Under limited supervision, facilitates, coordinates, and leads the case management efforts in multiple social work service programs administered by the City Social Services Department including protective services for adults and children, foster care, prevention, intake, and/or quality performance initiatives.May coordinate specific services providedbythedepartmentwithoverallresponsibilityforthedailyactivitiesand outcomes.Tasks include providing direct service to clients, including leading complex cases, assessing, screening clients, preparing reports for and appearing in court, training, mentoring, maintaining records and reports, and, determining and pursuing necessary action to meet client needs. The Senior Family Services Specialist functions as the lead worker and provides support and coverage in the absence of the supervisor. 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.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.Since every duty associated with this position may not be describedherein,employeesmayberequiredtoperformdutiesnotspecifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
Instructs, assigns and reviews work. Plans the work of others. Maintains standards through the effective coordination of activities. Provides guidance and assistance in completing daily tasks. Provides input for developmental needs of staff members.
Coordinates Child Welfare and Adult Services programs. Establishes and updates procedures. Monitors program and outcomes. Provides recommendations for improvements and changes to the program to meet program goals.
Acts as the lead worker in special program areas including community planning and organization.
Serves on committees.
Provides input and recommendations and participates in planning and evaluating department programs.
Assesses clients for a variety of needs (physical, mental, emotional) and assists with obtaining appropriate services.
Interacts with and performs tasks to assist clients. Conducts interviews and investigations and prepares related documentation. Partners with clients to draft and implement service plans including participation in benefits programs, group and individual counseling sessions, medical or psychiatric treatment and related needs.
Coordinates clients’ access to services. Maintains contact with clients and their families. Conducts home visits and community visits. Assists clients with services to facilitate stability including counseling, transportation, health services and program referral.
Participatesinlegalandcourtrelatedactivities.Preparescourtreportsand service plans for court. Testifies in court for matters of support, disposition hearings and criminal proceedings.
Receives and responds to inquiries and provides information based on general knowledge of Social Service programs. Refers inquiries to appropriate personnel.
Coordinates emergency services with other community agencies to assist clients affected by catastrophic property loss or homelessness.
Completes the Universal Assessment Instrument and screens for residential and/or nursing home placement for clients.
Contacts approved vendors to obtain services for clients in areas of housing, utilities, medical assistance, food and related services. Arranges payment through department and/or community service agencies.
Conducts CPS and APS investigations. Determines status of Differential Response or validity of complaints.
Interviews,approves,andsupervisesin-homenproviders. Processes necessary documentation to ensure proper payment to service providers.
Completes routine office tasks to support daily office operations. Composes and types correspondence and forms. Answers incoming calls, providesinformation,forwardscallsortakesmessages.Copiesdocuments. Faxes information.
Makes presentations to community and civic groups pertaining to multiple social work programs. Assists in various community service projects.
Remainsavailableforemergencyafterhourduties.
Performsotherrelateddutiesasrequired.
Minimum 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 AdministrativeCodeofVirginia).Considerableexperiencein assigned program area/human services programs and completion of required trainingprograms.Workexperienceinaleadershiprole.Equivalentcombination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.PossessionofaBSWorMSWdegreeandaCommonwealthofVirginia Social Worker license are desirable.
Preferred Qualifications
PossessionofaBSWorMSWdegreeandaCommonwealthofVirginia Social Worker license are desirable.
3-4 years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area.
Employeemustbewillingtowork after-hours on-call on evenings, nights, weekends and holidays and disasterrelatedassignments,including emergencyshelterduty,intheeventofanaturaldisasteroremergency.
Knowledgeofthepolicies,procedures,andactivitiesoftheCityandor departmental practices as they pertain to the performance of duties relating to the position of Family Services Specialist.
Ability to facilitate, coordinate, and perform case management within varioussocialworkserviceprogramsadministeredbythe CitySocialServicesDepartment.
Knowledgeofthegoalsandobjectivesoftheprogramsincluding Child Welfare and / or Adult Programs.
Abilitytoevaluate,audit,deduce,and/orassessdatausingestablished criteria.Includesexercisingdiscretionindeterminingactualorprobable consequencesandinreferencingsuchevaluationtoidentifyandselect alternatives.
Abilitytoperformina leadership capacity,
Ability to read a variety of reports, informational and technical documentation,directions,instructions,andmethodsandprocedures. Requires the ability to write reports with proper format, punctuation, spellingandgrammar,usingallpartsofspeech.Requirestheabilityto speakwithandbeforeotherswithpoise,voicecontrol,andconfidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.
Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involvingevaluationofinformationagainstmeasurableorverifiablecriteria.
Abilitytoutilizeawidevarietyofreference,descriptive,advisoryand/or design data and information.
Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the abilitytocalculatedecimalsandpercentages;theabilitytoutilizeprinciples of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.
Abilitytoinspectitemsforproperlength,width,andshape,visuallywith job-related equipment.
Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must beadaptabletoperformingunderminimalstresswhenconfrontedwithan emergency.
Ability to work directly with clients and explain multiplesocialworkserviceprograms,determiningandpursuingnecessary actiontomeetclientneeds,counselingclients,andprovidingorassistingin obtaining access to necessary human services assistance.
Knowledgeoftheterminology,principlesandmethodsutilizedwithinthe department.
Abilitytokeepabreastofanychangesinpolicy,methods,administrative changes,orrelatedoperationsupdatesastheypertaintodepartmental operations and activities.
Knowledgeoflawsandordinancesaffectingtheprovisionofsocial services to clients.
Abilitytocomprehend,interpret,andapplyregulations,procedures,and related information.
Knowledgeofthemethodsandtechniquesfordevelopmentand administering programs.
Abilitytoeffectivelycommunicateandinteractwithsupervisorsand membersofthegeneralpublic,andallothergroupsinvolvedinthe activities of the department.
Abilitytoassembleinformationandmakewrittenreportsanddocumentsin a concise, clear, and effective manner.
Abilitytouseindependentjudgmentandworkwithlittledirectsupervision as situations warrant.
Abilitytoperformrequired calculations.
Skillintheuseofcomputersandsoftwareprogramstypicallyutilizedinthe position.
Abilitytoread,understand,andinterprettechnicalreportsandrelated materials.
QualityofWork
QuantityofWork
Dependability
Attendance
InitiativeandEnthusiasm
Judgment
Cooperation
Relationships
CoordinationofWork
Safety
Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects andmaterialsoflightweight(5-10pounds).Tasksmayinvolveextendedperiods of time at a keyboard or work station. Requires the ability to read a variety of reports,informationalandtechnicaldocumentation,directions,instructions,and methods and procedures. Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using job-related office equipment. Requires the ability to handle a variety of items,job-relatedequipment,controlknobs,switches,etc.Musthavetheability to use one hand for twisting or turning motion while coordinating other hand with different activities.Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. Requires the ability to talk and/or hear.
Exempt
VDSS is one of the largest Commonwealth agencies, partnering with 120 local departments of social services, along with faith-based and non-profit organizations, to promote the well-being of children and families statewide. We proudly serve alongside nearly 13,000 state and local human services professionals throughout the Social Services System, who ensure that thousands of Virginia's most vulnerable citizen have access to best services and benefits available to them.
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.
