A human services specialist helps people access health and social services, researching available programs, interviewing clients, completing paperwork, and following up. They require a thorough understanding of eligibility criteria and deadlines, and typically have a four-year post-secondary education in social work or nursing, as well as work experience in a social services agency.
A human services specialist helps people interact with a variety of health and social services. Social services are typically provided by government, non-profit agencies, and charitable organizations. Eligible health services may include occupational health therapists, psychologists, speech therapists, dental hygienists or optometrists.
There are four main roles for a human services specialist: research available programs, interview clients to determine the services they need, complete paperwork to make those services available, and follow up with the client. A human services specialist is often contacted on the referral of a social worker or community nurse. People who enjoy this type of work are naturally outgoing, committed to helping others, and have excellent interpersonal skills.
A thorough understanding of the different programs, features, and support services available is essential for this role. Each program has its own eligibility criteria and deadlines. It is the responsibility of the human services specialist to be up to date on these issues.
To determine what services the client requires, an interview process is required. The kick-off meeting can be completed at the client’s home or at another location. In addition, assessments by health professionals are used to assess individual abilities and options. Economic circumstances are reviewed and legal proceedings are usually initiated by the human services worker to help the client obtain the funds to which they are legally entitled. This can include worker’s compensation, child support or pension benefits.
All of these programs require paperwork to be completed. Together with the client, the specialist assists in this process, monitoring and maintaining all the necessary information. Once the client can access the necessary resources or programs, the specialist will ensure that progress reports are filed on time so that assistance can continue.
Customer follow-up is an essential part of the process. Both scheduled and unscheduled visits are conducted by the human services specialist to help keep the client on track. Many people develop a personal relationship with their customers and are able to celebrate their successes with them.
Recommended training to become a human services specialist includes a four-year post-secondary education program in social work, nursing, or a related field. Many employers also require at least three years of work experience in a social services agency. The most successful people in this role have a wide range of life experiences and are able to work with people facing significant challenges and help them get their lives back on track.
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