Family Services Specialist I

Virginia Department of Social Services • Rocky Mount, VA

20d

About The Position

A Family Services Specialist I represents the entry level in the occupational group. Employees learning their program areas. Employees will receive every training available to provide the foundation needed to successfully become a I with direction to move upward as needed.
Learns how to use OASIS, COMPASS, SPIDER, and any other system needed for the program assigned;
Learns to effectively and appropriately work with stakeholders to include:
coworkers,
supervisors,
clients;Children’s Services Act employees to include FAPT, private providers,families of clients, fictive kin of clients;guardian ad litem;law enforcement, attorneys, Health Department,CASA, Community Services Board (CSB);CART.
Learns how to Interprets laws, policies and regulations as applied to specific area of responsibility;
Learns to assess risk and safety;
Learns appropriate and independent judgment in dealing with cases and clients;
Learns how to independently develop Case Plans for clients with timely submission when necessary (Court, FAPT, etc.);
Learns how to understand and accurately utilize the CANS Assessment as documented by both the supervisor and the CSA Coordinator;
Learns how to create court notes and other documents for court;
Learns how to effectively, accurately, and articulately testify in court;
Learns how to use proper technique and how to accurately document all relevant case information;
Learns how to utilize program-specific software (IPADS, Encryption programs) available to accurately document and update all case information, in a timely manner;
Learns to serve as a resource to clients in the community in area of expertise;
If resource worker, learns to solicit, approve and manage resource homes;
If resource worker, learns to write MFA/Home Studies;
If carrying adoption cases, learns how to navigate and find adoptive homes;
If carrying adoption cases, learns to handle all case management, subsidy paperwork, documentation, customer service, and all associated work for adoptions;
Provides after hours on-call coverage and responds to emergencies in child/adult protective services and/or foster care (after 6 months if new FSS employment or 3 months after previous FSS DSS experience); (Revised 100925)

Requirements

• Some knowledge of: Social work principles and practices; human behavior and motivational theory; and social, economic, and health problems.
• Skill in operating a motor vehicle and personal computer with associated software.
• Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing; interview, assess needs, counsel and refer clients to other resources as needed; develop and implement service plans in order to insure the delivery of appropriate services to the client; make sound judgments within the framework of existing laws, policies, and regulations; respond to the client's emotions in order to accomplish services objectives; plan and manage own work activities including service delivery preparing reports, and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities; establish and maintain effective relationships; and stay abreast of current trends and developments in the social work field.
• 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 as mandated in Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia and implemented by the Virginia Board of Social Services.
• Passes probation with a meets or higher EPPE rating
• At the end of probation is able to functions independently, as a full-performance Family Services Specialist.
• Required to take all VDSS mandated training for Permanency Staff

Nice To Haves

• The possession of a BSW or MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Learn how to use OASIS, COMPASS, SPIDER, and any other system needed for the program assigned
• Learn to effectively and appropriately work with stakeholders
• Learn how to interpret laws, policies and regulations as applied to specific area of responsibility
• Learn to assess risk and safety
• Learn appropriate and independent judgment in dealing with cases and clients
• Learn how to independently develop Case Plans for clients with timely submission when necessary (Court, FAPT, etc.)
• Learn how to understand and accurately utilize the CANS Assessment as documented by both the supervisor and the CSA Coordinator
• Learn how to create court notes and other documents for court
• Learn how to effectively, accurately, and articulately testify in court
• Learn how to use proper technique and how to accurately document all relevant case information
• Learn how to utilize program-specific software (IPADS, Encryption programs) available to accurately document and update all case information, in a timely manner
• Learn to serve as a resource to clients in the community in area of expertise
• If resource worker, learns to solicit, approve and manage resource homes
• If resource worker, learns to write MFA/Home Studies
• If carrying adoption cases, learns how to navigate and find adoptive homes
• If carrying adoption cases, learns to handle all case management, subsidy paperwork, documentation, customer service, and all associated work for adoptions
• Provides after hours on-call coverage and responds to emergencies in child/adult protective services and/or foster care (after 6 months if new FSS employment or 3 months after previous FSS DSS experience)

What This Job Offers

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