DSHS ESA Social Service Specialist

DSHS ESA Social Service Specialist 2

Are you committed to helping individuals and families overcome barriers to stability and self‑sufficiency? The Economic Services Administration (ESA), Community Services Division (CSD), is seeking a Social Service Specialist 2 to join our team at the White Center Community Services Office, located in Seattle.

As a Social Service Specialist 2, you will provide professional‑level social services to a caseload of individuals and families who face barriers to self‑sufficiency. You will conduct comprehensive assessments, develop employability and service plans, interpret medical evidence, and coordinate services that support participation in the Work First program and eligibility for Aged, Blind, and Disabled and Housing and Essential Needs programs, as well as Supplemental Security Income pathways.

Please note:

This is an on‑site role, requiring hands‑on outreach and collaboration with clients and community partners.

King County employees receive 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary and are eligible to receive a free ORCA card for transportation use.

• Conduct comprehensive social service assessments for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled and Housing and Essential Needs programs (ABD/HEN) and the Work First program to identify physical, psychological, vocational, and social barriers to self‑sufficiency.
• Develop clear case plans and Individual Responsibility Plans with each person you serve.
• Review medical evidence to determine incapacity, disability‑related exemptions, and eligibility pathways.
• Process Aged, Blind, and Disabled and Housing and Essential Needs decisions within required timelines.
• Support and track Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance applications, including referrals and appeals.
• Monitor Work First participation, review required reports, and take timely action when activities are overdue.
• Complete specialized assessments such as Pregnancy to Employment and Time Limit Extensions.
• Coordinate services with medical providers, mental health professionals, chemical dependency treatment providers, domestic violence advocates, and community partners.
• Document all case actions accurately in agency systems and follow established policies and procedures.

Twelve months of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1 AND completion of the agency’s Social Service Specialist training program.
OR A master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice, or an allied field, AND one year as Social Service Specialist 1 or equivalent paid social service experience. A two‑year master’s degree that included a practicum substitutes one year of paid social service experience.
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 1.
OR Equivalent education/experience.

* Paid Social Service experience must include assessing risk and safety to children and/or adults and providing direct family‑centered practice services.
- Employees must successfully complete the formal training course within eighteen months of their appointment.

• Comfort supporting people with complex needs:
  Ability to partner with individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, or substance use needs, offering grounded, consistent support in a respectful and nonjudgmental way.
• Client‑focused planning:
  Skill in listening deeply, understanding each person’s circumstances, and using that information to shape assessments, case plans, and participation requirements that support stability and progress.
• Clear, respectful communication:
  Ability to interact with clients, coworkers, medical providers, and community partners with tact, professionalism, and courtesy — even during challenging conversations or emotionally charged moments.
• Assessment and decision‑making:
  Capability to interpret medical documentation, determine eligibility pathways, take timely case…