This job announcement is a readvertisement seeking a seasoned professional with a demonstrated record of success in a local Department of Social Services family services setting. Moreover, the agency is seeking highly motivated applicants with a desire to provide high quality internal and external customer service in the areas of adult and child protection and services. This recruitment effort is intended to fill one position which may include any or all the responsibilities mentioned below.
Family Services Specialist III is 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 contact with others and influence outcomes by participating via 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.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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 ensure 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 to accomplish service objectives; develop speeches and represent the agency via program training and workshops; work in stressful situations and maintain diplomacy; plan and manage own work activities, e.g., service delivery, preparing reports and correspondence, recordkeeping responsibilities, and related activities; establish and maintain effective relationships with others; and stay abreast of current trends and developments in the social work field.
Responsibilities (exemplary, as opposed to exhaustive, list)
• Investigates adult and child abuse and neglect reports and complaints, interviewing and assessing strengths and needs, safety, permanency, and wellbeing.
• Provides ongoing case management services in the assigned program areas.
• Refers for and coordinates services within specific areas of responsibility, informing clients of their right or obligation to participate.
• Develops written services plans documenting SMARTer goals, objectives, and details of the services provided for each case.
• Establishes and maintains case records.
• Conducts field work/home visits and transports adults and children to placements, meetings, therapy sessions, doctor and dental appointments, and for family and fictive kin visitation.
• Interprets laws, policies, and regulations as applied to specific areas of responsibility.
• Prepares court-ordered home assessments and custody home studies.
• Attends court, testifies, and coordinates cases with attorneys.
• Practices fiscal management within program constraints.
• Provides after hours on-call coverage and responds to emergencies in adult/child protective services and/or foster care.
• Practices positive community relations inter- and intra-agency, including but not limited to public education related to assigned areas of responsibility and expertise.
Basic 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). 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.
Capacity and willingness to travel overnight
Capacity and willingness to perform after-hours on-call duties related to child protective services, adult protective services, and foster care
Capacity and willingness to operate within a shelter environment during a natural or other disaster
Preferred Qualifications:
Considerable experience in the assigned program area—involving one or more programs—along with completion of required training or an equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities. In addition, candidates should have more than one year of experience working within a local Department of Social Services family services program and must have achieved permanent employment status with the same agency, demonstrating successful completion of the probationary period.
Special Requirements:
A valid Virginia driver’s license is required. Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results from fingerprint-based criminal history and Virginia Department of Social Services Central Registry inquiries. Additional employment-related screenings may also be required, such as drug testing and verification of motor vehicle insurance.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Any interview offer is based solely on the information provided within the application submitted. Hand-delivered applications and any received by mail, email, or fax will not be accepted.
Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services is an equal opportunity employer and honors the Commonwealth’s veteran’s hiring preference.
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.
