Family Services Specialist Iv

Commonwealth of Virginia York

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Hiring Range: $55,000–86,000 (depending on qualifications and budgetary considerations)

Title Description – This is the beginning leadership level in the occupational group for Family Services. Employees function as a lead worker for subordinate family services specialists and/or act as an expert resource specialist. Employees serve as support for the supervisor by performing tasks such as ensuring staff coverage, workload balance, training staff, reviewing case files, and providing back-up supervision of staff. Employees may provide consultation on complex cases and may also work on complex case assignments such as individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education. Employees work within established policies, procedures and guidelines with a high degree of independence, seeking supervisory assistance only in unusually complicated and difficult cases/situations. The Family Services Specialists IV class is distinguished from the Family Services Supervisor class by the latter’s spending a majority of time in supervisory activities such as handling personnel issues, problems, and evaluating the work of others.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Review court reports, service plans, assessments and investigations.
• Provide guidance, consultation and supervision to other staff in the absence of the supervisor.
• Assist in preparing court reports, home studies, service plans and CPS dispositions.
• Provide direct intervention and service delivery for difficult, complex social work cases.
• Attend court, testify in court and coordinate cases with attorneys.
• Screen CPS referrals for validity, assign referrals and staff new cases with worker.
• Conduct field visits.
• Function as a lead worker providing guidance and training to other staff; coordinate program functions, develop programs, and evaluate materials.
• Accompany the assigned family services specialist to court.
• Investigate high profile cases; testify in court proceedings.
• Analyse case information to make sound judgments within the framework of existing laws, policies, and regulations.
• Stay abreast of current trends and developments in the social work field.
• Plan and manage own work activities including service delivery, preparing reports, and correspondence.
• Represent the agency at various functions such as making speeches at civic and business associations, providing training and workshops on child/adult abuse and neglect for public and private organisations.
• Provide after hours on-call coverage and respond to emergencies in child/adult protective services and/or foster care.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge of social work principles and practices; human behaviour and motivational theory; laws, policies, and regulations relating to human services program areas; investigating and interviewing techniques; and the assessment and treatment of behavioural and affective disorders.
• Principles and processes for providing customer and personal services to include needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of satisfaction.
• Principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counselling and guidance; and therapeutic treatment technique.
• Some knowledge of supervisory practices and principles if required in specific assignment.
• Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated software; and the operation of a motor vehicle.
• Demonstrated ability to provide guidance and training in program areas to other employees if required in specific assignment.
• Write court reports, home studies, evaluations, mediation agreements, letters, committee reports, presentations, and general information.
• Make clinical judgments, assess clients’ needs, and formulate plan of action.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Interview, assess needs, counsel and refer clients to other resources as needed.
• Investigate high profile 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 ensure the delivery of appropriate services to the client.
• Analyse 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.
• 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. Considerable experience in assigned program area/human services programs and completion of required training programs. Work experience in a leadership role. 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.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field or minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any field and a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area.

Preferred Qualifications:

Considerable experience in assigned program area (i.e. Foster Care, Adoption and Family Services unit) and completion of required training programs (i.e. VADSS Child Protective Services and/or Foster Care). Work experience in a leadership role. Supervisory experience or work experience in a leadership role; supervising Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services, Adult Services, and Intake staff. Knowledge of and experience in applying complex federal and state laws, regulations, policies and procedures that govern compliance requirements related to Child Welfare Programs particularly Foster Care and Adoption. Experience in working with the Juvenile Court System. 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. Experience with and understanding of agency software programs such as VaCMS, OASIS, and Safe Measures. Prefer experience providing direct services in Foster Care, CPS, Resource Family approval, ICPC and Adoptions.

Special Requirements:

• Applicants must have a valid Virginia driver’s license without restrictions and the driving record must meet agency standards on or before the hire date.
• Applicants must also meet a level of insurability set by the agency.
• 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.
• Employee must be willing to work in the community emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.

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