Residence Requirements:

THIS EXAMINATION IS OPEN TO ALL QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES OF THE ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES  At present there is one vacancy at the Erie County Department of Social Services. 

Examples of Duties:

An Associate Employment Counselor assists the Director, Employment Programs in administering a comprehensive Employment Program to increase the employability of Social Services recipients; 

Works with the Director in administrative matters involving policies and procedures;

Recommends to Director changes in staffing, policies and procedures to improve operations;

May design training programs to improve efficiency in specific areas;

Plans, directs, and evaluates work assigned to specific units or components of the Comprehensive Employment Division, and coordinates functions with other areas or agency activities to ensure comprehensive services in increasing the employability of recipients of Home Relief, NPA Food Stamps or Aid to Dependent Children;

Interprets Federal, State and local Employment Program policies, rules and regulations to assigned professional and non-professional staff members;

Ensures that each assigned program component is effectively fulfilling its designated functions and responsibilities;

Plans, organizes and supervises the work of professional and non-professional agency employees engaged in providing varied program component services;

Coordinates functions of assigned program staff to ensure that work experience, training, education and support services are delivered in the most efficient manner to maximize client potential.

Qualifications:

QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR TAKING THE TEST: Candidates must be permanently employed in the competitive class and must be serving and have served continuously on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class for 12 months immediately preceding the date of the written test in the position of Senior Employment Counselor. 

Notes:

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However,candidates may find information in the publication "How to take a written test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm

Subjects of Examination:

Subjects of examination: A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:

1. Administrative techniques and practices

These questions test for a knowledge of management techniques and practices used in directing or assisting in directing a program component or an organizational segment. Questions cover such areas as interpreting policies, making decisions based on the context of the position in the organization, coordinating programs or projects, communicating with employees or the public, planning employee training, and researching and evaluating areas of concern.

2. Collection, interpretation and utilization of data

These questions are designed to test the candidate's ability to organize and manipulate data with accuracy. The task involves the ability to read, understand and apply complex written directions and rules to specific problems.

The candidates may be required to perform the four basic mathematical processes of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; mathematical or statistical sophistication is not required.

3. Ensuring effective inter/intra agency communications

These questions test for understanding of techniques for interacting effectively with individuals and agencies, to educate and inform them about topics of concern, to clarify agency programs or policies, to negotiate conflicts or resolve complaints, and to represent one's agency or program in a manner in keeping with good public relations practices. Questions may also cover interacting with the staff of one's own agency and/or that of other agencies in cooperative efforts of public outreach or service.

4. Labor market, poverty, and unemployment concepts related to employment and training programs

These questions test for a basic knowledge of economic and social science concepts in the following areas: 1) Social processes related to employment including state and Federal programs such as WIA, social security, public assistance, health care, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance; 2) Social problems/conditions including housing, youth, aging, family, crime; 3) Labor market dynamics including the business cycle and profitability. This test is designed to measure basic understanding at the level possessed by the well-informed lay person.

5. Preparing written material

These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

6. Supervision

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: It is recommended that candidates use a quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculator. Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials.

INFORMATION FOR PROMOTION CANDIDATES

Unless otherwise indicated, the eligible list resulting from this examination will have a duration of four years and will not supersede existing promotional lists, if any.

RATINGS REQUIRED:  Test is rated on a scale of 100 with a passing mark at 70.  Test instructions may further divide the tests into parts and set minimum standards for each part.

Points will be added to scores of candidates who achieve a passing mark as follows: Seniority:  For each year of service in the classified service:

Less than 1 year……………………..................…0 points

1 year up to 6 years…………….…........................1 point

Over 6 years up to 11 years.....………......….........2 points

Over 11 years up to 16 years….…........….........…3 points

Over 16 years up to 21 years………..................…4 points

Over 21 years………………………..................…5 points

VETERANS:  Disabled and non-disabled veterans as defined in Section 85, New York State Civil Service Law, will have 5 and 2.5 points, respectively added to their earned scores if successful in the examination.  You must claim these credits when you file application but you have an option to waive them any time prior to appointment.  If you have already used these credits for a permanent position in NYS, you may not claim them again.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.