COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKER (SPANISH SPEAKING) 3090

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

Under general supervision, an employee in this class performs non-professional supportive duties to assist professional social and community workers in the implementation and delivery of agency programs and services. The incumbent must exercise some independent judgment within well-established guidelines. The work involves considerable telephone and personal contact with clients and the general public, and differs from that of a Community Service Worker in that the incumbent must communicate with applicants or clients in Spanish. Supervision is received from a professional social worker or other supervisory personnel, through conferences and the review of work performed. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

Provides information to Spanish-speaking individuals or groups concerning services offered by public or private agencies;

Assists Spanish-speaking applicants in filling out forms, explains procedures to be followed, acts as interpreter when necessary to assist clients in communicating needs and developing solutions to problems;

Makes routine field visits to gather documentation and obtain information concerning an applicant's eligibility for agency services;

Assists clients in locating housing, by interviewing landlords and brokers concerning vacancies, transporting clients to see prospective housing, discussing financial arrangements with landlords; assists clients in obtaining relocation allowances;

Assists professional social service workers in evaluating day care and foster care homes by performing collateral visits to schools and other agencies to obtain information concerning the prospective day care or foster care home; maintains case plans by providing supportive home visits to clients;

Provides transportation for clients in conjunction with the delivery of agency services.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Good knowledge of the social resources and services offered to the community; good knowledge of low-income areas, residents and their problems; ability to read, write and converse fluently in both the Spanish and English languages; ability to communicate with and explain agency policies and procedures to people from varied socio-economic and educational levels; ability to remain objective while maintaining an understanding attitude toward members of the Spanish-Speaking community; ability to exercise sound judgment in unexpected and crisis situations; ability to establish effective working relationships with other agency employees, representatives of community organizations and the general public; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

OPEN COMPETITIVE

Graduation from a standard senior high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma, and one (1) year of experience in a position involving substantial client contact, in a public or private social service agency.

NOTE: Additional education from a college with federally-authorized accreditation or registration by NY State will be substituted for the above experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

At the time of appointment and throughout employment in this title, employees are required to possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State.

There will be a qualifying Spanish language examination.

R06/25/99

SUFFOLK COUNTY

Competitive

Review 07/23/15