Family Services Specialist IV (Internal Applicants Only)

Virginia Department of Social Services•Orange, VA

4d•$45,591 - $75,760•Onsite

About The Position

This is the beginning leadership level in the occupational group for Family Services. Employees function as a lead worker for subordinate family services specialists and/or acts as an expert resource specialist. Employees serve as support for the supervisor by performing tasks such as ensuring staff coverage, workload balance, training staff, reviewing case files, and providing back-up supervision of staff. Employees may provide consultation on complex cases and may also work on complex case assignments such as individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education. Employees work within established policies, procedures and guidelines with a high degree of independence, seeking supervisory assistance only in unusually complicated and difficult cases/situations. The Family Services Specialists IV class is distinguished from the Family Services Supervisor class by the latter’s spending a majority of time in supervisory activities such as handling personnel issues, problems, and evaluating the work of others.

Requirements

Comprehensive knowledge of social work principles and practices.
Comprehensive knowledge of human behavior and motivational theory.
Comprehensive knowledge of laws, policies, and regulations relating to human services program areas.
Comprehensive knowledge of investigating and interviewing techniques.
Comprehensive knowledge of the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Comprehensive knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services to include needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of satisfaction.
Comprehensive knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Comprehensive knowledge of therapeutic treatment technique.
Some knowledge of supervisory practices and principles if required in specific assignment.
Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated software.
Skill in the operation of a motor vehicle.
Demonstrated ability to provide guidance and training in program areas to other employees if required in specific assignment.
Demonstrated ability to write court reports, home studies, evaluations, mediation agreements, letters, committee reports, presentations, and general information.
Demonstrated ability to make clinical judgments, assess clients’ needs, and formulate plan of action.
Demonstrated 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 investigate high profile cases.
Demonstrated ability to testify in court proceedings.
Demonstrated ability to develop and present training programs and other presentations.
Demonstrated ability to interpret program laws, policies and regulations.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement service plans in order to insure the delivery of appropriate services to the client.
Demonstrated ability to analyze case information to make sound judgments within the framework of existing laws, policies, and regulations.
Demonstrated ability to respond to the client's emotions in order to accomplish services objectives.
Demonstrated ability to develop speeches and represent the agency on program training and workshops.
Demonstrated ability to work in stressful situations and maintain diplomacy.
Demonstrated ability to plan and manage own work activities including service delivery preparing reports, and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities.
Demonstrated ability to establish and effective relationships with others.
Demonstrated ability to 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.
Considerable experience in assigned program area/human services programs.
Completion of required training programs.
Work experience in a leadership role.
Equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Applicants will be subject to a Criminal History Background search, Central Registry search and DMV/driving record check.
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.
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory results of the required checks and screenings.
Driving record and valid license must be submitted before actual start date if being considered for employment.

Nice To Haves

Possession of a BSW or MSW degree.
Possession of a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license.

Responsibilities

Provides persons, families, or vulnerable populations with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses, neglect and abuse.
Ensures that reports of suspected abuse/neglect are assigned to appropriate staff.
Ensures that the local department has staff on duty 24 hours per day, seven days per week to respond to reports of abuse/neglect.
Provides guidance, consultation and supervision to other staff in the absence of the supervisor.
Prepares social histories and psychosocial diagnoses and develops treatment plans which identify problems, clinical methods for dealing with them, and the means by which services will be provided either within the agency or through referral to other community resources.
Represents the agency in both civil and criminal court proceedings which involves interpreting laws, filing petitions, preparing court records, testifying before the court, preparing witnesses for examination, and compiling evidence.
Provides direct intervention and service delivery for difficult, complex social work cases, and coordinates casework.
Develops and conducts training for staff, interns and other professionals in the community.
Supervises social work interns by guiding them in their service delivery, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, and communicating with the school liaison about their progress.
Conducts field visits to residential facilities, consults with therapists and residential staff and participates in the staffing and planning of meetings.
Functions as a lead worker providing guidance and training to other staff.
May perform same functions described in Family Services Specialist III.
Coordinates program functions, develops programs, and evaluates materials.