Family Services Specialist I/II

Virginia Department of Social Services•Lawrenceville, VA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Family Services Specialist I is an entry-level position where employees are trained in program areas such as Adult/Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Foster Care/Adoption, Child Care, and Employment Services. They perform routine casework activities under close supervision, with actions typically reviewed by a supervisor. Upon completion of training and necessary approvals, the employee is reclassified to Family Services Specialist II, becoming eligible for a pay increase. Family Services Specialist II is the full-performance level, where employees function more independently. They are responsible for developing and implementing individualized service plans in areas like Employment Services, Child Care, and basic caseloads in Adult/Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Foster Care, and Adoptions. Employees may specialize or work across all program areas, generally performing tasks independently and seeking supervisory advice only for unusual situations or when policy requires it. Both levels involve interpreting laws, policies, and regulations, monitoring and administering programs, interviewing and assessing client needs, informing clients of services and rights, presenting cases, writing and implementing service plans, providing case management, managing waiting lists, tracking expenditures, preparing budget estimates, ensuring payment for services, completing reporting requirements, coordinating with other agencies, and providing after-hours on-call coverage for emergencies in child/adult protective services and foster care.

Requirements

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 area.
Considerable knowledge of social work principles and practices, human behavior and motivational theory, and social, economic, and health problems.
Knowledge of laws, policies, and regulations relating to human services program areas and legal procedures as related to program area.
Skill in operating a motor vehicle and possess a valid Virginia driver's license on or before the first of day of employment with a favorable driving record.
Skill in operating a personal computer with associated software; preferably Microsoft Office.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Demonstrated ability to interview, assess needs, counsel and refer clients to other resources as needed.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement service plans in order to insure the delivery of appropriate services to the client.
Ability to analyze case information to make sound judgements within the framework of existing laws, policies, and regulations.
Ability to respond to the client’s emotions in order to accomplish services objectives.
Ability to plan and manage own work activities including service delivery, preparing reports, and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities.
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with others and stay abreast of current trends and developments in the social work field.
All applicants are subject to a DMV/driving record check, pre-employment drug screen, Central Registry (CPS) check and/or criminal history search.
The investigation may include: fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, employment verification and references, verification of education (relevant to employment), credit checks (relevant to employment) and other checks requested by the hiring authority.
Employee must be willing to work outside regular work hours and in the community emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.
Family Services Specialists are required to participate in an on-call schedule and must be able to respond within 30 minutes.
This position if covered under Code of Virginia 63.2-1601.1 or 63.2-1720 requiring the finalist candidate to submit to fingerprinting and provide personal descriptive information for a criminal history record check through the Central Criminal Records Exchange and a search of the Central Registry.

Nice To Haves

Possession of a BSW or MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are desirable.
Prefer previous experience working with social work principles and practices.
Prefer experience with agency associated software.
Prefer experience in foster care and/or child protective services and completion of required training programs.

Responsibilities

Interpreting laws, policies and regulations as applied to specific area of responsibility.
Monitoring, coordinating and administering specific programs as assigned.
Coordinating services within specific area of responsibility.
Interviewing and assessing customer needs and other relevant factors such as education/skill levels, abilities, interests and support systems.
Informing clients of related service programs rules/regulations and right to participate.
Presenting cases to determine appropriate services and writing/implementing service plans.
Providing case management services to monitor compliance.
Managing program waiting lists.
Tracking expenditures, preparing/submitting budget estimates and ensuring payment for services.
Completing necessary federal, state and local planning and reporting requirements.
Conducting overall monitoring of programs in specific area of responsibility.
Serving as resource to clients and the community in area of expertise.
Providing after hours on-call coverage and responding to emergencies in child/adult protective services and/or foster care.
Coordinating with other agencies and participating in multi-disciplinary and interagency teams providing services to customers (Family Services Specialist II).