Appeals Officer

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. Postmarks are not accepted. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

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. Applications will only be accepted on-line. Postmarks are not accepted. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

THE AGENCY

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.

THE POSITION

Under supervision, Appeals Officers analyze 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.  They report the findings to the appropriate managers and assist in resolving the issue.  When necessary, Appeals Officers prepare the Agency's written position statement and presents it orally before a hearing officer and/or State Administrative Law Judge.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of success in the following areas:

• Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with culturally diverse employees and clients 
• Negotiation and problem resolution  
• Interpreting and/or explaining State and Federal regulations and procedures to legal representatives, employees and clients  
• Working effectively and efficiently under pressure and time sensitive constraints  
• Maintaining confidentiality and sensitivity regarding client concerns and issues  

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.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

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.

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:	Friday, September 16, 2016
Review of Minimum Qualifications:	Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Written Exam **	**Wed. Thur, and Monday,  October 25, 26, and 27, 2016
Oral Interviews:	Week of November 14, 2016

 

** UPDATE TO WRITTEN EXAMINATION DATES - 8/30/2016

 *WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN*

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

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 (Employer Credit)
• 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 Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Group Legal
• 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.

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

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

510-272-6456

Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer