Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Eligibility Services Technician I

Recruitment #18-1570-01

Introduction

 

THIS IS A REOPENING OF AN EXISTING EXAMINATION. IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY APPLIED (OR STARTED AN APPLICATION) FOR THE ELIGIBILITY SERVICES TECHNICIAN I, EXAM # 18-1570-01, READ THIS ENTIRE BULLETIN, THERE ARE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REAPPLY FOR THIS RECRUITMENT.

IN ORDER TO REAPPLY FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE CONTACT THE EXAMINATION ANALYST AT Ione.Bell@ACGOV.ORG TO HAVE YOUR PREVIOUS APPLICATION RELEASED BACK TO YOU.

The scores and dispositions of candidates for this examination will be merged with previous exam participants. If you have previously submitted an application and choose to reapply, your new score/disposition will replace your current disposition.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing

Applications will only be accepted online. 

  

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application.  Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.

DESCRIPTION

THE AGENCY 

The Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) is comprised of 2,200 men and women working collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations to serve the needs of the community. Services are provided through four departments: Administration and Finance, Adult and Aging Services, Children and Family Services, and Workforce and Benefits Administration.

 

The Agency assists approximately 11.3 percent of Alameda County's residents. Benefits programs contribute over $278 million to the local economy through cash assistance and CalFresh (formerly known as Food Stamps). Every month, more than 52,000 people receive CalWORKs (assistance for families with children), CalFresh and General Assistance. Every month health insurance is made available to more than 78,000 people through the Medi-Cal program. More than 11,000 frail, elderly and disabled individuals receive in-home care, adult protection and support managing their affairs monthly and 16,000 seniors will receive services through the Area Agency on Aging throughout the year. 3,700 children are in foster care. More than 1,600 reports of child abuse or neglect are filed with SSA each month. Emergency shelter is made available to 415 people nightly.


THE POSITION
 
 

Eligibility Services Technicians are specialists in assisting individuals, families and children enroll in or maintain health coverage and determining initial and on-going eligibility for programs such as CalFresh, General Assistance, CalWORKs and/or Medi-Cal. The current openings are in Oakland and Hayward.

 

There are four levels of staffing for the Eligibility Services Technician Series.  Eligibility Services Technicians I—III are a flexibly-staffed class; work is expected to be performed at the Eligibility Services Technician III level, but with initial selection made at the Eligibility Services Technician I (or entry) level. Eligibility Services Technician IV represents the senior level of the series and is filled through the Alameda County Civil Service examination process.

 

Eligibility Services Technician I are required to participate in specialized training classes in preparation of learning effective interviewing techniques, appropriate computerized case management and applicable Federal, State and County regulatory requirements. They are expected to flex-promote to Eligibility Services Technician II after successfully completing six months of training and the demonstration of excellent work habits and job performance.  Eligibility Services Technician IIs are expected to maintain excellent work habits, gain work experience and demonstrate program proficiency which qualifies them to flex-promote to Eligibility Services Technician III after the equivalent of one year full-time service.  Appointments to Eligibility Services Technician I and Eligibility Services Technician II will not be extended beyond six months and one year, respectively.

 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE  

The Ideal Candidate for the positions of Eligibility Service Technician I -- III is committed to providing exceptional customer service and possesses a background of performing community service or a work history in working face-to face or over-the-phone with individuals from various multi-cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The Ideal Candidate is an effective communicator; displays excellent interpersonal skills, quickly grasps new concepts and is able to disseminate information accurately and quickly to Social Services applicants and recipients. The Ideal Candidate has well-developed work habits and exceptional skills using computers and Windows-based software. Additionally, the Ideal Candidate will be able to:

 

• Perform clerical work that involves independent judgment and requires accuracy and speed.

 

• Make accurate arithmetical computations.

 

• Understand and follow complex oral and written directions.

 

• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationship with co-workers and the public.

 

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I
Experience:

The equivalent of one year of experience in the class of Specialist Clerk I or higher in the Alameda County classified service (non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts).

Or II
Experience:

The equivalent of one year of full-time, paid and/or volunteer general office experience, involving public contact via face-to-face or over-the-phone, interviewing and obtaining personal information from the general public.

License: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license is required.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the 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 of:

• Modern office practices and procedures, including business correspondence and filing and standard office equipment operation.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and objective relationships with the general public, culturally diverse populations, other departments/agencies and co-workers.
• Deal impartially and with restraint in stressful situations.
• Demonstrate good customer service, interpersonal sensitivity and diplomacy when working with others regarding sensitive or crisis situations.
• Perform mathematical computations accurately.
• Follow complex oral and written instructions.
• Use computers and software applications effectively
• Use office equipment such as fax, printers, copiers and scanners

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION:

 

The examination will consist of the following steps:

 

Review for Minimum Qualifications: December 21, 2018

If you do meet the minimum qualifications, you will be notified via email. You must fill out the application and supplemental questionnaire completely. Not filling out any part of either the application or the supplemental questionnaire will disqualify you from the examination. Resumes submitted in place of complete applications will not be accepted.

 

 

Written Examination: Week of January 7, 2019

Once it has been established that you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be invited via email to participate in a multiple choice examination. You will be sent notification of your scheduled date and time at least 10 days prior to your examination date.

 

 

Panel Interview Examination (Weighted as 100% of the final examination score): Week of January 28, 2019
If the candidate is successful in the written exam portion of the examination, the candidate will then be invited to participate in a panel interview where they will be asked about past job experiences relating to the core competencies that successful incumbents of the job possess. The candidates who pass this portion of the exam will then be scored and put into rank order. The panel interview examination may also serve as the hiring interview at the discretion of the hiring authority. The dates listed above are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the department.

 

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.  

 

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit.  Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position.  Other recruitments many be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.  

Selection Plan

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.

The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency.   

 TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

Deadline for Filing

5:00 pm, Friday, November 30, 2018 

Review of Minimum Qualifications 

 by Friday, December 21, 2018  

Written Examination

Week of January 7, 2019

Panel Interviews

Week of January 28, 2019 

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.  For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

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) 
  • 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

  • 11 paid holidays
  • Floating Holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Catastrophic Sick Leave
  • Employee Mortgage Loan Program
  • Group Auto/Home Insurance
  • 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
  • 1st 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.

 

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Ione Bell, Human Resources Analyst II

Ione.bell@acgov.org

County of Alameda Human Resource Services

510-272-6456

ALAMEDA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.