CPS Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4) - Bremerton

State of Washington; Bremerton (WA); Presencial; USD 75.000 - 100.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

The State of Washington, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, is seeking a CPS Lead Worker - Social Service Specialist 4 in Bremerton, WA. This full-time, permanent role combines field and office work, including travel, supervising staff, and guiding complex cases.

You will provide on-the-job training, assess risk, manage caseloads, participate in court proceedings, and support staff development. A strong background in child welfare and family-centered practice is essential.

Formación

• Seven years of paid social service experience
• One year as Social Service Specialist 3
• Bachelor’s degree plus 3 years paid social service experience
• Master’s degree plus 2 years paid social service experience
• Two-year Master’s practicum substituted for one year paid experience
• Ability to learn and grow
• Ability to meet the needs of others
• Experience in CPS, CFWS, FVS, FAR, and Adoptions/Permanency

Responsabilidades

• Provide on-the-job training, mentoring, feedback, coaching, and consultation to the staff
• Conduct on-the-job training and assistance with staff in formal training plans
• Assign work, review work for efficiency, use data to identify trends, and review case actions for accuracy and compliance with policy
• Serve as Lead Specialist assigned to the most complex cases
• Report on the strengths and weaknesses of employees to their direct supervisor
• Provide feedback for annual performance evaluations and identify training needs
• Provide coverage of assigned caseloads
• Attend court hearings and provide testimony in court when necessary
• Fill in as supervisor in the supervisor’s absence

Conocimientos

Social service experience

Child welfare

Training & mentoring

Case management

Court testimony

Educación

Bachelor's degree in social services

Master's degree in social services

30 semester credits in social services

Herramientas

FamLink

Descripción del empleo

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

Job Title: CPS Lead Worker - Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4). Location: Bremerton, WA – Region 5. This is a full-time, permanent position that requires time in the field and the office. Travel is a requirement. Salary: $74,748 - $100,488 Annually, with an additional 10% assignment pay. Closes: 10/26/2026.

Opportunity

This Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4) position functions as a Lead Worker over Social Service Specialists (SSS1-SSS3) who provide professional-level social services to clients involved with the Child Protective Services (CPS) unit, Family Assessment Response (FAR), Family Voluntary Services (FVS), and Family Reconciliation Services (FRS). This position provides advanced specialized case management, coaching, mentoring, on-the-job training, and assistance in transitioning staff from a formal training program to fieldwork. This position assigns work, conducts case reviews, maintains procedures to ensure efficient workflow, and acts as the unit supervisor (SSS5) in their absence, including attendance at meetings, facilitation of meetings, case staffing, and decision-making. This position has the responsibility to apply child welfare practice principles, laws, rules, and policy in leading employees within its unit, as well as assessing and intervening on assigned workload on the most complex cases.

Some Of What You’ll Do

• Provide on-the-job training, mentoring, feedback, coaching, and consultation to the staff.
• Conduct on-the-job training and assistance with staff in formal training plans who are transitioning to fieldwork.
• Assign work, review work for efficiency, use data to identify trends, and review case actions for accuracy and compliance with policy.
• Serve as Lead Specialist assigned to the most complex cases.
• Report on the strengths and weaknesses of employees to their direct supervisor.
• Provide feedback for annual performance evaluations and identify training needs.
• Provide coverage of assigned caseloads.
• Attend court hearings and provide testimony in court when necessary.
• Fill in as supervisor in the supervisor’s absence.

Required Qualifications

Seven (7) years of paid social service experience. Paid Social Service experience must include at least one year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.

OR: One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3.

OR: A Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a Bachelor’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND three (3) years of paid social service experience*.

OR: A Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a Master’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND two (2) years of paid social service experience*.

(A two-year Master's degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum may be substituted for one year of paid social service experience).

• 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.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following

• Child welfare experience in program areas: Child Protective Services (CPS), Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS), Family Voluntary Services (FVS), Family Reconciliation Services (FRS), Family Assessment Response (FAR), and Adoptions/Permanency.
• Master's in Social Work and completed practicum.
• Case management experience with mandatory clients.
• Knowledge of child development and/or family systems.
• Professional experience working with clients who have mental health or substance use disorders, developmental delays, or criminal behaviors.
• Experience researching, interpreting, and applying Child Welfare laws, rules, and policies, and delivering services accordingly.
• Experience with the agency's software program, FamLink.

Supplemental Information

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

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.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

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.

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

Employees must successfully complete the formal training course sponsored by their division within one year of their appointment.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

For more information about this position or if you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, please contact DCYF recruiter. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at [phone] or email [e-mail]. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

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.

More than Just a Paycheck!

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Insurance Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state. Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts. To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs. Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses. Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction. The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement And Deferred Compensation

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site. Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays

Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year. Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information. Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday. Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rated basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave

Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave. Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)

Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave. Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro-rated basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday. As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Military Leave

Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave

Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Leave Sharing

Leave Sharing

Parental Leave

Parental Leave

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Leave Without Pay

Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.