Family Service Specialist

State of Delaware; Delaware; On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Delaware is looking for Family Service Specialists to provide and coordinate professional case management services to clients facing abuse, neglect, and other challenges. Candidates must possess strong interviewing and counseling skills and a Bachelor's degree in a related field.

This role involves assessing client needs, developing service plans, and possibly conducting home visits across Delaware. A valid driver's license and the ability to travel statewide are required.

Qualifications

• Ability to work independently in various settings.
• Competence in developing and implementing treatment plans.
• Knowledge in evaluating progress and assessing client needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management services to clients and families.
• Conduct assessments to identify client problems.
• Gather personal and social information through client interviews.
• Develop and implement service plans with clients.
• Facilitate individual and family counseling sessions.

Skills

Case management

Crisis intervention

Interviewing clients

Developing service plans

Family counseling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science, Psychology, Sociology, or Human Services

One year of professional health or human service experience

Job description

Overview

The Family Service Specialist series consists of the Family Service Specialist, Senior Family Service Specialist, Master Family Service Specialist, and Family Crisis Therapist classifications. Incumbents directly provide and coordinate professional case management services to children, youth, adults, and families experiencing abuse, neglect, dependency, behavioral concerns, crisis situations, or family dysfunction. They conduct assessments and provide planning, facilitation, advocacy, monitoring, and evaluation through collaboration with the client and other professionals. The incumbent may conduct child abuse investigations and/or provide ongoing case management services, which may include foster care and other permanency planning. Positions require the ability to work independently in the office and during home visits or in community settings, including statewide travel for home visits, court appearances, community-based services, and responding to urgent situations to assess/maintain child safety and well-being. Work may involve time-sensitive situations and may require working outside standard hours based on family needs and operational requirements.

Career Ladder

Upon satisfactory completion of Department promotional standards and job requirements, employees may be eligible to be promoted to the next level. This position is part of the Family Services Specialist career ladder series, which includes the following levels: Family Services Specialist (entry level), Senior Family Services Specialist, and Master Family Services Specialist.

Selective Requirements

Selective Requirements must be met in addition to the job requirements. Applicants who do not possess the selective requirement will not be qualified.

• As a condition of hire you must possess a valid driver’s license (not suspended, revoked, or cancelled, or disqualified from driving). This position requires statewide travel which may include driving at night or through adverse weather conditions.

Essential Functions

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Provides services to advocate for health, safety and welfare or rights of clients and their families and assists them in obtaining needed services.
• Interviews clients and family members and/or professionals to gather personal, social and background information; works closely with the client and family to formulate a clear description of the client and family’s problems; identify the key forces which maintain the problems; discover resources and strengths available to the client and family to resolve the problems; and identify blocks, if any, that prevent the client and family from resolving the problems without the intervention of the State agency.
• Determines eligibility for various social service programs offered by the agency or available in the community.
• In collaboration with the client and family, and with consultation from a technical superior, develops and implements service/treatment plans, outlining goals and objectives to be accomplished, methods and techniques to be used, and anticipated results; helps the client and family to obtain community, social and/or therapeutic services and resources needed to accomplish plans and objectives.
• Conducts individual and family counseling sessions with clients and members of the family to aid in achieving satisfactory social development and adjustment to specific problems and situations.
• Assesses progress toward goals and makes recommendations on plans such as reclassification, discharge, aftercare, emergency protective placement in emergency or crisis situations, guardianship, petitions or options counseling.
• Prepares social histories, client progress reports, evaluation and discharge summaries, court reports or petitions; prepares and maintains a variety of records and files pertaining to clients assigned to caseload.
• Enforces court orders and conditions of community supervision as required. Attends court hearings and other judicial proceedings to answer questions; makes recommendations and prepares progress reports regarding clients.
• May be called upon to intervene in crisis situations such as potential suicides, assault and battery against clients, and sexual abuse cases.
• May coordinate with law enforcement and other emergency staff if needed. May be required to isolate and/or physically restrain clients who are acting out. May be required to perform emergency duty which requires being on call for an assigned time period.

Job Requirements

Paraprofessional health or human service work may include but is not limited to interviewing clients and identifying personal, health, social or financial needs to align with program requirements, or coordinating with community resources to obtain client services. Professional health or human service work may include but is not limited to determining eligibility for and availability of community resources; assisting and connecting clients and their families to needed services; addressing family conflict and engaging crisis resolution; and evaluating progress towards goals.

Education and Experience Requirements

Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

• One year of experience in professional health or human service work OR two years' experience in paraprofessional health or human service work (Associates degree may substitute for one year of paraprofessional experience).
• Possession of a Bachelor's degree or higher or have an anticipated graduation date within 3 months, with coursework in Behavioral Science, Psychology, Sociology, Human Services or related field.

Additional Posting Information

Potential Vacancies may be at any of the following locations. There will be an additional supplemental Questionnaire question where you can select specific locations you would like to be considered for.

• New Castle County: DSCYF Churchman (92 Christiana Rd, New Castle, DE 19720)

Shifts and Compensation

Shifts available in New Castle County include 1st shift (8:00 am–4:30 pm, Mon–Fri), 2nd shift (3:30 pm–12:00 am, Mon–Fri), and 3rd shift (11:30 pm–8:00 am, Mon–Fri). Weekend shift coverage is 11:15 pm Friday through 11:45 pm Sunday with two 13.5-hour non-consecutive shifts. 2nd and 3rd shifts include a 12% shift differential. Weekend/holiday coverage is a 30-hour per week position with a 30% shift differential and requires working on all State holidays and unplanned office closures. Weekend/holiday position also requires 5 additional hours on a designated weekday.

Conditions of Hire

All new hires are required to report to the Statewide New Employee Orientation (SNEO) on their first day of employment. This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement and is subject to the terms of various state regulations. Pre-employment drug testing and a satisfactory criminal background check are required. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The State of Delaware participates in the Federal E-Verify system.

Benefits

To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit the Delaware Department of Human Resources benefits site.

Selection Process

The application and supplemental questionnaire are evaluated based on education, training and experience related to the job requirements. Provide complete and accurate information, including dates of employment, job titles and duties. Requests for education and training details should be supported by information on the application.

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. TDD users may request auxiliary aid or service. For ADA assistance, contact the provided resources. The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce.