Family Services Specialist I - CPS/APS Intake (Hotline)

This is a PT Family Services Specialist I position in the Child Protective Services ( CPS ) Intake and Adult Protective Services ( APS ) Intake Unit. The Intake unit is the first point of contact for reporting abuse and neglect of Chesapeake's most vulnerable population. Under general supervision of the CPS Intake Supervisor, this Family Service Specialist I perform tasks independently to protect Children/Adults and build family resilience as articulated by local, state, and federal policies and laws. Duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Serves as the first point of contact for Chesapeake residents to report child and adult abuse and neglect by ways of telephone, email, fax, and police report, conducts initial assessment of abuse and neglect reports and alerts supervisors to high priority and crisis assignments that need immediate response
• Provides information and referral resources, and brief immediate crisis intervention to callers for referrals that do not warrant a Child Protective Services
• Applies knowledge and critical thinking skills to interpret Virginia Department of Social Services ( VDSS ) to determine validity of child and/or adult abuse and neglect reports
• Uses automated technology in multiple systems (e.g. SPIDER , OASIS and Peer Place) to support the decision-making process
• Provides consultation and training of newer employees
• Assist the Family Assessment Investigations as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes in individuals and families.

ESSENTIAL TASKS
The tasks listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional tasks related to the type of work of the class as necessary.

• Conducts interviews or investigations and makes client/family assessments; formulates and implements plan; initiates and processes eligibility referrals.
• Supervises staff and/or volunteers, including training, assigning and evaluating work, counseling, and disciplining.
• Provides individual and group counseling for client and family; assists staff with crisis management.
• Oversees programs and activities relating to resources and volunteers.
• Interacts/coordinates with other agencies, organizations, or family/community members to provide services for client and family; makes referrals for other social services.
• Conducts home visits to supervise, observe, and document family interactions, activities, and environment.
• Approves expenditures for assigned area; provides fiscal data for preparation of annual budgets.
• Provides direct services to client/family including teaching basic living, parenting, budgeting, or employment skills, and providing mediation counseling and transportation.
• Collects and compiles information/data, and prepares routine and specialized reports; maintains files/records for area of responsibility.
• Investigates/establishes collateral contacts.
• Provides emergency services/crisis intervention for clients/families; prepares reports and documentation for court hearings; testifies in court; provides client placement as needed.
• Performs routine office tasks such as dictating case notes, data entry, typing correspondence or forms, filing, faxing, telephoning, or photocopying.
• Conducts workshops for teens; attends professional workshops and seminars to improve professional skills.

The City of Chesapeake offers an exceptional range of benefits. Please browse our Benefits Brochure for a full list of benefits and employee perks.

Required Qualifications
VOCATIONAL / EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT : In order to be evaluated for vacancies in the Family Services Specialist job series, applicants shall possess the qualifications outlined in (1) OR (2) below:
1) A minimum of a bachelor's degree in the human services field, including Social Work, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Counseling and Guidance, Counselor Education, Human Services, Sociology, Family and Child Development, Aging Studies, Gerontology, Criminal Justice with a minor in one of the above studies, or other related degrees determined by the Department of Human Resources based on the similarity of the curriculum and course content.
2) A minimum of a bachelor's degree in any field accompanied by a minimum of two years of appropriate and related, full-time equivalent experience in a human services related area.
To be considered for promotion, persons currently employed in the Family Services Specialist job series by a local department prior to January 1, 1999, who do not meet the qualifications outlined in either (1) or (2) above, must possess four years of appropriate and related experience in a human services area and must have successfully completed all available competency-based training related to the promotional area.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT : In addition to satisfying the vocational/education standards, this class requires a minimum of six months of appropriate and related, full-time equivalent experience.
SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES : Requires a valid driver's license and a driving record that is in compliance with City Driving Standards .
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS : Emergency Duty (On-Call) participation is required to comply with mandated responsibilities as listed under Section 63.2-1503,B; Section 63.2-900; and 63.2-1604-63.2-1610, Code of Virginia. Employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term departmental needs and/or City-wide emergencies.

Preferred Qualifications
Six months CPS and/or APS experience in a public social services agency or related
Excellent OASIS documentation experience
Experience in writing Court reports, Word documents, and emails
Bachelors in Social Work/Human Services