Family Services Specialist III

Hiring Range: $55,000 to Commensurate with Experience

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

In Warren County, everything we do is designed to inspire positive change and empower our residents to thrive, build resilience and promote wellbeing within the community.  We believe in thinking differently and challenging the notions of traditional Social Services.  We prioritize customer service, family empowerment, personal responsibility and continuous learning.

This the specialist level in the class series for Family Services. Employees specialize in program areas and assume more complex duties such as: interviewing/investigating in cases involving suspected child/adult abuse/neglect, out-of home placements, guardianships, emergency protective orders, and adoptions; testifying in legal proceedings; and placing children in foster/adoptive homes. Employees have contacts with others and influence outcomes by participating on task forces, strategic planning, mentoring, teaching, and conducting outreach. Programs areas generally include Adult/Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Foster Care, and Adoptions. Additionally, in some agencies, positions may be partly dedicated to Child Care and Employment Services in addition to other program areas. The Family Services Specialist III is distinguished from the Family Services Specialist IV class by the latter’s functioning as a lead worker, or an expert resource specialist.

The Warren County Department of Social Services is looking for a Senior Level Family Services Specialist III specializing in CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

Core Responsibilities:

• Investigating Child Abuse and Neglect: They investigate allegations, including conducting interviews with children, parents, and other parties, performing home visits to assess safety and living conditions, and documenting observations and interactions.

• Assessing Child Safety and Risk: CPS workers perform child safety assessments, determining if abuse or neglect has occurred or if there is a risk of harm. They also assess risk factors for potential future maltreatment.

• Developing and Implementing Safety Plans: They create and monitor safety plans to enhance child safety and reduce risk of future maltreatment.

• Providing Crisis Intervention and Support: CPS workers provide immediate crisis intervention and supportive counseling to families facing serious problems such as mental illness, substance abuse, and family violence.

• Case Management: They manage case plans for children's well-being, provide culturally competent case management services, maintain detailed case records, and document their interactions.

• Collaborating with Stakeholders: They collaborate with professionals like law enforcement and other community organizations to gather and share information and inform decision-making.

• Connecting Families with Resources: They connect families with essential support services like counseling, housing, and financial assistance.

• Court Involvement: They represent the agency in court proceedings, interpreting laws, filing petitions, preparing court reports, and testifying before the court.

• On-Call Duties: They often participate in an on-call rotation to respond to emergencies and crisis situations, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

General Work Tasks:

-  Monitors, coordinates and administers specific assigned programs;  
- Coordinates services within specific area of responsibility;  
- writes service plans, and presents cases to determine appropriate services;  
- Tracks expenditures, prepares/submits budget estimates and ensures payment for 
services;  
- Interprets laws, policies and regulations as applied to specific area of responsibility;  
- Completes necessary federal, state and local planning and reporting requirements;  
- Manages program waiting lists;  
- Provides case management services to monitor compliance;  
- Provides foster care casework services;  
- Trains foster parents; submits progress reports to the court;  
- Refers families to treatment resources within the community;  
- Transports children to placements, meetings, therapy sessions, doctor and dental 
appointments, and for visitation with families;  
- Attends court, testifies in court and coordinates cases with attorneys; 
- Provides parent education and support for families in target population; 
- Interviews and assesses clients and assigns to appropriate groups; 
- Informs clients of service programs and the rules and regulations, and right to participate;   
- Provides after hours on-call coverage and responds to emergencies in child/adult protective services and/or foster care;  
- Performs investigative duties to include screens referrals for validity;

Knowledge- Considerable knowledge of: social work principles and practices; human behavior and motivational theory; laws, policies, and regulations relating to human services program areas; investigating and interviewing techniques; legal procedures as related to program area; and social, economic, and health problems. 

Skills- Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated software and the operation of a motor vehicle. 

Abilities- Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing; interview, assess needs, counsel and refer clients to other resources as needed; investigate high risk cases; testify in court proceedings; develop and present training programs and other presentations; interpret program laws, policies and regulations; develop and implement service plans in order to insure the delivery of appropriate services to the client; analyze case information to make sound judgments within the framework of existing laws, policies, and regulations; respond to the client's emotions in order to accomplish services objectives; develop speeches and represent the agency on program training and workshops; work in stressful situations and maintain diplomacy; plan and manage own work activities including service delivery preparing reports, and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities; establish and maintain effective relationships with others; 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 (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia). Considerable experience 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.