Family Services Specialist I - Foster Care

Job Description
Family Service Specialist I Foster Care Familiar with Virginia foster care policy Vemats Harmony and foster care case management. The purpose of the position is to provide a pool of foster parents and/or provide support and assistance to agency clients for the area of responsibility. The position is responsible for recruiting applicant/client assessment planning counseling education/training monitoring and reporting. The position works within a general outline of work to be performed; develops work methods and sequences under general supervision. TYPICAL TASKS Conducts interviews or investigations and makes client/family assessments; formulates and implements plan; screens interstate referrals; sends out and reviews home study information. Provides individual and group counseling for client and family. Prepares purchase orders for client services and negotiates provider rates; confirms provider availability and service authorization; verifies client information; processes invoices for payment. Interacts/coordinates with other agencies organizations or family/community members to provide services for client and family/prior custodians; makes referrals for other social services. Conducts home visits to supervise observe and document family interactions activities and environment; establishes schedule with parents/prior custodians for child visitation. Provides direct services to clients/families including teaching basic living parenting budgeting or employment skills providing mediation counseling and accompanying clients to appointments. Collects and compiles information/data and prepares periodic and special reports; maintains files/records for area of responsibility; develops program forms. Provides emergency services/crisis intervention for clients/families; protects clients through court involvement; testifies at local state and judicial appeals; provides client placement as needed. Conducts preservice foster parent orientations and classes to evaluate/screen applicants; recruits and conducts training classes and orientations for volunteers. Provides information to public on eligibility requirements and available services for assigned area. Performs routine office tasks such as dictating case notes data entry typing correspondence or forms filing faxing telephoning or photocopying. Conducts training classes for service providers; certifies and recertifies approved providers; attends professional workshops and seminars to improve professional skills. Rotates through various service provider roles in such areas as CPS foster care and adoption. Performs other related duties as assigned. 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 bachelors 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 bachelors degree in any field accompanied by a minimum of two years of appropriate and related fulltime 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 competencybased training related to the promotional area. SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES : Requires a valid drivers license and a driving record that is in compliance with City Driving Standards . SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS : Emergency Duty (OnCall) participation is required to comply with mandated responsibilities as listed under Section 63.21503B; Section 63.2900; and 63.2160463.21610 Code of Virginia. Employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to shortterm departmental needs and/or Citywide emergencies.

Preferred Qualifications
Familiar with Foster Care within the State of Virginia. Familiar with creating spreadsheets and utilizing Microsoft suites to communicate via email and remain compliant with your case management requirements.

Work Schedule
Monday Friday; 8 am 5 pm; Employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to shortterm departmental needs and/or Citywide emergencies.