Social Work Assistant 2 - SPSRFO-Regional Field Office 4 -Development Unit - EOA #2025-129

Company: NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilit
Location: New York
Posted on: May 24, 2025

Job Description:

Duties DescriptionPOSITION DESCRIPTION:This position will serve as a Social Work Assistant 2 (SWA 2) for a division of the Service Access Program Implementation and Stakeholder Support- Regional Field Office (SPSRFO). Units within the Regional Field Office include the following: Service Access(Front Door and Waiver Services), Eligibility, Self-Direction,Housing, Crisis, Development, Fiscal/ Services, and Quality Management and Technical Assistance.Through the five Regional Field Office(s) with OPWDD over 130,000 individuals are supported through collaboration and engagement with over 700 voluntary providers, 6 State Operated Development Disabilities Service Operation Offices, and 7 Care Coordination Service Organizations. Region Field Office oversight encompasses 13 specific districts throughout NYS as noted below:Regional Field Office 1 has oversight in Finger Lakes and Western NYRegional Field Office 2 has oversight in Sunmount, Central NY, and BroomeRegional Field Office 3 has oversight in Capital, Taconic and Hudson ValleyRegional Field Office 4 has oversight in Manhattan/Bronx (Metro), Queens, Brooklyn and Staten IslandRegional Field Office 5 has oversight in Long IslandUnder the supervision of the Unit Leader, a Unit Liaison, will perform administrative duties related to the operation of the Development, Self Direction, Waiver, Housing, Fiscal Services, Property or Quality Management and Technical Assistance Units, including, but not limited to, authorization of services and assisting with planning, development, implementation, and operation of division and unit initiatives.Travel within the Region may be required, as well as intermittent travel to other areas of the state.DUTIES And RESPONSIBILITIES

• Have proficient computer skills including data entry, use of databases, spreadsheets, and Microsoft products such as Excel, Word, Outlook, Power Point, TEAMS, SharePoint, and others as necessary.
• Assist the Unit Leader with receiving, reviewing, and processing service requests, this may include self-direction budgets, requests for waiver services via authorizations and/or amendments, in addition to housing subsidies.
• Maintain knowledge and understanding of OPWDD policies and procedures. Review Administrative Memorandums (ADM), Protocols, Policies and Procedures as released; conduct training; and ensure implementation. Emphasis in Development, Self Direction, HCBS Waiver Services and Family Support Services is necessary.
• Represents the Regional Field Office in local & statewide meetings regarding OPWDD Services and changes in the service delivery systems.
• Assist and Participate in any Regional Office Quality Review and Quality Assurance as related to OPWDD service authorization.
• Participate in local and statewide meetings and other trainings and workgroups as indicated. Public Speaking is required and training with providers such as fiscal intermediaries, support brokers, residential and other service providers, in addition to community partners.
• Foster effective collaboration and communication with individuals, families, Care Coordination Organizations, agencies, Local Government Units and other stakeholders.
• Provide technical assistance to Care Coordination Organizations and OPWDD provider agencies as needed.
• Participate in the regular maintenance of the Regional Field Office's Policy and Procedural Manual.
• Process OPWDD Service Terminations as necessary.
• Assist with OPWDD Enrollments, Track Service requests and authorizations, Maintain Development Plan, process fiscal, prior property approvals, Monitor TABS Reports as necessary, and/or Process DDP1s via CHOICES as related to Department Services.
• Actively participate in Statewide Community of Practice (COP) Calls including providing feedback on operations, policies, implementation activities and other areas as needed.
• Work with the Voluntary and OPWDD State Operations and DDRO staff on the development of residential opportunities for individuals on OPWDD's Emergency Needs list (CRO).
• Assist with the development of residential placements for young adults aging out of Residential Schools.
• Work with the Waiver Enrollment team on behalf of individuals going into the residential placements identified above.
• Review operating budgets, PPA development, construction oversight, assisting agencies in the preparation of certification and opening of programs.
• Travel/Site visit to programs and agencies may be required.
• Additional tasks/duties/projects as assigned.SHIFT/PASS DAYS: Monday - Friday, 9am - 5:30pmPass: Sat/SunFlexibility as needed to accommodate late meetings, travel and/or to completespecial projects.Some telecommuting available upon supervisory approvalLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nys-office-for-people-with-developmental-disabilities/posts/?feedView=allMinimum QualificationsPromotion: one year of service as a Social Work Assistant 1.Open Competitive:A bachelor's degree in a human services field and two years of social work experience.Substitution:Master's degree in a human services field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.Additional CommentsThis title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). HELPS Program titles may be filled via a non-competitive appointment. This means that you do not need to take an exam to qualify, but you do need to meet the minimum qualifications of the title.At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), employees hired under NY HELPS are expected to have their permanent non-competitive employment status converted to permanent competitive status. You will not have to take an exam to gain permanent competitive status.
  • Please note that starting salary for this title reflects the Downstate adjustment. Posted Hiring Salary includes the sum of the statutory hiring rate for PS&T Grade 17 ($63,361) and Downstate Adjustment ($4,000). Downstate Adjustment is added to the job rate ($80,655).
  • If you are currently a New York State employee serving in a permanent competitive qualifying title and eligible for a transfer via Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law, you may be appointed to this title as a permanent competitive employee.
  • The assignment of PS&T employees will be made in accordance with any agreed upon Memorandum of Understanding between PEF and the local DDSO regarding the posting of job vacancies.
  • Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume.
  • All OPWDD employees must be eligible and maintain eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Continued employment will depend on maintaining eligibility.
  • If you are employed by state government you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, please visit www.studentAid.gov/publicservice.
  • Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA). If an employee or job applicant believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the Reasonable Accommodation Unit at (518) 486-7222 or email accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.
  • Savings programs such as the U.S. Savings Bond and the College Savings Plan.
  • Voluntary pre-tax savings programs such as Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account offer employees options to pay for uncovered health care expenses or dependent care expenses.
  • Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) an assessment and referral service that connects employees with local service providers and support services to address their personal needs.
  • Life insurance and Disability insurance.
  • The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement plan that offers employees the option to invest a part of their salaries for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.
  • Paid Holidays and Leave: - Thirteen (13) paid holidays each year. - Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave initially. - Five (5) days paid personal leave each year. - Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave each year (PEF/CSEA), which may carry over from year to year. - Up to three (3) days professional leave each year to participate in professional development events.
    • Health Care Coverage:Employees and their eligible dependents can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance programs. Employees are provided family dental and vision plans at no extra cost.
      • Paid Parental Leave:Paid Parental Leave allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave at full pay for each qualifying event. A qualifying event is defined as the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care.
        • Retirement Program:Participate in The NYS Employees' Retirement System (ERS), which is recognized as one of the best-managed and best-funded public retirement systems in the nation.
          • Professional Development and Education and Training:NYS offers training programs and tuition assistance to eligible employees to maintain and increase their professional skills and prepare them for promotional opportunities. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/training-and-professional-development.
            • Additionally, the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) offers certain professional training opportunities for PEF represented and M/C designated employees that may grant continuing education credits towards maintaining professional licensure. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/public-service-workshops-program-pswp.
            • OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer dedicated to creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. We believe that we are most effective in managing and improving our service system with a diverse team of employees. With such a large workforce, we rely on the collective individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, ideas and talent that our employees bring to their work. This speaks to our culture and is a key part of our successes. As we continuously recruit people for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that applicants bring in terms of their education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran's status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

Keywords: NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilit, Paterson , Social Work Assistant 2 - SPSRFO-Regional Field Office 4 -Development Unit - EOA #2025-129, Healthcare , New York, New Jersey