Dual Language CFWS Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3) - Toppenish

State of Washington • Yakima County – Toppenish, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS) Social Service Specialist 3 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 involves investigating reports of child abuse, conducting ongoing safety and risk assessments, assessing casework needs, determining whether out-of-home placement is necessary, monitoring children through regular visits, documenting activities in FAMLINK, and preparing cases for court proceedings. Duties include visits in unregulated environments, including private residences, to investigate allegations of abuse or neglect and assess the safety of children. The position requires fluent English and Spanish for interpretation and translation; the employee must pass DCYF’s Spanish language certification test within six months of employment. The role also requires at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.

The selected employee must complete a mandatory 9.5-week Worker Core Training (WCT), including four weeks at the Seattle training site during Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8. DCYF covers hotel accommodations and per diem for employees eligible for travel from their assigned duty location. The position is in the WFSE bargaining unit. The stated salary range is $69,348–$93,288 annually, with 10% assignment pay and an additional 5% dual-language assignment pay upon successful language certification.

Requirements

• Fluent ability to read, write, and speak both English and Spanish to provide interpretation and translation to clients; must obtain DCYF language certification within six months of appointment.
• One of the following qualification paths: 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 qualifying master’s degree 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, except where the Social Service Specialist 2 pathway applies as stated in the posting.
• At least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.
• Successfully complete mandatory 9.5-week Worker Core Training.
• Successfully complete formal training courses required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of appointment.
• Degrees must be from an appropriately accredited college or university; foreign degrees must be verified by a NACES-approved organization, with equivalency certification attached to the application.
• Take action to learn and grow and take action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

• Public child welfare experience.
• Case management experience.
• Knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies concerning 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 in cases involving 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 of children, parents or guardians, and foster parents, prioritizing child safety.
• Assess the need for out-of-home placement and work with families to identify appropriate placements.
• Monitor children’s health and safety through regular visitation.
• Use FAMLINK to document case activities and maintain case records.
• Prepare and document cases for court proceedings.
• Provide interpretation and translation for clients in English and Spanish.
• Complete required Worker Core Training and other formal training courses required by law, policy, and regional requirements.

Benefits

• Hotel accommodations and per diem for eligible employees traveling from their assigned duty location to required training.
• 10% assignment pay in addition to base salary.
• Additional 5% dual-language assignment pay upon successful completion of the Language Certification Test.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed