The City of Roanoke is seeking a Family Services Specialist to work with out CPS In-Home division The successful candidate provides support and assistance to agency clients in meeting their personal, social, health, and economic needs. The role involves identifying problems and referring families to outside services to address the needs and issues that are of risk to the safety of families and children in their own homes. It also includes maintaining case records, preparing written reports of services, and testifying in court hearings when required. This program specifically works with families whose children are at risk of being placed in foster care.
The work involves facilitating services that address mental health, substance abuse disorders, and skill-based services for parents within their homes to prevent placement of children outside the home. The position is also responsible for creating prevention strategies, developing prevention service plans, and accessing federal funding in order to keep families together. Collaboration with agencies such as the courts, schools, and other community partners is essential.
The position also entails managing a caseload within the Child Protective Services (CPS) program while completing routine paperwork in accordance with Virginia State Code requirements. The ability to multitask and respond professionally and promptly to crisis situations is crucial. The ideal candidate should also be a team player, willing to assist co-workers, and flexible to work outside regular hours when necessary. Participation in a rotating after-hours beeper team that responds to emergency CPS/APS/Foster Care situations is required.
***NOTE: If you do not hold a State of Virginia Drivers License, you will be required to provide a certified copy of a DMV report from the state of previous residence before you can be considered for this position.***
The City of Roanoke is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA/M/F/Disability Employer.
To elevate the performance of the organization, we are committed to respecting, celebrating, and embracing the collective mixture of differences and similarities between our employees as a rich tapestry. Our behaviors will demonstrate open communication, and we will seek opportunities to learn, recognizing and rewarding actions that promote acceptance while suspending judgment. By doing this, we will foster an inclusive, open work environment that delivers excellent service and creates a more vibrant and inviting community.
This is a non-exempt position.
Supports and assists agency clients with personal, social, health and economic needs.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Interviews clients to assess the nature and extent of needs
Identifies problems, counsels with clients and confers with supervisor in preparing social studies in the formulation and delivery of service plans
Maintains records through the course of client's service relationships with agency
Makes referrals for service to agencies, such as clinics, employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, etc
Performs work with agencies such as juvenile and domestic relations courts, circuit courts, etc
Provides protection and care to abandoned, abused and neglected children and adults on a regular and emergency basis in potentially dangerous situations
Works with abusive or neglecting parents and families to help effect changes in family situation, usually in a family home setting
Makes decisions to remove children from dangerous situations and recommendations regarding institutionalization of adults and children
Studies homes for day care, foster care of adoption placement and/or foster care and adoptive placements
Maintains case records, prepares written reports of services, findings and actions
Serves as agency representative on a variety of multi disciplinary teams
Shares a 24-hour on-call rotation
Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or 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.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and interpret documents such as laws, policies, regulations, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to respond effectively to inquiries orally and in writing. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
***CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS***
Possession of a valid appropriate driver's permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. If you do not have a Drivers License issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia, you must submit a certified copy of your driving record issued by the DMV from your previous state of residence with your application.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Requires the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at keyboard or work station. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk. Some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.
Must be willing to work outside normal work hours and respond to both routine and emergency situations.
SENSORY REQUIREMENTS
Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as traffic hazards, violent individuals, communicable diseases, or rude/irate customers.
This is a job description and not an individualized position description. A job description defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but it is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
The Commonwealth of Virginia is located in the South Atlantic region of the United States. It was the 10th state to be admitted to the Union on June 25, 1788. Home to approximately 8 million residents, Virginia is the 12th most populous state in the United States. The capital is Richmond, and its most populous city is Virginia Beach.
The narrative history of the Commonwealth of Virginia often begins with the founding of Jamestown in 1607, near what is now modern day Williamsburg, Virginia. Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in the New World, and the Virginia General Assembly, established on July 30, 1619, is now recognized as the oldest legislative body in the western hemisphere. When Virginia became a royal colony in 1624, the robust tobacco trade that had been developing in Virginia helped establish the American colonies as a powerful economic force. During the American Revolution, Virginia witnessed the final surrender of British forces at Yorktown and later became known as the birthplace of many revolution-era figures and future American presidents, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. To date, 8 United States presidents have been born in Virginia, more than in any other state.
The modern government of Virginia is nearly identical in structure to the federal government, and is divided into 3 branches, these being the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches. The Virginia General Assembly is comprised of the 100-member House of Delegates and the 40-member Senate. A governor and lieutenant governor are elected every 4 years. Governors cannot be elected to or serve consecutive terms. Virginia’s judicial system consists of the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Court of Appeals of Virginia, the Circuit Courts, and the lower General District Courts and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts. Virginia has 13 electoral votes in presidential elections, and possesses 11 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
