Family Services Specialist I
About The Position
The City of Roanoke is seeking a Family Services Specialist to conduct Child Protective Services investigations. The CPS Investigator will assess and investigate allegations of child abuse and/or neglect while providing needed services to at-risk families and children. This role involves close collaboration with various ancillary agencies to enforce child protective services laws and provide required/requested services to families in need. The specialist will plan and coordinate needed services, make appropriate referrals, prepare court affidavits/reports, and testify as needed. Maintaining a CPS caseload and completing routine paperwork within required time frames is essential. The ability to multitask, respond to crisis situations professionally, and act as a team player, including working outside normal hours and participating in a rotating after-hours beeper team for emergency CPS/APS/Foster Care situations, is required.
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.
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as laws, policies, regulations, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
- Ability to respond effectively to inquiries orally and in writing.
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to interpret a variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
- Possession of a valid appropriate driver's permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- If you do not have a Drivers License issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia, you must submit a certified copy of your driving record issued by the DMV from your previous state of residence with your application.
- Must be willing to work outside normal work hours and respond to both routine and emergency situations.
Nice To Haves
- Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities
- Conduct Child Protective Services investigations.
- Assess and investigate allegations of child abuse and/or neglect.
- Provide needed services to at-risk families and children.
- Collaborate with various ancillary agencies to enforce child protective services laws.
- Plan and coordinate needed services for individuals and families.
- Make appropriate referrals to other agencies as necessary.
- Prepare court affidavits/reports and testify as needed.
- Maintain CPS caseload while completing routine paperwork in time frames required by Virginia State Code.
- Respond to crisis situations in a timely and professional manner.
- Assist co-workers and work outside the normal range of hours when necessary.
- Participate in a rotating after-hours beeper team that responds to emergency CPS/APS/Foster Care situations.
- Interview clients to assess the nature and extent of needs.
- Identify problems, counsel with clients, and confer with supervisor in preparing social studies for service plans.
- Maintain records through the course of client's service relationships with the agency.
- Make referrals for services to agencies such as clinics, employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, etc.
- Perform work with agencies such as juvenile and domestic relations courts, circuit courts, etc.
- Provide protection and care to abandoned, abused, and neglected children and adults on a regular and emergency basis in potentially dangerous situations.
- Work with abusive or neglecting parents and families to help effect changes in family situations, usually in a family home setting.
- Make decisions to remove children from dangerous situations and recommendations regarding institutionalization of adults and children.
- Study homes for day care, foster care, or adoption placement and/or foster care and adoptive placements.
- Maintain case records and prepare written reports of services, findings, and actions.
- Serve as agency representative on a variety of multidisciplinary teams.
- Share a 24-hour on-call rotation.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
