DSHS HCLA Social Services Specialist III

DSHS HCLA Social Services Specialist 3

Location: Vancouver, WA, United States

Job Description:

Salary

$67,992.00 - $91,464.00 Annually

Job Type

Full Time - Permanent

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

2026-08446

Department

Dept. of Social and Health Services

Division

HCLA

Description

 

DSHS HCLA Social Service Specialist 3

Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA) is excited to have multiple Social Service Specialist 3 opportunities for professionals to join our team. These amazing career opportunities offer you the ability to grow with DSHS and join a dedicated team focused on protecting Washingtonians in Vancouver, WA.

This work supports the vision of the Home & Community Living Administration (HCLA) to have seniors and people with disabilities living with good health, independence, dignity, and control over the decisions that affect their lives.
   
Some of what you will do:

• Conduct and complete face-to-face comprehensive assessments and reassessments at the client’s residence.
• Develop initial and ongoing care plans which provide the support necessary to allow clients to remain in or return to the community from nursing facilities, hospitals, or other institutional care settings or offer an alternative to nursing home placement through other programs. 
• Provide case management services to clients meeting criteria set forth in Aging and Disability Services Long Term Care manuals and policy.
• Make referrals to other community resources.
• Consult and staff cases with supervisor.
• Authorize service payments and complete forms.
• Take part in case staffing meetings.
• Staff difficult complex cases in accordance with the HCLA complex case staffing protocol for shared decision making.
• Take part in work groups and committees established to review medically related issues for HCS/HCLA planning.
• As a mandatory reporter, appropriately identify situations presenting risk to vulnerable children and/or adults and promptly refer to CPS, APS, and/or CRU.
• Attend trainings and meetings as scheduled.  
• Respond to quality assurance requests.

What we are looking for:

• Ability to complete assessments in the homes and residences of individuals.  
• Ability to communicate and comprehend, through oral and written forms of communication, with management, peers, clients, and the public. 
• Ability to prioritize, organize workload and reprioritize tasks and assignments to meet workload expectations.
• Ability to resolve complaints between persons and groups with diverse personalities and goals.
• Ability to identify and evaluate social dynamics affecting client choice and decision making.
• Possess word processing and data input (keyboarding) skills.  
• Knowledge of Medicaid terminology, regulations, and policies.
• Ability to analyze a variety of programmatic issues/problems and develop workable solutions.
• Ability to use and learn software applications (e.g. Word, Outlook, and Internet). 
• Knowledge of service authorization procedures through Provider One.

Who should apply?
Professionals with one year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2.

Or,

A master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice or an allied field and one years of paid social service experience equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 2.    

Or,

A bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice or an allied field, and two years of paid social service experience performing functions equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 2.   

Or,

Six years of paid social service experience performing functions equivalent to a Social Service Specialist 2.

Note: A two-year master's degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum will be substituted for one year of paid social service experience.

Note: Employees must successfully complete the formal training course sponsored by their division within one year of their appointment.

Additional Information:

• This job will require travel to meet business needs.  
• A telework schedule is considered after training is completed.
• Starting salary depends on your qualifications.

 

Supplemental Information

 

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle
 
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. 

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here (Download PDF reader). Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.