City and County of San Francisco

Under general supervision, the Program Specialist performs a variety of specialized technical duties in investigating, reviewing, evaluating, training, screening and coordinating the activities of various programs of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Health.

Positions in this job code are responsible for carrying out specialized functions for an assigned program and performing specialized duties which require a comprehensive knowledge of Federal, State, Local and departmental policies, procedures, rules and regulations. The 2913 Program Specialist is distinguished from the 2905 Senior Eligibility Worker in that incumbents in the 2913 job code perform more advanced technical assignments. The 2913 job code is distinguished from the Class 2916 Social Work Specialist in that the latter positions are assigned technical program support duties in social work programs.

The program Specialist may direct the work of clerical staff.

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Detect and prevent fraudulent claims for public assistance; investigating welfare fraud and other financial crimes.
2. Conduct field investigations and home visits often in situations requiring communication with individuals who may have medical (e.g. drug or alcohol), psychiatric, or aggressive behavior problems.
3. Review, verify and evaluate clients’ case information for possible errors, inconsistencies and discrepancies.
4. Review allegations of assistance overpayment; determine overpayment amounts if applicable; prepare related documentation; refer fraud and non-fraud overpayment; cite various laws and regulations violated.
5. Review and monitor Department compliance with County, Federal and State regulations as related to public assistance programs; review guidelines related to the processing of public assistance applications; verify eligibility, correctness of payment decisions and appropriateness of the services provided.
6. Perform research into program and quality control regulations and procedures; prepare reports on findings; identify problems of non-compliance; recommend corrective action regarding discrepancies.
7. Review referrals for overpayment calculations from public assistance programs and the Special Investigations Unit; determine which referrals are to be accepted; identify and document reason for rejected referrals, e.g., no violation, additional evidence, or clarification.
8. Conduct and verify investigations of cases in which the client has appealed a departmental decision regarding eligibility or amount of grant; verify, review and analyze case records and other pertinent documents; investigate by telephone, correspondence and personal interview all factors relating to client eligibility for assistance.
9. Prepare cases and represent the department at hearings conducted by the State; present oral arguments, examine witnesses, defend the department’s interpretation of regulations and provide legally binding stipulations.
10. Ensure compliance with the hearing decision by determining appropriate action to be taken by the department; advise department staff of actions and monitor compliance.
11. Develop, revise and update Department policies and procedures by providing policy interpretation in assigned program area.
12. Facilitate and contribute to short and long-term projects and workgroups.
13. Organize and prepare written material for use in various formats including hard copy memos, manuals, and reports, interactive online resources, and presentation media.
14. Determine training needs, develop and evaluate training courses; coordinate and conduct a variety of training programs and maintain curriculum and training modules to reflect current laws, rules and regulations.
15. When assigned to Laguna Honda Hospital, coordinate referrals for screening including the preparation of legal and financial instruments for admission.
16. May supervise clerical staff.
17. Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of: Operations, services, and activities of the assigned program, departmental programs policies, procedures, and terminology, pertinent to Federal, State and Local laws, codes and regulations as related to assigned program responsibility; interviewing investigative techniques; procedures, program information systems, training and development, methods and techniques of determining initial and continuing eligibility for public assistance, principles and procedures of record keeping and reporting; modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Ability and Skill to: Interpret and apply Federal, State, local and Departmental policies, procedures, laws, and regulations; prepare clear and concise reports; audit records; accurately gather, record and evaluate data; analyze and interpret information and adopt effective courses of action; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; provide customer service and cultural responsiveness to clients; supervise staff, effectively communicate with and elicit information from staff and clients; operated personal computers with proficiency; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification.  Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

Experience:

Three years of experience in the Social Services field performing duties in the area of eligibility determination, case management, data management, employment services or training.

License and Certification:

Some positions require possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California driver’s license.

Special Requirements:

Essential duties involve the following physical skill and work environment:

Ability to work in a typical office environment; most positions involve the physical activities of sitting, standing, and lifting 5-10 lbs., and the ability to travel to different sites and conduct home visits. May require hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity for data entry and extensive VDT exposure.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

ORIGINATION DATE: 3/15/93

AMENDED DATE: 7/21/95; 1/21/00; 8/13/04; 11/18/15

REASON FOR AMENDMENT: To accurately reflect the current tasks, knowledge, skills and abilities defined in the most recent job analysis conducted for this job code.

BUSINESS UNITS: COMMN

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.