Social Services Specialist

Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services•RANKIN COUNTY, MS

About The Position

The Social Services Specialist works under the supervision of higher-level staff to create and/or maintain a service plan throughout the duration of a case. The role includes performing assessments, coordinating services, and potentially delivering direct services with community partners. The specialist documents relevant activities, actions taken, and contacts involved with each case. The position typically requires a bachelor's degree and 0–2 years of experience. The appointing authority may require a social worker's license.

Requirements

Typically requires a bachelor's degree.
Typically requires 0–2 years of experience.
The appointing authority may require a social worker's license.
Professional commitment to and caring about clients and the larger profession of child welfare.
Personal resilience and strong self-efficacy beliefs about the ability to work with clients to produce positive client outcomes.
Efficient organizational and time management skills.
Good oral and written communication skills.
Positive work morale.
Ability to be flexible in thinking and problem solving.
Realistic expectations about the difficulty and challenges of the work.
Ability to handle an often-unpredictable work environment.

Responsibilities

Create and/or maintain a service plan throughout the duration of a case.
Perform assessments.
Coordinate services with community partners and potentially deliver direct services.
Document relevant activities, actions taken, and contacts involved with a case.

Benefits

Health and prescription insurance, with single or family coverage options.
Wellness and health promotion program with annual benefits for certain services and no deductible.
Term life insurance coverage equal to two times annual salary, up to $100,000.
Optional discounted dental, vision, and cancer insurance.
Flexible spending accounts for childcare and unreimbursed medical expenses.
Paid personal leave and sick leave for full-time employees; approximately 18 days of personal leave and 12 days of sick leave annually.
Military leave of 15 days per year for military training, in accordance with federal law.
Up to 10 paid holidays.
Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Retirement Program, with vesting after 8 years of employment and contributions from both the employee and employing agency.
Voluntary deferred compensation retirement savings plan.
Eligibility to participate in the Mississippi Public Employees’ Credit Union.
Tuition reimbursement opportunities offered by many state agencies.
Career development training and professional development courses.
Promotional opportunities for employees with at least 6 months of service who meet minimum qualifications.
Career-ladder opportunities that may increase salary based on attained competencies, subject to available agency funds.