Family Services Specialist (Adult Protective Services)

City of Roanoke, Virginia • Virginia 24012, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The City of Roanoke's Department of Social Services is seeking a Family Services Specialist to work within our Adult Protective Services division. This Family Services Specialist position conducts investigations of allegations of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of elderly and disabled individuals, as well as supports qualifying adults with adult services, by assessing each adult’s safety and risk. Completes assessments and investigations by developing plans to provide the appropriate level of care and maximize self-sufficiency. Schedule and attend home visits in order to ensure the safety of vulnerable adults. Assess for service needs, coordinate referrals, and encourage participation in services to foster greater independence and provide support for caregivers. Tracks expenditures, prepares/submits payment for services. Services as a resource to clients and community. Prepare court reports, affidavits and testify in court. Completes required documentation in a timely manner, in accordance with federal, state and local policy. Provides after hours on-call coverage and responds to emergencies in adult protective services.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university with a degree in the human services or related field.
• Possession of a valid appropriate driver's permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as laws, policies, regulations, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to respond effectively to inquiries orally and in writing.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field or minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services.
• Must be willing to work outside normal work hours and respond to both routine and emergency situations.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual, Spanish/English speakers encouraged to apply.
• If you do not hold a State of Virginia Drivers License, you will be required to provide a certified copy of a DMV report from the state of previous residence before you can be considered for this position.
• Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigations of allegations of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of elderly and disabled individuals.
• Support qualifying adults with adult services by assessing each adult’s safety and risk.
• Develop plans to provide the appropriate level of care and maximize self-sufficiency.
• Schedule and attend home visits to ensure the safety of vulnerable adults.
• Assess for service needs, coordinate referrals, and encourage participation in services to foster greater independence and provide support for caregivers.
• Track expenditures and prepare/submit payment for services.
• Serve as a resource to clients and the community.
• Prepare court reports, affidavits and testify in court.
• Complete required documentation in a timely manner, in accordance with federal, state and local policy.
• Provide after hours on-call coverage and respond to emergencies in adult protective services.
• Interview clients to assess the nature and extent of needs.
• Identify problems, counsel with clients and confer with supervisor in preparing social studies in the formulation and delivery of service plans.
• Maintain records through the course of client's service relationships with the agency.
• Make referrals for service to agencies, such as clinics, employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, etc.
• Perform work with agencies such as juvenile and domestic relations courts, circuit courts, etc.
• Provide protection and care to abandoned, abused and neglected children and adults on a regular and emergency basis in potentially dangerous situations.
• Work with abusive or neglecting parents and families to help effect changes in family situation, usually in a family home setting.
• Make decisions to remove children from dangerous situations and recommendations regarding institutionalization of adults and children.
• Study homes for day care, foster care of adoption placement and/or foster care and adoptive placements.
• Maintain case records, prepare written reports of services, findings and actions.
• Serve as agency representative on a variety of multi disciplinary teams.
• Share a 24-hour on-call rotation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level