After-Hours Social Service Specialist 2-3 In Training (SSS3) - Yakima

State of Washington; Yakima (WA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 62,000; Part time

Job summary

State of Washington's DCYF seeks an After-Hours Social Service Specialist 2-3 In Training (SSS3) in Yakima. The role is on-call with flexible hours to respond to reports of child abuse or neglect after hours and on weekends, requiring rapid in-person response within the county.

The position includes training to advance to the goal class, documentation in FAMLINK, and coordination with law enforcement as needed to ensure child safety.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years of paid social service experience and 30-45 credits in a social service discipline OR
• Bachelor’s degree with 1 year paid social service experience OR
• Master’s degree with practicum OR
• One year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1.

Responsibilities

• Respond to emergent after-hours requests.
• Meet required timeframes and complete documentation in the FAMLINK database.
• Gather and document information to assess danger and take protective action.
• Conduct 24-hour emergent and 72-hour non-emergent face-to-face contacts for CPS cases.
• Observe and document the living environment and child condition.
• Follow policy for photographing child condition or environment.
• Respond to Protective Custody inquiries with law enforcement as needed.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline

Master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline

One year of experience as Social Service Specialist 1

Job description

Our vision is to ensure that “All Washington's children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community”.

Job Title: After-Hours Social Service Specialist 2-3 In Training (SSS3)

Location: Yakima, WA — On-Call. Offices are closed from 5 pm to 8 am each day, on weekends, and on all holidays, but the need to assist children still exists. The number of hours worked per week will vary depending on the number of calls received and the number of days you are available to work. You will only need to be on-call if you are scheduled to work, based on the calendar that you help create. This position offers scheduling flexibility based on your availability. The incumbent will need to be available for a rapid, in-person response within the assigned county.

Closes: 11/19/26

Salary: $31.64 - $44.68 hourly. These positions may receive 10% assignment pay when the incumbent reaches the goal class of Social Service Specialist 3. This is in addition to the regular base salary; the required duties include performing visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to conduct investigations for allegations of abuse and/or neglect to assess the safety of vulnerable children.

We're looking for After-Hours Social Service Specialists (SSS3) to join our Yakima office and help protect children, youth, and families. This opportunity is a great way to gain additional experience, supplement your income, and/or advance your career in social services!

The Opportunity

As a DCYF After-Hours Social Service Specialist, you will assist Region 2 during non-business hours. You will respond to and investigate reports of abuse and neglect when local Child Welfare offices are closed.

Some of what you'll do

• Respond to emergent requests and other after-hours requests.
• Meet required timeframes and complete documentation/paperwork in the FAMLINK database.
• Gather and document sufficient information to assess present danger and take protective action if danger is identified.
• Conduct 24-hour emergent face-to-face contacts for CPS Investigation cases, 72-hour non-emergent face-to-face contacts for CPS/FAR cases, and monthly Health and Safety visits on CFWS and FVS cases.
• Observe and document the living environment, physical condition, and behaviors of children.
• Follow Agency Policy for Photograph Documentation when photographing a child's physical condition or environment to document child abuse or neglect.
• Respond to Protective Custody inquiries, partnering with law enforcement when needed.

What we are looking for (Required Qualifications)

The goal class of this position is a Social Service Specialist 3. We will also consider candidates at the Social Service Specialist 2 level, with a training plan to advance to the goal class. The Hiring Manager will evaluate the education and experience of each candidate for one of the levels mentioned below.

Social Service Specialist 2

• Five (5) years of paid social service experience AND30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND one (1) year of paid social service experience.

OR

• A Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND completed practicum.

OR

• One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1.

Social Service Specialist 3

• Six (6) years of paid social service experience* AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND Two (2) years of paid social service experience*.

OR

• Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience*.

OR

• One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

*Paid Social Service experience must include at least one year of assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications

• Ability to appropriately apply child safety and risk assessment to a variety of complex situations involving child abuse and neglect and imminent risk of serious harm.
• Prior experience displaying critical thinking skills and the use of shared decision-making.
• Prior experience using FAMLINK case management system and documenting casework information within timeframes.

Salary Ranges

• A Social Service Specialist 3 at Range 58 makes $33.21 - 44.68/hr.
• A Social Service Specialist 2 at Range 56 makes $31.64 - 42.52/hr.

Worker Core Training (WCT)

As a Social Service Specialist, you are required to successfully complete a mandatory 9.5-week Worker Core Training (WCT). This training provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed to perform core job functions, including assessing risk and safety, supporting child well-being, gathering information, and conducting case and permanency planning. During the training, you will have opportunities to practice these skills through classroom activities, simulation exercises, and debriefs. Upon hire, you will be assigned to the nearest available training cohort. The training includes four (4) weeks at our Seattle training site (scheduled for Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8). For those eligible for travel from their assigned duty location, DCYF covers hotel accommodations and per diem costs.

The WCT curriculum is designed to prepare Social Service Specialists for the responsibilities of the role, including:

• Understanding the child welfare system
• Familiarity with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) related to child welfare
• Policies, procedures, and best practices
• Assessing child safety through environmental observation, interviews with children and caregivers, and collateral contacts
• Collecting records and collaborating with community partners, including medical providers, law enforcement, and chemical dependency services
• Completing assessments and documenting case notes
• Writing dependency petitions and court reports
• Preparing for and testifying in court

Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement, for more information on employee benefits eligibility visit Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB).

This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.

The incumbent must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of their appointment.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.