CPS Social Service Supervisor 5 (SSS5) - Mt. Vernon
About The Position
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is hiring a Social Service Specialist 5 to supervise Social Service Specialists in the Child Protective Services (CPS) unit at its Mt. Vernon office. This is a full-time, permanent position requiring work in both the field and office, with travel within assigned areas and occasional travel with clients or to trainings and meetings. The role receives 10% assignment pay in addition to base salary because duties include visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to investigate allegations of abuse or neglect and assess children’s safety. As a frontline supervisor, the position provides advanced guidance and specialized case-management knowledge to support child protection, permanency planning, and child well-being. The supervisor reviews employees’ investigations and interventions involving allegations of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment; supports decisions about children’s safety; and oversees family case planning. Responsibilities include clinical reviews, case consultations, workload monitoring and intervention, and applying child-welfare practice principles, laws, rules, and policies. The supervisor also trains, mentors, coaches, and provides feedback to staff, including through field observations and modeling case-management skills. The successful candidate must complete Supervisor Core Training within one year of initial appointment and required formal training courses within twelve months. The position requires at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license. A background check, including criminal history, will be conducted. This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
Requirements
- Eight 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 another field including the specified Social Services credits, and three years of paid social service experience; or a bachelor's degree in those fields or another field including the specified Social Services credits, and four years of paid social service experience; or one year as a Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4); or two years as a Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3).
- 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.
- A two-year master's degree in a listed field that included a practicum may substitute for one year of paid social service experience.
- At least two years of driving experience and a valid driver's license.
- Must successfully complete Supervisor Core Training within one year of initial appointment and formal training courses required by law, policy, and regional requirements within twelve months of initial 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.
Nice To Haves
- Prior public child welfare experience with mandatory clients.
- Master's degree in Social Work.
- Previous case-management experience working with children and families in Child Welfare Programs, including CPS, CFWS, Adoptions/Permanency, or Afterhours.
- Current knowledge of Washington State laws, rules, and policies governing child protective and child welfare services.
- Experience implementing risk assessment using the preferred risk assessment model and child safety framework.
- Experience using FamLink and maintaining FamLink documentation.
Responsibilities
- Supervise and mentor a unit of Social Service Specialists and complete casework.
- Provide staff with mentoring, coaching, counseling, consultation, on-the-job training, and feedback.
- Manage and support Social Service Specialists in formal training plans as they transition to fieldwork.
- Conduct quality assurance reviews of staff documentation, assessments, reports, case management, and payment initiation.
- Ensure staff record case activities and gathered information in case files and the FAMLINK electronic record.
- Prepare written staff performance evaluations using the Performance Evaluation system.
- Consult with administrators and human resources about corrective or disciplinary action.
- Train new and existing staff to gather and organize accurate, complete information and make case decisions.
- Keep staff informed about policies, rules, and regulations affecting their work and the children and families they serve.
- Provide consultation and oversight to ensure accurate application of the child safety framework.
- Review and revise service referrals, letters, court reports, and assessments.
- Review case activities with parents and relatives to establish case goals and identify family services.
- Initiate FamLink payments for child placement and child or family services.
- Coordinate with other supervisors to ensure appropriate office coverage.
- Participate in supervisory, administrative, and individual meetings and conferences.
- Attend and testify in Superior Court.
- Provide regular clinical reviews and consultations, monitor assigned client cases, and assess or intervene in workloads when necessary.
- Travel within assigned work areas and, as cases require, travel with clients or to trainings and meetings.
Benefits
- 10% assignment pay in addition to the regular base salary
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
