Family Services Specialist 4

As the Lead Family Services Specialist for Family Engagement, you will assist with the development and implementation of the family engagement efforts for families receiving child welfare services through Smyth County Department of Social Services. This is a leadership position that involves facilitating child-specific, strengths-based, and family-centered meetings to develop and implement service plans that lead to permanent living arrangements, such as reunification, placement with relatives, or adoption. In this role, you will also provide fiscal oversight for the reunification budget and champion family finding activities using tools like Accurint and genograms to identify relative resources. Being the Lead Family Services Specialist means that you will need to provide on-call supervision to staff, offering supervisory coverage in the absence of the supervisor. You will also act as a representative of the Department on the Family Assessment Planning Team (FAPT). The ideal candidate for this position will be a compassionate, skilled professional dedicated to fostering positive outcomes for children and families. Perform other work as required.

Here's What You Need:

• 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 (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia).
• Considerable experience in assigned program area/human services programs.
• Any combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Possession of a BSW or MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are desirable.

We’re Looking for Ideal Candidates Who Have:

• Considerable experience working in foster care programs preferred.
• Excellent organizational, time management, oral/written communication, interpersonal, public relations and supervisory skills preferred.
• Knowledge and ability to apply social work principles and Virginia policies in family services programs preferred.
• Ability to demonstrate exceptional critical thinking and decision-making skills during crisis situations preferred.
• Computer competency preferred.
• Exceptional ability to collaborate and achieve performance goals preferred.
• Ability to plan and manage own work activities including service delivery preparing reports, and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities preferred.

Current valid driver’s license and good driving record required. Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check and education/degree verification required.  

The use of medical marijuana for this position is prohibited.

This position is part of an Emergency Shelter Team during times of natural disaster, reporting to shelter duty as required.

The website will provide a confirmation receipt when the application is submitted for consideration. Consideration for an interview is based solely on the information within the application. Please refer to your account for the status of your application.

Each day is unpredictable and very different. Each family that staff encounters is unique. We'll be honest--this is intense. It's a stressful high paced job with critical outcomes.  You must be committed to serving families and some of our families have experienced trauma. You will assist in the professional development of staff. You have the power to create positive change and have a direct impact on the Permanency Services Program. You must be flexible and comfortable with taking a leadership role and champion interventions that are implemented. You will work outside of normal business hours which include providing on-call supervision for emergencies 24 hours a day on a rotating schedule including weekends and holidays. Being a Lead Family Services Specialist in Permanency isn't for everyone, but if you are committed to making a real difference in the lives of others and are looking for a career rather than a job, we want you on our team.