Family Services Specialist I
: Job Details :

Family Services Specialist I

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 in permanency. Our foster care staff work with children and families by ensuring their safety, well-being and permanency by creative case management, coordination of resources, and working towards reunification. Our low, manageable caseloads afford the Family Services Specialist the opportunity to provide a concentration on direct service work with families, children, and adults.

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

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of social work principles and practices, human behavior, and motivational theory, and social, economic, and health problems.
• 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 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 to Applicants:

• 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.

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer