Family Services Specialist III

Virginia Department of Social Services • Rustburg, VA

4d • $55,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

This is a sensitive and essential position that investigates allegations of child abuse/neglect. The role involves interviewing individuals in cases of suspected child abuse/neglect and testifying in legal proceedings. Responsibilities include coordinating services for families and children to promote well-being and safety, interviewing to gather data on social, emotional, health, and economic circumstances, and providing court-ordered home studies. The work is conducted both in the office and in the field. The position also requires providing shelter duty during emergencies and natural disasters. The ideal candidate will be a professional with a positive attitude, a team player, and maintain ongoing working relationships within the agency and community. This position may be supervised by a CPS Supervisor, Assistant Director, or Director.

Requirements

• Knowledge of social work principles and practices.
• Knowledge of human behavior and motivational theory.
• Knowledge of laws, policies, and regulations relating to human services program areas.
• Knowledge of investigating and interviewing techniques.
• Knowledge of legal procedures as related to program area.
• Knowledge of social, economic, and health problems.
• Skills to operate personal computer, agency vehicles, fax and copy machines.
• Skills to work within multiple computer programs.
• Skills in answering the telephone and obtaining relevant information from phone contacts.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to interview, assess needs, counsel and refer clients to other resources as needed.
• Ability to investigate high risk cases.
• Ability to testify in court proceedings.
• Ability to interpret program laws, policies and regulations.
• Ability to develop and implement service plans to ensure the delivery of appropriate services to the client.
• Ability to analyze case information to make sound judgments within the framework of existing laws, policies, and regulations.
• Ability to work in stressful situations and maintain diplomacy.
• 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.
• Ability to stay abreast of current trends and developments in the social work field.
• Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field OR a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any field with a minimum of two (2) years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area.
• Completion of all mandated courses.
• Maintain certifications to provide services.

Nice To Haves

• Possession of a BSW or MSW degree is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Investigates allegations of child abuse/neglect.
• Interviews individuals in cases involving suspected child abuse/neglect.
• Testifies in legal proceedings.
• Coordinates services for families and children to promote well-being and safety.
• Interviews to gather data regarding social, emotional, health, and economic circumstances.
• Provides court-ordered home studies.
• Conducts work in the office and the field.
• Provides shelter duty in times of emergencies and natural disasters.

What This Job Offers

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