The eligible list established as a result of this examination will be used, when appropriate, to fill vacancies as they occur in the Dutchess County Department of Social Services. A Promotion examination is being given in conjunction with this Open Competitive examination. This is an entry-level traineeship in the Department of Social Services. Secondly, candidates will be given sets of written instructions and regulations regarding such Social Services programs as cash assistance, medical assistance, and food stamps. Candidates must read and understand the instructions given, including schedules of arithmetic figures, and apply these instructions to hypothetical case problems.
Some questions require using arithmetic to compute the correct amount of assistance.
Previous knowledge of Social Services programs or the eligibility process is not required. Recording Case Notes - Candidates will be presented with sentences from a typical case report paragraph and must determine how best the sentences should be arranged in order to convey a coherent and meaningful record. Interviewing - Candidates must apply principles and techniques of interviewing to such problems as asking and answering questions, explaining requirements and helping the client understand his or her responsibilities, helping the client feel at ease, structuring and dealing with a variety of feelings of clients, maintaining confidentiality, and identifying the need for and making appropriate referrals. In addition, some questions will deal with contacting or interacting with other community organizations and agencies to benefit the client or the general public.