Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Eligibility Support Clerk

Recruitment #16-1132-01

Introduction

 

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended. 

 

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

 

QUALIFIED BILINGUAL PERSONS WHO SPEAK ENGLISH AND ARE ALSO FLUENT IN SPANISH, CHINESE, VIETNAMESE, CAMBODIAN, LAOTIAN, KOREAN, MIEN, TAGALOG, AMHARIC, FARSI, DARI, TIGRIGNA, RUSSIAN, ROMANIAN OR SIGN LANGUAGE ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL BI WEEKLY COMPENSATION FOR PERSONS IN POSITIONS DESIGNATED BILINGUAL. Qualified candidates may be tested to demonstrate language proficiency.  

 

THE AGENCY

 

The Alameda County Social Services Agency is comprised of 2,200 men and women working collectively and in partnership with community-based organizations, neighborhood groups and policy makers to serve the needs of the community.

 

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.

 

Every month:

  • More than 52,000 people receive CalWORKs (assistance for families with children), CalFresh and General Assistance.
  • 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, and throughout the year 16,000 seniors will receive services through the Area Agency on Aging. 3,700 children are in foster care.
  • More than 1,600 reports of child abuse or neglect are filed with the Social Services Agency.  

Emergency shelter is made available to 415 people nightly.  

DESCRIPTION

THE POSITION

Eligibility Support Clerks are often the first point of contact for those residents of Alameda County applying for or receiving cash aid, Medi-Cal or CalFresh benefits from the Social Services Agency.  Eligibility Support Clerks job responsibilities include reviewing applications, responding to questions and/or referring applicants or recipients of Social Services Agency benefits programs to appropriate resources.  All Eligibility Support Clerks are required to maintain a professional and courteous manner, work effectively and accurately with minimum supervision and constant deadlines.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate for the position of Eligibility Support Clerk must have excellent customer service skills and is familiar working face-to-face or over the phone with individuals who may be in crisis situations.  The candidate is an effective communicator; quickly grasps new concepts and is able to disseminate information accurately and quickly to Social Services applicants and recipients.   The candidate is competent using computers and working within a window’s based environment;  is able to maintain quality work performance while under pressure or opposition.  Lastly, the candidate will have a collaborative working style and demonstrated ability to work well with culturally and socio-economic diverse individuals. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

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

Or II

The equivalent of two years of full time clerical experience, one year of which must have included public contact.
Or III

The equivalent of one year of full time experience as an Eligibility Technician, or an equivalent or higher level classification in the same series, in a federal, state, county or city Social Services Agency.

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:

• Basic math and spelling.
• Alpha and numeric filing systems.
• Techniques and practices for dealing with individuals from various socio-economic and ethnic groups, in person, via telephone, and through correspondence (including contacts with irate and hostile individuals).
• Modern office practices and procedures and standard office equipment operations.

Ability to:

• Communicate orally and in writing.
• Write and/or print legibly.
• Understand and follow complex oral and written directions and procedures.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with clients, the general public, and co workers.
• Interview to facilitate solicitation of required information.
• Evaluate individual situations and make appropriate decisions.


KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Ability to:

• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.
• Plan, organize and coordinate work independently.
• Learn and utilize a variety of internal and external data systems.
• Acquire a variety of computer skills within a reasonable timeframe.
• Learn and apply relevant sections of legal codes, regulations and procedures.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION:

 

The examination will consist of the following steps:

 

Review for Minimum Qualifications: September 2, 2016

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: September 22, 23, and 24, 2016

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.

 

 

Data Entry Examination: Week of October 10, 2016

Those candidates who pass the written examination will be invited to a data entry examination where they will have to show that they have the data entry skills needed to be a successful Eligibility Support Clerk.  

 

 

Panel Interview Examination (Weighted as 100% of the final examination score):

Week of October 31, 2016

If the candidate is successful in the data entry 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 STEPS.

Selection Plan

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

 

Deadline for Filing:

Monday, August 22, 2016

Review for Minimum Qualifications:

Friday, September 2, 2016

Written Examination:

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday,

September 22, 23 and 24, 2016

Performance Examination:

Week of October 10, 2016

Panel Interviews:

Week of October 31, 2016

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 & Welfare Benefits

  • Medical – HMO & PPO Insurance
  • Dental – PPO & DHMO Insurance  
  • Vision
  • Basic Life Insurance 
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage) 
  • County Allowance
  • Health Flexible Spending Account
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
  • Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity
  • Long Term Care Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

  • Short-term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Plan – (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan

For your Work/Life Balance

  • 11 paid holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Management Paid Leave**
  • Group Auto/Home
  • 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.

** 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.

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. 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 bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Ione Bell, Human Resources Analyst II
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda
510-272-6456

www.acgov.org/hrs

Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer