences, review of reports and an evaluation of results achieved for meeting operational and staff development goals and objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Supervises staff engaged in determining/redetermining client eligibility and assisting eligible clients in securing such income maintenance program services and benefits as, but not limited to, cash assistance, medical assistance, food stamp, nursing home care, energy assistance, employment referrals, disability benefits, services from child support enforcement agencies, local social services agencies, as well as education and training sources.

Supervises staff in locating employment for clients through the Office of Income Maintenance's Employment and Training program; referring clients or their family members to appropriate agencies or community resources for needed social services; maximizing child support by coordinating with local Domestic Relations Offices to ensure client cooperation in establishing paternity; and obtaining Federal SSI benefits for eligible clients by representing and advocating for their interests in the Administrative Hearing processes.

Distributes work assignments to ensure effective utilization of staff and to maintain an acceptable level of accuracy and production; and adapts work flow to accommodate emergency situations and peak periods.

Reviews and explains PAEM and income maintenance program operational policies and procedures to subordinate staff, other CAO staff, program service providers, appropriate external social services agencies and organizations, public and private employers, community groups and others to ensure consistent application of the governing mandates and effective operations.

Provides formal training, technical assistance and leadership for staff on the processes, procedures and techniques for interviewing clients to obtain, clarify and/or update client case records information to determine or redetermine, as appropriate, clients' eligibility for income maintenance program services and benefits. Reviews client case records to determine completeness, accuracy and timeliness of staff decisions on clients' eligibility for income maintenance and related program services and benefits.

Implements and adheres to IMSTP plans, syllabi and schedules; selects appropriate client case records for instruction purposes; conducts training for newly hired employees participating in the IMSTP. Provides detailed instruction in the application of PAEM requirements and program policies for reviewing information and determining clients' eligibility for financial assistance, medical assistance, food stamp and related income maintenance program services and benefits.

Evaluates staff progress in training programs and their application of appropriate governing policies and regulations in their work performance and makes recommendations regarding personnel actions affecting employee retention, termination or extension in training status.

Evaluates staff performance and makes recommendations regarding personnel actions.

Participates in staff development and professional skills training seminars to enhance skills for communicating information and conducting training programs.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the policies, rules and regulations pertaining to income maintenance programs.

Knowledge of the operation of an Income Maintenance County Assistance Office.

Knowledge of the Income Maintenance Standard Training Program.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of conducting interviews to gather and verify information.

Knowledge of training methods, source materials and instructional aids applicable to the IMSTP and mandated income maintenance training programs.

Knowledge of the methods and procedures for identifying and assisting eligible clients with securing benefits and services to help resolve their social and economic problems.

Knowledge of community resources available for information and referral of clients and/or their families.

Knowledge of the operation of office equipment, including video display terminals.

Knowledge of individual and group behavior.

Ability to guide, and instruct all levels of CAO staff in the application of new and revised income maintenance program policies and procedures.

Ability to apply the basic principles and techniques of supervision such as assigning, reviewing and evaluating the work performed by subordinates; and to train and instruct employees on eligibility determination procedures and to cope with stressful or unpleasant situations.

Ability to identify, interpret and apply Public Assistance Eligibility Manual and income maintenance policies, procedures and regulations.

Ability to identify training needs; to evaluate and initiate training recommendations and to evaluate effectiveness of training programs.

Ability to determine client eligibility for income maintenance programs.

Ability to maintain records and prepare reports, such as training progress records and statistical reports.

Ability to select or adapt materials to meet training needs.

Ability to prepare lesson plans, audio-visual aids, and other instructional material.

Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships.

Ability to implement and maintain training schedules.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Two years of journey-level experience as an Income Maintenance Caseworker.