Family Services Specialist 1 @ Virginia Department of Social Services

Title Description- Family Services Specialist I represents the entry level employees working under close supervision while being trained in program areas such as, Adult/Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Foster Care/’Adoption, Child Care, and Employment Services. Employees perform routine- to journey-level casework activities and the casework usually is reviewed by the supervisor prior to implementing a case action. Upon completion of the training program and attainment of necessary approvals, the employee shall be redefined to a full-performance Family Services Specialist II and becomes eligible for a pay increase as defined by the local agency compensation plan. 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.

General Work Tasks (Illustrative Only) –

Interprets laws, policies and regulations as applied to specific area 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 plans;
Provides case management services to monitor compliance;
Manages program waiting lists;
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 in area of expertise; and
Provides after hours on-call coverage and responds to emergencies in child/adult protective services and/or foster care.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge- Some knowledge of: social work principles and practices; human behavior and motivational theory; and social, economic, and health problems.

Skills- Skill in operating a motor vehicle and personal computer with associated software.

Abilities- Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing; interview, assess needs, counsel and refer clients to other resources as needed; develop and implement service plans in order to insure the delivery of appropriate services to the client; make sound judgments within the framework of existing laws, policies, and regulations; respond to the client's emotions in order to accomplish services objectives; plan and manage own work activities including service delivery preparing reports, and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities; establish and maintain effective relationships; and stay abreast of current trends and developments in the social work field.

Education and Experience- 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. Possession of a BSW or MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are desirable.

Minimum Qualifications: Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services fiekd or minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in Human Services area as mandated relating to human service program areas; and social, economic, and helath problems. Knowledge of and/or work experience in legal processes, to include preparing legal documents and providing court testimony. Skill in operating a motor vehicle and personal computer (word processing and database). Demonstrated ability to : communicate effectively both orally and in writing, interview, assess needs, counsel and refer clients to other resources as needed; develop and implement service plans in order to ensure the delivery of appropriate services to the client; make sound judgements within the framework of existing laws, policies, and regulations, respond to the client's emotions in order to accomplish services objectives; plan and manage own work activities under supervision to include service delivery preparing reports, and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities; meeting work requirement which have time sensitive deadlines; establish and maintain effective relationships; and stay abreast of current trends and developments in the social work field.

Preferred Qualifications: Possession of a BSW or MSW degree and/or a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license. Prefer previous experience working with social work principles and practices. Prefer experience with agency associasted software. Prefer experience in assigned program area and completion of required trianing programs. Prefer experience with Child Protective Services and related programs.

Special Requirements: All applicants are subject to a DMV/driving record check, pre-employment druge screen, Central Registry (CPS) check and/or criminal history search.

The investigation may include: fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, employment verification and references, verification of education (relevant to employment), credit checks (relevant to employment) and other checks requested by the hiring authority.

This position requires being on an on-call rotation for after hours response.

Employee will also have work in the community emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.

Special Instructions to Applicants: Based on this positing, this posiotion may be filled as a Family Services Specialist I or a Family Services Specialsit II. Applicants are encouraged to provide a complete listing of work experienve and qualifications on the application.

Applicants for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications and resumes will not be accepted.

Family Services Specialist 1

Virginia Department of Social Services

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