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Washington State Department of Social and Health Services · 1 day ago

DSHS ESA Public Benefits Specialist 5

Bellingham, WA

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

3+ years exp

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is seeking a Public Benefits Specialist Supervisor to join their Economic Services Administration team. This role involves supervising a unit of Public Benefits Specialists and Case Planning Support Specialists, ensuring quality control and effective delivery of human services to clients.

GovernmentHealth CareSocial Assistance

Responsibilities

Supervise Public Benefits Specialists and Case Planning & Support Services staff, ensuring consistent, high-quality eligibility determinations, case planning and client support

Lead staff conducting WorkFirst orientations and overseeing eligibility decisions for public assistance programs

Oversee case planning and client assessments to ensure accurate identification of needs, barriers, and service pathways

Guide staff in screening and referring clients to specialized services, including domestic violence support, mental-health care, substance-use treatment, and employment programs

Provide and coordinate technical and professional training, including onboarding through the Public Benefits Specialist Training program

Conduct regular unit meetings and 1:1 coaching sessions to support communication, performance, and staff development

Communicate policies, procedures, agency goals, and performance expectations to ensure alignment and accountability

Monitor, analyze, and assign workload and unit tasks to maintain efficient operations and meet performance standards

Complete employee performance appraisals and annual evaluations to support growth and ensure service quality

Ensure accurate review of complex documentation and support staff in making appropriate program and service decisions

Assist customers with Apple Health applications by entering information into the Health Plan Finder (HPF) system when needed

Administer and adhere to collective bargaining agreements and personnel rules in all supervisory actions

Collaborate with leadership to analyze and improve policies and procedures, ensuring consistent and effective service delivery

Maintain strong partnerships with community organizations to support coordinated services and improve client outcomes

Qualification

Public Benefits SpecialistEligibility DeterminationCase PlanningData AnalysisCommunity PartnershipsTechnical TrainingPerformance EvaluationCommunication SkillsTeam LeadershipProblem Solving

Required

One year of experience as a Public Benefits Specialist 3 or 4

Bachelor's degree and three years of experience examining/processing medical insurance or rehabilitation claims, unemployment insurance claims, or a job providing staff support in public assistance eligibility determination, or in a job analyzing, verifying, and evaluating financial data and information

Three years of out-of-state experience, conducting financial eligibility determination for public assistance to include financial, medical and food benefit programs will be considered toward experience

Ability to build effective working relationships with assigned subordinate lead workers, administration officials, management team, service staff, partner agencies, contract providers, and the public

Effectively manage and maintain partnership relations with community partners

Ability to analyze and evaluate performance data, identify trends, create reports, to communicate findings and issues to stakeholders

Maintain working knowledge of eligibility for all public assistance programs

Ability to assist others in interpretation and analysis of data

Access to the Washington Health Plan Finder (HPF) system and handling of personally identifiable information (PII)

Successful completion of a criminal background check