Family Services Specialist I

Virginia Department of Social Services; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Department of Social Services in Harrisonburg seeks a FSSI- Resource Coordinator (Foster Care) to assess and train prospective resource families, coordinating with CPS and Foster Care staff to determine safe placements in homes, group facilities, or residential settings. Adaptability is essential for emergencies.

The role requires navigating referrals, delivering state-approved training, and maintaining thorough case documentation in OASIS.

Qualifications

• Minimum a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field or two years of related experience.
• BSW or MSW degree and a Virginia Social Worker license desirable.
• Knowledge of social work principles and practices and related laws.

Responsibilities

• Receives initial referral information from CPS worker for placement decisions.
• Flexibility to work after hours for effective placement of a child.
• Assist staff in identifying placement to prevent disruption of a child.
• Provide state-approved training to resource parents and fictive kin applicants.
• Prepare resource home assessments and ICPC assessments using interviews and home visits.
• Manage resource home cases and document in OASIS statewide system.

Skills

Social work concepts

Assessment

Communication

Collaboration

Trauma-informed practice

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Services

BSW/MSW desirable

Tools

OASIS statewide system

Microsoft Office

Job description

Salary Range $55,000- $79,088

FSSI- Resource Coordinator (Foster Care)

Under direct supervision, uses social work theory in order to identify, engage, assess, and train prospective resource families. Resource families-which include foster parents, foster-to-adopt families, and kinship caregivers-are critical partners for child welfare professionals because they provide care for children who cannot live with their parents/families, and they play a supportive role in reunification. This position requires the ability to collaborate and coordinate with CPS and Foster Care workers to understandthe strengths and needs of a child for appropriate placement of that child in a resource home, group home, or residential facility. This position further requires the ability to be adaptable and perform under stress when confronted with an emergency or urgent situation.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Receives initial referral information from CPS worker when the decision to place a child in care is made.
• Follows through with referrals for appropriate placement; while typical office hours are expected, the position requires flexibility to work after hours for effective and intentional placement of child.
• Seeks out opportunity to assist foster care staff in identifying placement should placement disruption of a child occur.
• Provides state-approved curriculum to resource parents and fictive kin applicants.
• Assesses, through a trauma-informed lens, an applicant's understanding of training materials. Assesses their ability to participate in resource parent program and their ability to provide a safe, nurturing home for a child in need.
• Prepares written resource home assessments and ICPC assessments utilizing information gathered through training, face-to face interviews, collateral interviews, and visits to the home; monitors homes after initial approval.
• Provides case management of resource homes including entering contacts into OASIS statewide system and adding families to the Resource Home database.
• Makes presentations to community groups on the need for resource parents in Harrisonburg City/Rockingham County.
• Assists in the development of agency approved resource home recruitment materials such as brochures, media campaigns, and events.
  • Responsible for holding, on a regular basis, in person or virtual resource family information sessions and ongoing training.
  • Conducts reassessment visits with approved resource families, and oversees the completion of re-approval requirements to maintain certification within state-mandated timeframes.
  • Participates in Family Partnership Meetings, Treatment Team Meetings, and case consultations as requested to support resource families and support agency in making placement decisions for the best interest of the child.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to assess child's safety, risk, and protective capacity and provide or coordinate intervention as needed.
  • Possess critical thinking skills and the ability to apply critical thinking, knowledge, and research to multiple scenarios in the field and an office setting.
  • Ability to meet deadlines and maintain case documentation.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with families to identify solutions to specific issues and/or challenges such as parenting, behavior management, childcare, financial stability, housing, mental health, etc.
  • Ability to effectively communicate and interact with clients, coworkers, community professionals, supervisors, members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the department.

Education and Experience

Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field or minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area as mandated in Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia and implemented by the Virginia Board of

Social Services. Possession of a BSW or MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are desirable.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum of Bachelor's Degree in a Human Services field or a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area as mandated in Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia and implemented by the Virginia Board of Social Services.

Someknowledgeofsocialworkprinciplesandpractices,humanbehavior and motivational theory, and social, economic, and healthproblems.

Knowledge of laws, policies, and regulations relating to human services program areas and legal procedures as related to program area.

Skillinoperating amotorvehicle.Skillinoperatingapersonalcomputer with associated software; preferably MicrosoftOffice.

Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing; interview, assess needs, counsel and refer clients to other resources as needed; develop and implement service plans in order to insure the delivery of appropriate services to the client; investigate high risk cases; testifyincourtproceedings;makesoundjudgmentswithintheframeworkof existing laws, policies, and regulations; respond to the client's emotions in order to accomplish services objectives; plan and manage own work activities including service delivery preparing reports, and correspondence, recordkeepingresponsibilitiesandrelatedactivities;establishandmaintain effective relationships; and stay abreast of current trends and developments in the social workfield.

Preferred Qualifications

Possession of a BSW or MSW degree and/or a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license. Prefer previous experience working with social work principles and practices. Prefer experience with agency associated software. Prefer experience in assigned program area and completion of required training programs. Bilingual English/Spanish. Experience as a family services specialist worker with a local social services agency providing direct services to children and families. Work experience or an internship in a human services field.

Special Requirements

Applicants may be subject to a Criminal History Backgroundsearch,CentralRegistrysearch,OMV/drivingrecordcheck, and/or pre-employment drugscreen.

The investigation may include: fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, employment verification and references, verification of education (relevant to employment), credit checks (relevant to employment) and other checks requested by the hiring authority.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory results of the required checks and screenings.

May require after-hours on-call.

May require reporting for shelter duty during emergencies and/or disasters.

A sealed copy of college transcript must be provided prior to employment.

Requires valid Commonwealth of Virginia driver's license to include driving record that meets agency standard.

Contact Information

Name: Marie Hopkins

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Address: Harrisonburg Rockingham Social Services District 110 North Mason Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802