Family Services Specialist - Grant Funded

City-of-Hampton,-Va; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Hampton seeks a compassionate Family Services Specialist to support families in strengthening parenting skills, well-being, and parent–child relationships.

You will conduct home visits, develop service plans, and provide hands-on support with community connections to help families access services and maintain safety.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Sociology, Human Services, or a closely related field.
• One year of experience in a customer service field.
• Experience in early childhood/preschool populations preferred.
• Combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Background check required.
• Safety-sensitive position subject to testing for alcohol and controlled substances.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and maintain satisfactory driving record.

Responsibilities

• Conduct home visits to assess family strengths, needs, and overall social, emotional, and economic conditions.
• Create individualized service plans with goals addressing parenting, child development, financial stability, health, and home management.
• Build trusting, supportive relationships with families while observing parent-child interactions using Parents as Teachers model.
• Assist families with accessing medical care, attending appointments, and connecting with partner agencies—providing transportation when needed.
• Identify signs of family dysfunction, implement interventions, and adjust Plans of Care with supervisory guidance.
• Maintain accurate case notes, digital records, and documentation for reporting and compliance.
• Stay current on social work practices, community resources, and local/state policies.

Skills

Communication skills

Teaching skills

Public relations

Driving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Sociology, Human Services, or a closely related field

Job description

THIS IS A GRANT-FUNDED POSITION

Make a difference where it matters most. The City of Hampton is seeking a compassionate, motivated Family Services Specialist to support families in strengthening their parenting skills, improving their well-being, and building healthier parent–child relationships. In this role, you’ll work directly with families to assess needs, develop service plans, and provide hands‑on support through home visits and community connections.

Typical Tasks:

• Conduct home visits to assess family strengths, needs, and overall social, emotional, and economic conditions.
• Create individualized service plans with goals that address parenting, child development, financial stability, health, and home management.
• Build trusting, supportive relationships with families while observing parent-child interactions using Parents as Teachers model.
• Assist families with accessing medical care, attending appointments, and connecting with partner agencies—providing transportation when needed.
• Identify signs of family dysfunction, implement interventions, and adjust Plans of Care with supervisory guidance.
• Maintain accurate case notes, digital records, and documentation for reporting and compliance.
• Stay current on social work practices, community resources, and local/state policies.

Minimum requirements:

• Requires graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Sociology, Human Services, or a closely related field of study.
• One (1) year of experience in a customer service field.
• Some experience in early childhood/preschool populations preferred.
• A combination of education and experience may be considered for this position.
• Must successfully pass a background check related to this position.
• This positionis safety-sensitive and is subject to testing for alcohol and controlled substances in accordance with the City's current substance abuse policy.
• Must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and must have and maintain a satisfactory driving record based on the City of Hampton’s criteria.

Additional Requirements:

• Knowledge of current social work principles, human behavior, and adult learning principles.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, especially in times of stress; concurrently plan and ensure thorough follow through; make sound judgment based on knowledge of human behavior; current local, state, and federal laws, and current policy; interpret and assess individuals' and families' strengths and needs; organize and prioritize work; and plan and manage service delivery.
• Ability to foster effective public relations and work with diverse groups.
• Knowledge of community resources and child development.
• Must possess solid teaching skills.
• The incumbent may be considered “essential personnel” during city emergencies, or at the direction of the City Manager or designee, which may include long hours and unusual schedules.

“Join the City of Hampton team! As a proud V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer and a designated Military Spouse-Friendly Employer, we are committed to supporting veterans and military spouses. We offer a welcoming and inclusive workplace that recognizes the unique skills and experiences that military families bring. Come work for Hampton, a vibrant waterfront community celebrating and embracing 400 years of history and innovation, creating an even more dynamic future! We are located in the center of the Hampton Roads region and offer lots of waterfront fun, rich and diverse history, and a vibrant restaurant scene. Hampton offers excellent benefits, career and professional development, tuition reimbursement, and other benefits.”