CPS/FAR Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3) - Richland

State of Washington•Benton County – Richland, WA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is hiring a CPS Family Assessment Response Social Service Specialist 3 to join its Richland team. The role focuses on ensuring child safety and supporting children and families through investigations, assessments, planning, and services. The position includes visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to investigate allegations of abuse or neglect and assess the safety of vulnerable children. It receives 10% assignment pay in addition to the regular base salary. The specialist assesses complex family situations; interviews children and parents; evaluates child safety; develops plans to protect children in their homes; and offers services to children and families. The role also includes mandatory Worker Core Training, a 9.5-week program covering foundational child welfare knowledge and skills. Training includes four weeks at the Seattle training site during Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8. DCYF covers hotel accommodations and per diem for eligible travel from the assigned duty location. The position requires at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver's license. The incumbent must complete formal training courses required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of appointment. A background check, including criminal history, will be conducted before hire. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Requirements

One of the following qualification pathways: six years of paid social service experience and 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a social service discipline; or a bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a degree including the specified social service credits, plus two years of paid social service experience; or a master's degree in one of those fields or a degree including the specified credits, plus one year of paid social service experience; or one year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2.
Paid social service experience must include at least one year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.
Ability to take action to learn and grow and to take action to meet the needs of others.
At least two years of driving experience and a valid driver's license.
Successfully complete mandatory 9.5-week Worker Core Training and formal training courses required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of appointment.
Degrees must be from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA, or be a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization. Foreign equivalency certification must be attached for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Prior public child welfare experience.
Case management experience.
Knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on child protective and child welfare services.
Knowledge of addiction, treatment, relapse prevention, and recovery principles, and/or experience working with individuals with substance use disorder.
Ability to collaborate effectively and build consensus with families, community partners, and professionals on difficult or sensitive topics.
Experience assessing risk and safety concerning child abuse and neglect or developing safety or service plans with families.
Ability to organize information to meet FAMLINK documentation requirements.

Responsibilities

Investigate, assess, and evaluate reports of child abuse.
Conduct ongoing safety and risk assessments throughout the life of each case and take appropriate action to protect children.
Address parental deficits through services and provide support to families.
Assess casework needs for children, parents or guardians, and foster parents, prioritizing child safety.
Assess the need for out-of-home placement and work with families to find appropriate placements.
Monitor children's health and safety through regular visits.
Use FAMLINK to document case activities and maintain case records.
Prepare and document cases for court proceedings.