Family Services Specialist - Foster Care/Adoption

Hiring Range: $46,178 to $59,918

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

FAMILY SERVICES SPECIALIST - FOSTER CARE/ADOPTION

SALARY: $46,178 - $72,637 Annually

INTERNAL DEPARTMENTAL HIRING RANGE: $46,178 - $57,064

JOB OPEN DATE: 5-3-2024

JOB CLOSE DATE: 5-19-2024

Job Summary:

Under general supervision, facilitates, coordinates, and provides counseling and case management in multiple social work service programs administered by the City Social Services Department including protective services for adults and children as well as foster care.  Tasks include screening clients and explaining multiple social work service programs, determining and pursuing necessary action to meet client needs, counseling clients, and providing or assisting in obtaining access to necessary human services assistance.  Maintains various records and case files.  Prepares required reports. 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.  Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description. 

Essential Job Functions:

• Interviews applicants, explaining scope of multiple benefit programs and determining eligibility for assistance. Secures and verifies financial, social and employment data from applicant. Assists applicant in completing required forms, as necessary. 
• Evaluates information received from applicants for consistency, accuracy and completeness.
• Identifies needs of clients. Explains available programs, rights and responsibilities. Refers clients to other Social Services programs and ancillary agencies, including child support enforcement officials, as appropriate. 
• Explores other possible sources of income for applicants. 
• Completes mathematical computations. Determines amount and type of assistance clients may be eligible or ineligible to receive.
• Maintains contact with clients, visiting clients' homes as necessary. Receives inquiries and provides information based on detailed knowledge of multiple benefit programs or refers inquiries to appropriate personnel.
• Composes and type correspondence and forms. Assumes responsibility for correctness of spelling, punctuation, format and grammar.
• Plans and organizes caseload, establishing priorities and scheduling appointments.
• Utilizes numerous computer-driven data entry and file maintenance programs to retrieve files and other information required to determine eligibility for assistance. Performs various data entry duties.  
• Research files and records to obtain data for inclusion in periodic review of clients' eligibility status and/or re-evaluation of applications through appeals process.
• Identifies instances of fraud. Makes appropriate referrals and contacts.
• Maintains data from various sources. Performs research for completion of periodic reports. Organizes data for analysis.
• Maintains a variety of confidential records and files.
• Participates in coverage of emergency/disaster related incidents up to and including sheltering of individuals and families.
• Remains on-call for emergency after hour duties.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Employee must be willing to work disaster related assignments, including emergency shelter duty, in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.

Required 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 (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia). Experience (typically 1-2 years) in assigned program area and completion of required training programs or equivalent 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. Requires a valid driver’s license.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of local, State and federal laws, ordinances, rules and regulations governing multiple benefit programs, as applicable. 
• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, rules and regulations of multiple benefit programs as administered through the State and City Social Services programs. 
• Knowledge of the forms, documents and manuals associated with multiple benefit programs. 
• Knowledge of other programs administered through the City Social Services Department, and through community human services agencies or volunteer groups. 
• Knowledge of the social and economic factors in the community. 
• Knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of public administration. 
• Ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.
• Ability to perform in a supervisory capacity over subordinate supervisors.
• Ability to read a variety of reports, informational and technical documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures.  Requires the ability to write reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.
• Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving evaluation of information against measurable or verifiable criteria.
• Ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.
• Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.  
• Ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape, visually with job-related equipment.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal stress when confronted with an emergency.
• Ability to use common office machines, including computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs. 
• Ability to compile technical information from a variety of sources and prepare clear and concise reports. 
• Ability to exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in analyzing and applying standards to a variety of situations. 
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form. 
• Ability to explain rules, regulations and policies of multiple benefit programs in terms understood by applicants and the general public. 
• Ability to exercise considerable tact, courtesy and discretion in contact with program applicants and clients, and the general public. 
• Ability to exercise considerable discretion in handling confidential files. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Performance Evaluation Criteria:

• Quality of Work
• Quantity of Work
• Dependability
• Attendance 
• Initiative and Enthusiasm
• Judgment
• Cooperation
• Relationships
• Coordination of Work
• Safety

Physical Requirements:

Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines which include computers, calculators, copiers, facsimile machines, etc. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for periods of time. Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, records, forms, statistical summaries, etc. Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages, including legal, medical and insurance terminology. Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment. Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. Requires the ability to talk and/or hear. May require the ability to differentiate colors and shades of color.

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt 

CONTACT INFORMATION: vdssjobs@suffolkva.us 

Suffolk Department of Social Services - 135 Hall Avenue Suite B - Suffolk, VA 23434