Job Description

Posting number: 2026-03868

Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families

Division: CW Field Operations - Region 4

Job classification: SOCIAL SERVICE SPECIALIST 5

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Social Services

Summary

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy— thriving physically, emotionally, and academically, nurtured by family and community.

Our vision is to ensure that “All Washington’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy— thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community."

Attention: This recruitment has been reposted for additional applicants. If you have already applied, no need to reapply; your application status remains unchanged. We currently have two vacancies.

Job Title: After-Hours Social Service Supervisor 5 (SSS5). On-Call.

Location: Kent, WA - Region 4. (Region Map). This position will be a hybrid position located at the Kent Office. The successful candidate will fill in for various shifts as needed. Work hours are non-standard and require a flexible schedule to respond to client needs and emergent situations. This position will travel to locations, as needed, throughout King County. This position requires time in the field and the office.

Closes: 10/19/2026

Hourly: $38.55 - $51.83. King County Premium: The salary listed does not include the additional 5% premium granted to all King County employees. This position will also receive 10% assignment pay. This is in addition to the regular base salary; the required duties include performing visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to conduct investigations for allegations of abuse and/or neglect to assess the safety of vulnerable children.

We are seeking After-Hours Social Service Supervisors (SSS5) for our Child Welfare Division in Region 4 who can work on-call/part-time during weekday evenings/overnights and on weekends. The designated office will be in Kent, and the After-Hours Supervisor will work throughout Region 4. Our After-Hours Unit is focused on supporting our team as they learn and develop their skills in child welfare practice. If you are looking for an opportunity for professional growth in Child Welfare and to provide mentorship in a supervisory role, apply today.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:

As a leader in our After-Hours office, you will use your strong assessment and engagement skills to supervise after-hours Social Service Specialists. In this role, you will provide staff with advanced-level guidance and specialized case management knowledge to accomplish the agency's goals of child protection, permanency planning, and enhancing child well-being. The After-Hours Supervisor serves on the front line of a unit of Social Service Specialists who provide essential after-hours services to clients across multiple units, including Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS) and Child Protective Services (CPS). The After-Hours unit works evenings, weekends, and holidays, when DCYF Offices are closed. We are looking for someone flexible who enjoys leading others and can flourish in a fast-paced environment, meeting different time frame requirements.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Receive, prioritize, and assign After-Hours Social Service Specialist assignments.
• Ensure After-Hours requests are logged and tracked to document activities completed during the shift.
• Assign After-Hours work and utilize resources that maximize the response the After-Hours Unit can provide to the field offices.
• Provide After-Hours crisis response to emergent calls received by Central Intake.
• Verify documentation is completed by field staff by the end of each shift.
• Review and monitor decisions related to the placement of children into agency alternative care.
• Schedule staff for emergency response coverage.
• Hire and train new and existing professional staff in law, policies, and procedures.
• Set and communicate staff performance expectations.
• Consult with social service specialists and give direction on assessing risk.
• Provide court testimony or mentor staff in preparation for court testimony.
• Follow and understand supervisory compliance with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement and agency rules.
• Review levels of risk in cases of alleged child abuse or neglect and ensure levels of agency intervention match levels of assessed risk and consider/apply permanency needs.
• Complete all required supervisory documentation within the case file and FamLink electronic record.

Required Qualifications:

Eight years of paid social service experience* AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline. *Paid social service experience must include assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

OR

One year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 4.

OR

Two years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3.

OR

A Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND three years of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.

OR

A Bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences OR any Bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND four years of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

NOTE: A two-year Master's degree in one of the above fields that includes a practicum may be substituted for one year of paid social service experience.

*Paid social service experience must include at least one (1) year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Master's in Social Work, completed practicum, and previous child welfare/case management experience.
• Previously demonstrated experience working with children and families.
• Previously demonstrated experience implementing risk assessment in cases using the preferred risk assessment model.
• Experience utilizing computer software programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.
• Experience using FAMLINK to maintain documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and comprehend with management, peers, clients, community colleagues, and the public. All positions at this level require critical thinking, use of shared decision-making strategies, and use of highly skilled interviewing techniques.
• Current knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on the delivery of child protective and child welfare services within Washington State.

How do I apply?

Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:

• College Transcripts: an unofficial copy is acceptable to apply.
• Cover Letter
• Current resume

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.

The incumbent must successfully complete Supervisor Core Training (SCT) within one year of initial appointment.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement. For more information on employee benefits eligibility, visit: Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB).

If you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact DCYF Recruiter. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email support@neogov.com. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22, or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, the individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact) the Social Security Number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veterans’ Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.

2026-03868