County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision, to review Social Service Agency welfare cases that have been appealed by clients or applicants for aid; to examine such cases for facts or points of law; to prepare and present the County's case at State and County hearings, and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Appeals Officers make detailed analyses of welfare case records when clients or applicants have appealed an action of the Social Services Agency. They conduct extensive research into applicable Federal, State and County eligibility regulations or policies and make a determination on whether the action under appeal is correct. If it is determined that the Agency's stand is correct, Appeals Officers prepares the Agency's written position statement and presents it orally before a hearing officer and/or State Administrative Law Judge. If the Agency has erred, they report the findings to the appropriate managers and assist in resolving the issue.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Reviews appealed actions and case records; discusses case with worker of record or manager; separates points of fact from points of law; researches applicable Federal, State, and County eligibility regulations, and recommends on whether to find in client's favor or to go to hearing.

2. Negotiates conditional withdrawal if appropriate.

3. Researches cases; interviews claimant, authorized representative, the worker of record, witnesses, and others and prepares case for presentation at hearing; obtains necessary subpoenas and makes sure witnesses will be present at hearing.

4. Presents County's written position statement orally before a hearing officer, and/or State Administrative Law Judge.

5. Informs worker of record of disposition of case and instructs on how to comply with it.

6. Investigates client complaints through a wide variety of methods and assesses whether department staff acted in accordance with policies and procedures relevant to State, Federal and County regulations, and reports investigative findings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I
Experience:

The equivalent of two years full-time experience in the class of Supervising Eligibility Technician in the Social Services Agency.

Or II
Experience:

The equivalent of three years full-time and recent (within the last five years) experience in the classes of Quality Assurance Technician, Employment Counselor or Eligibility Services Technician III or in a comparable or higher eligibility classification in the Social Services Agency.

Or III
Education:

Possession of a Bachelor's Degree in a social science from an accredited college or university AND

Experience:

The equivalent of two years recent (within the last five years) full time experience representing or advocating for applicants or recipients of public assistance programs in a County Health and Human Services or Social Services Agency. (Additional experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year for year basis.)

License or Certificates:

Some positions in this class require a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.


NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge:

• Federal and State welfare regulations and County policies and procedures.
• Social Services Agency staff and their functions and those of other relevant agencies.
• Social Services Agency programs and other relevant programs.

Ability to:

• Read and interpret complex State and Federal regulations and Agency procedures.
• Synthesize large amounts of information.
• Work with legal information.
• Use correct English grammar and composition in speaking and writing.
• Interview claimants, witnesses and others.
• Represent the Agency and speak effectively before Administrative Law Judges, Hearing Officers and others.
• Use analytical judgment
• Organize work and keep adequate records
• Negotiate and resolve conflicts.
• Make sound decisions and execute them.
• Use computer programs to research information.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

TT:lm h Revised: 4/83
Retyped: 9/84
Retyped: 2/85
JH:pb Revised: 11/7/88
Oldspec: 0659h
Newspec: 6738.doc
DB:pf Rev. 6/18/01; 7/24/01
Csc date: 8/1/01
IB:cs Revised 5/19/16
CSC Date: 7/20/16

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.