CPS Social Service Specialist 5 (SSS5) - Oak Harbor

State of Washington•Island County - Oak Harbor, WA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

DCYF is seeking a dedicated and experienced Child Protective Services (CPS) Social Service Supervisor 5 (SSS5) to lead and support a team in our Oak Harbor office. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by mentoring staff, strengthening child welfare practice, and helping families and children achieve safety, permanency, and well-being. If you are passionate about developing others, fostering a supportive team culture, and leading through collaboration, we encourage you to apply. The Opportunity: Social Service Supervisor 5s (SSS5s) function as first-line supervisors for a unit of Social Service Specialists who provide advanced-level, specialized case management in high-profile or complex cases involving children. The highly complex professional work performed by SSS5s within the Field Operations Division has both direct and indirect responsibility for protecting children and strengthening families so they flourish. SSS5s utilize planning, accountability, and tracking processes to train, support, and supervise subordinate Social Service Specialists, ensuring they meet all case management directives required by law, policy, and other mandates. They also hold staff accountable for performance expectations and address performance issues in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreements between the State of Washington and the Washington Federation of State Employees.

Requirements

Eight (8) years of paid social service experience AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
OR A master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or any master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Three (3) years of paid social service experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.
OR A bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or any bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Four (4) years of paid social service experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.
OR One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 4.
OR Two (2) years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3.
The ability to take action to learn and grow.
The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
Paid social service experience must include at least One (1) year of assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.
Degrees must be obtained from an accredited institution.
This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.
The incumbent must successfully complete Supervisor Core Training (SCT) within one year of initial appointment.
Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org.
Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.
The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.

Nice To Haves

A Master's Degree in Social Work
Previously demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast paced, high stress environment.
Previously demonstrated knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on delivery of child protective and child welfare services within Washington State.
Previously demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with management, peers, clients, community, colleagues and the public.
Previously demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with community partners, management, colleagues, and staff.
Previously demonstrated ability to use data and case management and data tracking software to assist in problem identification and problem solving.
Previously demonstrated ability to manage a large volume of work.
Previously demonstrated skill in teaching and training staff, including ability to identify strengths in others and motive staff.

Responsibilities

Supervise, mentor, and support a unit of Social Service Specialists, providing guidance, structure, consultation, and oversight to ensure accurate application of the child safety framework and adherence to law, policy, and procedure.
Assign, prioritize, review, and monitor staff work assignments, ensuring agency intervention matches assessed levels of risk to children.
Train new and existing staff in gathering accurate and complete information, organizing information, and case decision-making, while assisting staff in understanding their professional responsibilities and complying with agency policies, laws, rules, and regulations.
Provide coaching, counseling, and feedback as necessary; establish performance expectations; prepare written performance evaluations; and consult with administrators and Human Resources regarding corrective or disciplinary actions as needed.
Perform quality assurance on staff documentation, assessments, reports, case management, and payment initiation, and review data reports and requests regarding practice and specific cases.
Ensure Social Service Specialists document all case activities and information gathered within the case file and FamLink electronic record in a timely manner and complete all required supervisory documentation.
Be responsible for local office procedures related to program operations and areas of responsibility.
Coordinate with other supervisors to ensure appropriate supervisory coverage for the office.
Participate in supervisory, administrative, individual meetings, and conferences.