Family Support Worker- Family Services Specialist II - Albemarle

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;
• Applies family-systems treatment models to complex family situations in such a way as to strengthen families and prevent family dissolution.
• Facilitates the education of clients in addressing areas of need that may include parenting skills child development adolescent adjustment aging nutrition and budgeting;
• 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;
• 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;
• Promotes cultural understanding and competency and an organizational climate of equity and inclusion; provides a high level of service to all internal and external customers;

• Performs related tasks as required.

Competency: Knowledge/ Skills/Abilities:

• Knowledge of social work principles and practices; individual and group behavior; social-emotional and economic challenges of an at-risk population; child development; positive parenting practices; community resources;
• Knowledge of child and adolescent growth and development family structure and dynamics the impact of handicapping physical and mental conditions on families and crisis intervention.
• Ability to identify needs and to assess the ability to individual and families to utilize services in problem solving;
• Ability to assess needs of children and families to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors to achieve self-sufficiency.
• Skills in communicating effectively both orally and in writing with internal and external customers;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively;
• Ability to accept the rights responsibilities and differences of others establish effective working relationships with families co-workers community agencies and other professionals school staff and the general public;
• Ability to plan prioritize and manage workload prepare reports maintain confidential case records and use a computer and related software;

• Ability to understand interpret and apply laws policies and regulations affecting practice with children and families.

Required Education and Experience:

• Minimum of a Bachelors degree in a Human Services field or minimum of a bachelors degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area (Section 22VACof the Administrative Code of Virginia).
• Experience in assigned program area and completion of required training programs or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge skills and abilities.

• Workers in this position are required to drive and they must meet the eligibility requirements of the Countys safe driver policy. Workers must be willing to travel occasionally overnight and may be required to assist in managing emergency shelters for the public. The candidate may be subject to criminal history and central registry background checks.

Preferred Qualifications/Certifications:

• Possession of a MSW or related Masters degree and licensure.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Administers work to the public often in families homes which may be in remote rural areas and in a school setting;
• Involves office-based work for purposes of documentation and data entry.
• Frequent contacts with clients and their families; coordination with professionals and representatives of other public and private agencies (i.e. school courts clinics etc.) are required.
• Involves frequent driving walking standing.

• Must be willing to work flexible hours based on the needs of families schools and the department.

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.

Albemarle County Core Values:

Albemarle County holds its employees to the highest standards in fulfilling the Countys Vision and Mission. We believe in excellence in public service through

Community: We expect diversity equity and inclusion to be integrated into how we live our mission.

Integrity: We value our customers and co-workers by always providing honest and fair treatment.

Innovation: We embrace creativity and positive change. Stewardship: We honor our role as stewards of the public trust by managing our natural human and financial resources respectfully and responsibly.

Learning: We encourage and support lifelong learning and personal and professional growth.

**PLEASE INCLUDE COVER LETTER RESUME AND THREE REFERENCES

Contact Information:

For questions related to this posting please contact: Kiersten Trader