Rainier Valley

State of Washington•King County - Seattle - Rainier Valley, WA

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is hiring a Social Service Specialist 3 for its Region 4 Permanency/Adoption Unit at the Rainier Valley, MLK Jr. Office in Seattle. This permanent, full-time role provides case management for legally free youth, primarily adolescents with complex needs, and supports them in achieving permanency and exiting foster care through adoption, guardianship, Extended Foster Care (EFC), or Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA). The position includes work in the field and office, with some remote-work flexibility, and serves children across a large geographic area in Western Washington. Travel within assigned areas, transportation of children and youth, and attendance at training and meetings are part of the role. The specialist promotes timely permanency, ensures youth’s health and education needs are addressed, identifies and removes barriers to permanency, recruits permanent homes when needed, and facilitates finalization of permanent plans. The role requires expert knowledge of permanency plans, policy, law, and best practices, and provides consultation and collaborative support to Region 4 field offices. The specialist works with families, relatives, co-workers, supervisors, administration, community partners, private child-placing and adoption agencies, and the Northwest Adoption Exchange. Applicants must meet one of the stated education and experience pathways for a Social Service Specialist 3 and have at least one year of paid social service experience assessing child risk and safety and providing direct family-centered practice services. The position also requires at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license. The role is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees. Salary is $69,348–$93,288 annually, plus a 5% premium for King County employees.

Requirements

Six years of paid social service experience and 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a social service discipline; or a bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or another degree including the specified social-service credits, plus two years of paid social service experience; or a qualifying master’s degree plus one year of paid social service experience; or one year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2.
At least one year of paid social service experience assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.
Ability to take action to learn and grow and to meet the needs of others.
At least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.
Ability to work in the field and office, with some remote-work flexibility, and travel within assigned work areas.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Social Work and case management experience working with children.
Previous child welfare experience, such as CPS, FAR, FRS, FVS, CFWS, or Permanency/Adoptions.
Experience assessing risk and safety concerning child abuse and neglect or developing safety and service plans with families.
Knowledge of the local community and its resources.
Knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies concerning child protective and child welfare services.
Experience with FamLink and documentation requirements.
Experience using Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.

Responsibilities

Ensure timely permanency outcomes for caseload youth, with an emphasis on adoptions.
Meet casework management directives required by law, policy, and mandates.
Provide ongoing case management, services, permanency planning, and crisis intervention.
Assess risk and safety, assess children’s resource needs, and provide placement, stabilization, and permanency supports.
Prepare and counsel children regarding permanent placement, adoption, and other potential permanent plans.
Monitor placements and build relationships with children through monthly health and safety visits.
Use FamLink to document case activity and update case records.
Consult with attorneys and court-appointed advocates, prepare court reports, and present testimony at court hearings.
Conduct child and family health and safety visits.
Arrange or accommodate sibling visits when needed.
Meet documentation and payment-initiation requirements for accurate and timely FamLink entries.
Conduct highly skilled assessments of adoptive applications.
Recruit permanent homes for youth who are not in permanent placements.
Travel within assigned areas, transport children and youth as required by cases, and attend training and meetings.