Family Assistance Specialist - C

Bexar County PA; United States; On-site; USD 49,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal opportunity employer

Work–life balance

Job summary

The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office (BCMEO) seeks a Family Assistance Specialist to act as the primary contact for grieving families, providing case status information and coordinating with investigators and community resources.

The role emphasizes empathy, clear communication, and interagency collaboration to support families through the process.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Family Studies, Psychology, Nursing or related field and two years’ related experience.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish and grief counseling certification is preferred.
• Knowledge of Texas Code of Criminal Procedures Chapter 49 and related statutes is required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary contact between family members and BCMEO for timely case status information.
• Coordinate with medical examiners and inform families of case status and requests.
• Identify resources and referrals to community agencies, crisis intervention and grief counseling.
• Track feedback and suggest improvements to internal processes.
• Collaborate with BCMEO to develop family support materials and outreach.

Skills

Excellent communication

Bilingual English/Spanish

Computer skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field

Tools

Word processing

Job description

Job Title

Family Assistance Specialist - C Pay Rate Min to Mid Range $48,564.00 - $58,278.00 Time Type Full time Summary Under general supervision serves as the main point of contact for family members interacting with the BCMEO (Bexar County Medical Examiners Office); provides information on BCMEO processes in an empathetic, supportive manner to the grieving person(s) and offers community resources as appropriate; serves as a liaison conferring with staff on case status and delivering proactive communication to family members; releases cause and manner of death information to public, official agencies, and media; coordinates resources for grieving families

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as primary point of contact between family members/representative(s) and BCMEO to provide timely and accurate case status information including cause and manner of death and explaining case status process
• Confers with MEs about case status and delivers proactive communication to the family members and informing the medical examiners of any requests or inquiries made regarding their cases
• Identifies resources and makes referrals to appropriate community agencies, crisis intervention services, victim assistance, grief counseling services, or other resources, as appropriate
• Coordinates prioritization and follow-up services throughout case until completion
• Tracks feedback from family members and uses this information to recommend changes to internal processes
• Collaborates with BCMEO administration to develop materials for family support and outreach, to include but not be limited to the BCMEO informational brochure and website
• Coordinates identification measures, notifies next of kin and contacts next of kin regarding disposition of decedent
• Works to increase collaboration between local governmental and not-for-profit victim assistance service providers, academic institutions and victim advocates, which may include making recommendations for policy and procedure revisions as deemed necessary to improve the integrated work environment
• Receives calls from news media and releases appropriate information regarding cases
• Ensures the BCMEO compliance with all public health death reporting requirements
• Actively participates in the department’s emergency preparedness and response team
• Performs other duties as required

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Family Studies, Psychology, Nursing or another closely related behavioral or social science field and two (2) years’ experience in victim advocacy, social work, nursing, crisis intervention and/or another closely related field which includes case management experience.
• Experience in a Medical Examiner or Coroner’s Office, bilingual in English and Spanish and Certification in grief counseling preferred
• Must have knowledge of Texas Code of Criminal Procedures Chapter 49 and related statutes; knowledge of criminal justice system; knowledge of human anatomy, health care systems, basic pathophysiology and medical terminology.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and computer skills, including word processing, required
• Ability to maintain security of work area, evidence, and information is required.
• Must be able to respond to inquiries from public and official agencies with pleasant, effective and professional manner.
• Ability to work well with other agencies to facilitate effective investigation and appropriate services for decedents and their families
• Must secure and maintain a favorable background investigation from Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
• Must possess and maintain a valid Texas driver's license
• Must clear a pre-employment physical and a pre-employment drug screen test
• May be required to work more than 40 hours during the workweek

Working Environment and Physical Demands

• Constantly working in indoor conditions; occasionally works outdoors, changing locations and environments at any time including exposure to temperature variations and damp/ wet surfaces
• Work environment involves exposure to other hazardous/bio-hazardous materials, unfavorable fumes, vapors or odors and potentially infectious material/diseases
• Frequently moves items weighing up to 15-20 pounds
• Occasionally moves about the office
• Frequently communicates with others; must be able to exchange accurate information
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position

Benefits

Bexar County offers employees a competitive salary, retirement, and benefits.

Many employee benefits are available to an employee’s spouse/plus one qualifying adult and dependent child(ren).

Employee benefits are strategically designed to support an employee and family, work/life balance.

Employee Benefits | Bexar County, TX - Official Website Bexar County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to Workplace Diversity.

We are committed to providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

About Us

Are you looking to join a team that values respect, integrity, teamwork, accountability, and excellence? Become one of our 5,000+ public servants committed to building a better community through quality services.

With nearly 5,000 employees from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, Bexar County offers a wide range of opportunities. Our 18 locations and campuses throughout the county jurisdiction are testament to our expansive reach.

As public servants, Bexar County employees are dedicated to enhancing our community through exceptional service.

Join us and become part of an organization that values accountability, professionalism, and innovation, all while striving for excellence in service.

At Bexar County, we are committed to fostering a positive work environment that emphasizes reciprocity, professional growth, and a healthy work/life balance. This mutual commitment is evident in the strong bonds we maintain with our employees, even into their retirement.