Family Services Specialist III

Virginia Department of Social Services•Fredericksburg, VA

1d•$56,954 - $74,040•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Fredericksburg Department of Social Services (FDSS) is recruiting for a full-time Family Services Specialist to perform the duties of a Foster Care Worker. This role involves challenging but rewarding work where you can work with a purpose in a positive work environment. Under general supervision, performs difficult case management duties for programs administered by the City Social Services Department. Employees in this class handle cases that require greater involvement in sensitive and traumatic situations and complex duties such as: interviewing/investigating and responding to referrals in cases involving suspected child/adult abuse/neglect, out-of-home placements, guardianships, emergency protective orders, adoptions, testifying in legal proceedings, and placing children in foster/adoptive homes. The employee establishes and maintains effective relationships with clients, families, and other human service agencies and works to coordinate services and resources for clients of an assigned caseload. Employees participate in various meetings such as: permanency planning team meetings, Family Partnership Meetings, Family Assessment and Planning Team Meetings (FAPT), and court proceedings. This position requires the employee to be part of an on-call rotation that requires a one-hour response time. Employees are also responsible for general case management duties to include maintaining a variety of records and files pertaining to assigned cases, and writing and preparing various required reports. The Family Services Specialist III is distinguished from the Family Services Specialist IV class by the latter’s functioning as a lead worker, or an expert resource specialist. Recruitment is for a foster care/adoption worker and requires the candidate to have a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work or a Human Services field, or 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 implemented by the Virginia Board of Social Services.

Requirements

Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a Human Services field Or minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any field with a minimum of 2 years appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area.
Must be able to pass a criminal background check to include a clean search of the Virginia Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry (no current findings or cases associated to you).
A valid Virginia State driver’s license that meets the standards for the City of Fredericksburg.

Nice To Haves

Considerable experience in assigned program area and completion of required training programs or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Prior experience working for a LDSS.
Ability to speak a language other than English.

Responsibilities

Provides complex professional case management, referral and assistance to clients for an assigned caseload.
Serves those cases that require greater involvement in sensitive and traumatic situations.
Interviews clients and assesses client situations and need for services.
Consults with family members, schools, hospitals and other human service organizations, and works with client to develop a service plan to meet client needs.
Receives and investigates referred cases of suspected client abuse or neglect; visits homes, work places, and/or schools and interviews persons involved; determines validity of reports and makes assessments of proper courses of action; exercises emergency removal authority and petitions for emergency medical treatment, as deemed appropriate; petitions court, prepares case documentation and testifies in court, and conducts drug tests as necessary.
Places children in foster care as necessary; monitors child’s care in foster care home; coordinates and supervises parental visitation; works with foster parents to resolve issues and provide resources.
Responds to after-hours emergency calls and provides emergency assistance and intervention, as needed.
Performs a variety of clerical and administrative functions in support of assigned duties, and caseload management; good oral and written communication skills needed.
May be required to staff an emergency shelter when necessary.
This position is part of an On-Call rotation schedule and must be able to respond within 1 hour to an on-call emergency located in the City of Fredericksburg area when necessary.