Hiring Range: $40,000 to $52,000

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

Title Description- 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 Clarke County Department of Social Services is a part of the Virginia Social Services System. Our agency is the central resource dedicated to delivering public assistance, child welfare, and aging and adult services to the Citizens of Clarke County.

Clarke County Department of Social Services is seeking to fill a position within the Child & Family Services Unit. The selected candidate will be responsible for the initiation of family assessments/investigations of alleged abuse/neglect of child(ren) assessing safety and risk of the child(ren) as well as completing relevant casework throughout the process. Our low, manageable caseloads afford the Family Services Specialist the opportunity to provide a concentration on direct service work with families, children, and adults. Family Services Specialist I represent an entry-level employee receiving training in child welfare. The selected candidate will work under the direct supervision of the Family Services Supervisor and be mentored by senior level staff. The position involves extensive training both virtually and in-person prior to caseload assignments. The Family Services Specialist I is distinguished from the Family Services Specialist II by the latter's functioning more independently as a full performance Family Services Specialist. This position will have the ability for limited hybrid telework after completion of six months of employment with the agency.

Title Description- This is the full performance level in the occupational group for Family Services. Employees are responsible for developing and implementing individualized service plans involving the application of casework methods in Employment Services and Child Care, and basic service level caseloads of Adult/Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Foster Care, Adoptions. Employees may provide services in all program areas or specialize in one or several program areas. Typically employees perform all tasks independently and only seek supervisory advice on unusual situations or when policies and procedures require supervisory review or involvement. The Family Services Specialist II is distinguished from the Family Services Specialist III by the latter's functioning at the advanced level, and becoming more specialized in program areas and assuming 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).

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Interprets laws, policies and regulations as applied to specific area of responsibility

• Monitors, coordinates and administers specific programs as assigned

• Coordinates services within specific area of responsibility

• Interviews and assesses customer needs and other relevant factors - such as education/skill levels, abilities, interests, and support systems

• Informs clients of related service programs rules/regulations, and right to participate

• Presents cases to determine appropriate services and writes/implements service plan

• Provides case management services to monitor compliance

• Tracks expenditures, prepares/submits budget estimates and ensures payment for services

• Completes necessary federal, state and local planning and reporting requirements

• Coordinates with other agencies and participates in multi-disciplinary and interagency teams providing services to customers

• Conducts overall monitoring of programs in specific area of responsibility

• Serves as resource to clients and the community

• Provides after hours on-call coverage and responds to emergencies in child/adult protective services and/or foster care

• Shelter Duty & Emergency Response - When initiated by the County/Agency Leadership, must be willing to work in the community emergency shelter

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge- Some knowledge of: social work principles and practices; human behavior and motivational theory; and social, economic, and health problems.

Skills- Skill in operating a motor vehicle and personal computer with associated software.

Abilities- Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing; interview, assess needs, counsel and refer clients to other resources as needed; develop and implement service plans in order to insure the delivery of appropriate services to the client; make sound judgments within the framework of existing laws, policies, and regulations; respond to the client's emotions in order to accomplish services objectives; plan and manage own work activities including service delivery preparing reports, and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities; establish and maintain effective relationships; and stay abreast of current trends and developments in the social work field.

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 as mandated in Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia and implemented by the Virginia Board of Social Services.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of social work principles and practices, human behavior, and motivational theory, and social, economic, and health problems.

• Provides case management services to monitor compliance.

• Skill in operating a motor vehicle and holding a valid Virginia Driver's License.

• Skill in operating a personal computer with associated software, preferably Microsoft Office.

• Previous experience working with social work principles and practices.

• Experience with state associated database programs and software.

• Knowledge of laws, policies, and regulations relating to human services program areas and legal procedures as related to program area.

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize work assignments.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with others and stay abreast of current trends and developments in the social work field.

• Ability to plan and manage own work activities including service delivery, preparing reports and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities.

• Demonstrated ability to interview, assess needs, counsel, and refer clients to other resources.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement service plans to ensure the delivery of appropriate services to the client.

• Ability to analyze case information to make sound judgments within the framework of existing laws, policies, and regulations.

Special Requirements:

• Applicants are subject to a Criminal History Background search, including an FBI Fingerprint Background search, Central Registry search, DMV/driving record check

• All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory results of the required checks and screening.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

• Applications for this position must be submitted through this website.

• Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications will not be accepted.

• Consideration for an interview is based solely on the information within the application/resume.