Senior Family Support Worker (Family Services Specialist III)Department of Social Services
12 Months Full-Time
Non-exempt Pay Grade 32
VRS-Eligible Benefits-Eligible
***PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING: THE LISTING ON THE ALBEMARLE COUNTY WEBSITE IS FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES ONLY. APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE VA DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES WEBSITE FOUND HERE:
Responsibilities:
- May provide supervisory coverage in supervisors absence.
Essential Functions:
- Recruits engages and provides voluntary services to families through school community and other referral sources.
- Assesses cognitive social/emotional and behavioral functioning of children and families; develops case plans in partnership with families based on identified needs to strengthen families; and delivers specialized and appropriate trauma-informed and family-centered services designed to ensure child safety well-being and permanency.
- Advocates for families in the educational process; acts as a liaison between school and DSS for at-risk youth by promoting academic success community engagement and social/emotional well-being in the school and home setting.
- Participates in the identification of social problems and advocates for and collaborates in the development of needed resources within multiple systems inclusive of schools DSS families and community; assists and supports families in their use of agency school and other resources.
- Coordinates with county schools other agencies and multi-disciplinary and interagency teams to provide early intervention and family support case management.
- Plans promotes and provides family engagement processes and activities inclusive of school and community events.
- Promotes cultural understanding and competency and an organizational climate of equity and inclusion and provides customers with an experience that is professional empathetic and responsive.
- Provides supervisory coverage in supervisors absence; assists with onboarding and training of and mentoring to new FS workers; provides case/resource consultation and coaches team members in providing services to children and families; collaborates with unit supervisor and team members across child welfare to assist with administrative responsibilities including monthly child welfare meetings educational opportunities and general support; partners with supervisor to collect and assess programming outcomes.
- Maintains professional confidential case records according to state and federal law and policy; provides accurate and timely updated entries into the required information systems; interprets agency programs and policies to other agencies and the community; attends and participates in related departmental and school meetings and training.
- Provides services in a specialized service area and may be assigned cases with a high degree of complexity and/or sensitivity and/or carry primary responsibility for a specific program function such as intake.
- Performs related work as required.
Competency: Knowledge/ Skills/Abilities:
- General knowledge of social economic and health problems and needs;
- Knowledge of child development and parenting practices;
- General knowledge of social institutions and the methods of the helping process including adult learning;
- General knowledge of individual and group behavior;
- General knowledge of policy affecting practice with children and families;
- Ability to identify social problems and client strengths and needs and to assess the ability of individuals and families to utilize services in problem solving;
- Ability to recognize and accept the rights responsibilities and differences of others;
- Ability to work effectively with individuals and families in helping them attain success;
- Ability to plan and organize work;
- Ability to understand and interpret laws policies and regulations and to apply program protocol and guidelines consistently;
- Ability to communicate and establish effective working relationships with families coworkers other professional and technical staff social and community agencies schools and the general public;
- Ability to work effectively with others in departmental and school-based teams;
- Ability to prepare reports and maintain records;
- Knowledge and skill in use of computer software programs databases and management information systems.
- Ability to coach mentor and support staff.
Required Education and Experience:
- Bachelors degree in a Human Service field; or a Bachelors degree in any field and a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area.
- Experience in assigned program area; or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge skills and abilities.
Preferred Qualifications/Certifications:
- Masters Degree in Social Work or another human services field.
- A Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license.
- Fluency in Spanish.
- Previous experience working in a local department of social services providing direct services to children adults and/or families or closely related experience.
- Previous experience working in or with public schools.
Physical and Mental Requirements:
- Possession of a valid appropriate drivers permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Workers in this position are required to drive and they must meet eligibility requirements of the Countys safe driver policy.
- Administers work to the public typically in families homes often in remote rural areas or in the school.
- Frequent contacts with families and coordination with other public and private agencies (i.e. school clinics etc.) are required.
- Involves frequent driving walking and standing.
- Must be willing to work flexible work week based on departmental school and family needs.
Remote Work:
This position is eligible for a hybrid remote work schedule that is in compliance with the Countys Remote Work Policy and meets the operational and service needs for the position. All County staff must maintain residence within the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Salary Range:
The hiring range for this position is $31.46 - $34.78 per hour (approx. $65446 - $72335 per year). Starting offer is based on applicable education beyond minimum requirements and internal equity. The position also provides excellent benefits including 12 paid holidays paid vacation and sick leave health insurance options with employer contribution employer-paid life insurance VRS retirement and continuing education/training opportunities. This is a full time FLSA non-exempt position. Internal candidates will receive pay adjustments in accordance with Local Government Personnel Policy P-60.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Position open until Friday June 13.
Virginia Values Veterans:
Albemarle County is a Certified V3 organization.
EOE/EEO:
Albemarle County is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any group or individual on the basis of race color religion sex sexual orientation national origin age or disability in regards to any aspect of employment policy and practice: recruitment testing selection assignment pay conditions of work training leave overtime promotion discipline demotion and separation.