Erie County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to workplace diversity.

Residence Requirements:

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN TEST AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. There is one present vacancy at the Erie County Department of Social Services. 

Examples of Duties:

A Domestic Violence Liaison-Social Services directs, organizes, and monitors the Domestic Violence Unit in the Department of Social Services and implementing the Family Violence Option; 

Supervises staff in the administration of the domestic violence program;

Assesses whether domestic violence interferes with an individual's ability to comply with Temporary Assistance program requirements, and to make determinations about the need for a waiver from any number of these requirements;

Makes referrals that are relevant to the safety of the domestic violence victim and family;

Monitors work for compliance with NYS regulations, DSS procedures, program integrity, and for accuracy and precision of work;

Conducts site visits and performance monitoring of inter fund agreements and contracted Non-Residential Domestic Violence Service providers;

Coordinates and facilitates meetings with collaborative domestic violence partner agencies;

Analyzes the ongoing performance and departmental impact of assisted programs or operations;

May prepare reports dealing with family violence and program activity for newspapers, radio, television and other social media outlets;

Plans and implements family and domestic violence training for the Department of Social Services as well as presentations and educational materials, including visual aids, bulletins, memoranda etc. concerning domestic violence.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Candidates must meet one of the following requirements on or before the date of the written test:

A.) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Master's Degree in Social Sciences and three (3) years of experience in a social services or domestic violence –related agency adhering to acceptable standards at least one (1) year of which was in a supervisory capacity; or:

B.) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in human services and four years of experience in a social services or domestic violence–related agency adhering to acceptable standards, at least one (1) year of which was in a supervisory capacity; or:

C.) An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B).

Notes:

1. *A supervisory position is defined as a position in which supervision was a major responsibility of the job. Occasional or partial supervision of work crew is not acceptable supervisory experience.

2. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements.

3. Your degree and/or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. A grade of "D" or better is necessary for a course to be credited as successfully completed. If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to this Department for a list of acceptable companies providing this service; you must pay the required evaluation fee.

Notice to Candidates: Transcripts will now be accepted by the Department of Personnel ONLY at time of application.
All subsequent transcripts must be submitted at time of interview.

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 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at:https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

Subjects of Examination:

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

Educating and interacting with the public

These questions test for knowledge of techniques used to interact effectively with individuals and/or community groups, to educate or inform them about topics of concern, to publicize or 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 others in cooperative efforts of public outreach or service.

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.

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.

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.

Organizing and Administering Social Work Services Programs

These questions test for the knowledge and ability to develop, oversee and administer social work services programs.  Questions may cover such topics as developing and administering policies and procedures,  planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating program services and staff, interpreting and applying social services laws, regulations and standards, and representing agency programs to community agencies, individuals and groups.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: Unless otherwise noted, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculators. 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.

**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.