Posting number: 2026-00261
Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families
Division: CW Field Operations - Region 4
Job classification: SOCIAL SERVICE SPECIALIST 3
Posting type: Open & Promotional
Categories: Legal, Mental Health, Public Relations, Public Safety, Risk Management, Social Services, Investigative, Safety, Human Services, Security, Counseling, Community and Social Services, Program Management
Our vision is to ensure that
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 announcement will be used to generate a candidate pool for 2026 to fill vacancies within Region 4 as they occur. If you have already applied, no need to reapply; your application status remains unchanged.
Job Title: Social Service Specialist 2 (SSS2) and Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3). Units: CPS, CPS/FAR, and CFWS.
Locations: Region 4 - King County. Offices are in Kent (SW & SE), Queen Anne (Seattle), Rainier Valley (Seattle), Bellevue, and West Seattle. Region Map. Travel is required for this position. This position will travel within its assigned areas of work, and the incumbent will be required to travel with clients as cases require, as well as travel to attend trainings and meetings in other locations.
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent.
Salary: $66,072 - $93,288 Annually. King County Premium: The salary listed does not include the additional 5% premium granted to all King County employees. Assignment Pay: When the incumbent reaches the goal class of Social Service Specialist 3, they will receive 10% assignment pay. This assignment pay is in addition to the regular base salary as the required duties include performing visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to conduct investigations for allegations of abuse and/or neglect and assess the safety of vulnerable children.
Review Date: Applications are reviewed regularly.
DCYF is seeking Social Service Specialists at the SSS2 or SSS3 level to join us at one of our office locations in Region 4, King County. This recruitment will be used to create a candidate pool to fill vacancies as they occur within multiple offices, programs, and units for Child Protective Services (CPS), Family Assessment Response (FAR), and Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS). If you are passionate about working with parents to safely care for their children and secure a safe, nurturing, and permanent family for every young person, whether through reunification with their birth family, kinship care, or adoption, one of these positions may be perfect for you. We are seeking Social Service Specialist 3s or Social Service Specialist 2s "in-training" to become Social Service Specialist 3. Apply today and join our amazing and supportive team in Region 4!
Click here to learn more about DCYF.
The Opportunity: In this role, you will assess complex family situations, interview children and parents, evaluate child safety, develop plans to protect children in their homes, and offer services to children and families.
CPS (Child Protective Services): CPS Specialists investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect and provide the appropriate recommendations and services for families. Under the CPS umbrella is the Family Assessment Response (FAR). FAR is an alternative CPS pathway for families with low and moderate allegations of child abuse or neglect. Qualifying families may choose this pathway. Social Service Specialists work with families to keep children safe and build on their strengths to establish community support for long-term success.
CFWS (Child and Family Welfare Services): CFWS Specialists provide a variety of strategies to achieve safe and timely permanency for children. Permanency planning involves active and reasonable efforts for timely reunification and identifying and monitoring placement that is in the child’s best interest, safe, stable, least restrictive, and near the parent and the child’s school when possible. This requires safety, permanency, and well-being activities.
Five (5) years of paid social service experience AND you must have completed 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
A Master's degree in social services, human services, or behavioral sciences, or a Master’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND a completed practicum.
A Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a Bachelor’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND one (1) year of paid social service experience.
One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1 (SSS1).
Six (6) years of paid social service experience* AND you must have completed 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
A Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a Master’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience*.
A Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND two (2) years of paid social service experience*.
One year as a Social Service Specialist 2 (SSS2).
*Paid social service experience must include at least one (1) year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.
As a Social Service Specialist, you are required to successfully complete a mandatory 9.5-week Worker Core Training (WCT). This training provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed to perform core job functions, including assessing risk and safety, supporting child well-being, gathering information, and conducting case and permanency planning. During the training, you will have opportunities to practice these skills through classroom activities, simulation exercises, and debriefs. Upon hire, you will be assigned to the nearest available training cohort. The training includes four (4) weeks at our Seattle training site (scheduled for Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8). For those eligible for travel from their assigned duty location, DCYF covers hotel accommodations and per diem costs.
The WCT curriculum is designed to prepare Social Service Specialists for the responsibilities of the role, including:
How do I apply?
Complete your applicant profile with your full work history and highest education details, and complete the supplemental questions as accurately as possible. Please attach a copy of your college transcripts to confirm the required courses. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application submission; however, official transcripts will be required at the time of hire. Incomplete applications may be screened out of the recruitment process.
Attach the following:
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 formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of their 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 need 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 or NGB Form 22, or other verification of military service. Please blackout (redact)the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.
2026-00261
With its great natural beauty, Clark County, Washington, always has attracted people and settlements. Framed by the scenic Cascade Range to the east and the majestic Columbia River to the south and west, the area is a picturesque place to work, play and live.
Named for Captain William Clark of Lewis and Clark Expedition frame, our county is one of the fastest growing regions in Washington state and the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. Today, more than 440,000 people call Clark County home.
Clark County government is one of the county's largest employers, providing a wide range of challenging positions for about 1,570 people. You can learn about current job openings, the application process, job descriptions, pay schedule and employee benefits on the Clark County Human Resources website at https://www.clark.wa.gov/human-resources.
The mission of Clark County government is to enhance the quality of life in our diverse community by providing services with integrity, openness and accountability.
