Family Services Specialist 1

The Clarke County Department of Social Services is a part of the Virginia Social Services System. Our agency is the central resource dedicated to delivering public assistance, child welfare, and aging and adult services to the people of Clarke County.

Clarke County Department of Social Services is seeking to fill a position within the Child & Family Services Unit. The selected candidate will work with our families and children providing case management services for prevention and in-home services. Our family services team works with children and families by ensuring their safety, well-being and permanency by creative case management and coordination of resources and services.  Our low, manageable caseloads afford the Family Services Specialist the opportunity to provide a concentration on direct service work with families, children, and adults. 

Applicants are encouraged to provide a complete listing of work experience and qualifications on the application form. Family Services Specialist I represents an entry-level employee receiving training in child welfare. The selected candidate will work under the direct supervision of the Family Services Supervisor and be mentored by senior level staff. The position involves extensive training both virtually and in-person prior to caseload assignments. The Family Services Specialist I is distinguished from the Family Services Specialist II by the latter’s functioning more independently as a full performance Family Services Specialist. This position may have the ability for limited hybrid teleworking after completion of a successful six-month interim performance review with the agency.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Interprets laws, policies and regulations as applied to specific areas of responsibility
• Monitors, coordinates and administers specific programs as assigned
• Coordinates services within specific area of responsibility
• Interviews and assesses customer needs and other relevant factors – such as education/skill levels, abilities, interests, and support systems
• Informs clients of related service programs rules/regulations, and right to participate
• Presents cases to determine appropriate services and writes/implements service plan
• Provides case management services to monitor compliance
• Tracks expenditures, prepares/submits budget estimates and ensures payment for services
• Completes necessary federal, state and local planning and reporting requirements
• Coordinates with other agencies and participates in multi-disciplinary and interagency teams providing services to customers
• Conducts overall monitoring of programs in specific area of responsibility
• Serves as resource to clients and the community
• Provides after hours on-call coverage and responds to emergencies in child/adult protective services and/or foster care
• Shelter Duty & Emergency Response – When initiated by the County/Agency Leadership, must be willing to work in the community emergency shelter

Minimum Qualifications:

• 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 as mandated in Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia and implemented by the Virginia Board of Social Services.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of social work principles and practices, human behavior, and motivational theory, and social, economic, and health problems.
• Has provided case management services to monitor compliance.
• Skill in operating motor vehicles and holds a valid Virginia Driver’s License.
• Skill in operating a personal computer with associated software, preferably Microsoft Office.
• Previous experience working with child and family social work principles and practices.
• Experience with state-associated database programs and software.
• Knowledge of laws, policies, and regulations relating to human services program areas and legal procedures as related to program areas.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize work assignments.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with others and stay abreast of current trends and developments in the social work field.
• Ability to plan and manage work activities including service delivery, preparing reports and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities independently.
• Demonstrated ability to interview, assess needs, counsel, and refer clients to other resources.
• Demonstrated 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.

Special Requirements 

• Applicants are subject to a Criminal History Background search, including an FBI Fingerprint Background search, Central Registry search, DMV/driving record check
• All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory results of the required checks and screening.

Special Instructions - 

• Applications for this position must be submitted through this website.

• Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications will not be accepted.

Consideration for an interview is based solely on the information within the application/resume.