Family Service Specialist - 2nd Shift

State of Delaware•Dover, DE

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Family Service Specialist provides and coordinates professional case management services to children, youth, adults, and families experiencing abuse, neglect, dependency, behavioral concerns, crisis situations, or family dysfunction. The role conducts assessments and provides planning, facilitation, advocacy, monitoring, and evaluation in collaboration with clients and other professionals. Responsibilities may include child abuse investigations and ongoing case management, including foster care and permanency planning. This second-shift position receives, documents, and screens intakes through the Child Abuse Hotline and responds after hours to screened-in cases and emergencies to help ensure child safety. The work requires independent activity in offices, homes, and community settings, including statewide travel for home visits, court appearances, community-based services, and urgent responses. Work outside standard hours may be necessary to meet the needs of families and children and other operational needs. Emergency duty and on-call assignments may also be required. The position is part of a career ladder that includes Family Services Specialist, Senior Family Services Specialist, and Master Family Services Specialist. Promotion may be available upon satisfactory completion of Department promotional standards and job requirements. Potential work locations are in New Castle County or Kent County, Delaware.

Requirements

At least one of the following: one year of professional health or human service work experience; two years of paraprofessional health or human service work experience; or an associate degree may substitute for one year of paraprofessional experience.
Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree or higher, or an anticipated graduation date within three months, with coursework in Behavioral Science, Psychology, Sociology, Human Services, or a related field.
Possess a valid driver’s license that is not suspended, revoked, cancelled, or disqualified.
Ability to travel statewide, including driving at night or in adverse weather conditions.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Satisfactory criminal background check is required as a condition of hire.
Pre-employment drug testing is required after a conditional offer.
Ability to respond to time-sensitive situations in community and home settings and, as needed, work outside standard hours.

Responsibilities

Advocate for clients’ and families’ health, safety, welfare, and rights, and assist them in obtaining needed services.
Interview clients, family members, and professionals to gather personal, social, and background information and identify problems, contributing factors, strengths, resources, and barriers.
Determine eligibility for agency and community social service programs.
Collaborate with clients and families, with consultation from a technical superior, to develop and implement service or treatment plans.
Help clients and families obtain community, social, and therapeutic services and resources needed to meet plan objectives.
Conduct individual and family counseling to support social development and adjustment to problems and situations.
Assess progress toward goals and make recommendations regarding reclassification, discharge, aftercare, emergency protective placement, guardianship, petitions, or options counseling.
Prepare social histories, progress reports, evaluations, discharge summaries, court reports, and petitions; maintain client records and files.
Enforce court orders and conditions of community supervision as required.
Attend court hearings and other judicial proceedings, answer questions, make recommendations, and prepare progress reports.
Respond to crisis situations, potentially including suicide risks, assault and battery against clients, and sexual abuse cases; coordinate with law enforcement and emergency staff as needed.
Receive, document, and screen Child Abuse Hotline intakes and respond after hours to screened-in cases and emergencies.
Travel statewide for home visits, court appearances, community-based services, and urgent responses to assess and maintain child safety and well-being.
Isolate or physically restrain clients who are acting out when required.
Perform emergency duty, including being on call for an assigned time period, when required.