Family Services Specialist I

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Roanoke (VA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Roanoke is seeking a Family Services Specialist to conduct Child Protective Services investigations, assess and investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect, and coordinate needed services for at-risk families. It involves working with ancillary agencies to provide required/services and to prepare court affidavits/reports as needed.

This is a non-exempt, full-time position requiring a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field (or equivalent) and a Virginia driver’s license.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field or related field or two years of related experience.
• Ability to read and interpret laws, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to respond effectively to inquiries orally and in writing.

Responsibilities

• Interviews clients to assess the nature and extent of needs.
• Identifies problems and counsels with clients and supervisor on service plans.
• Maintains records through the course of client services.
• Makes referrals to agencies for services such as clinics and employment services.
• Works with courts and agencies in delivering services.
• Provides protection and care to abused or neglected individuals.
• Assists families to effect changes in family situations.
• Maintains case records and prepares reports of services.

Skills

Language proficiency

Reasoning ability

Education

Bachelor's in Human Services or related

Job description

Hiring Range: $49,939.24 to $57,430.12

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Description

The City of Roanoke is seeking a Family Services Specialist to conduct Child Protective Services investigations. The CPS Investigator will assess and investigate allegations of child abuse and/or neglect while providing needed services to at risk families and children. Works closely with various ancillary agencies to enforce child protective services laws and provide required/requested services to families in need. Plans and coordinates needed services for individuals and families while making appropriate referrals to other agencies as necessary. Prepares court affidavits/reports and testify as needed. Maintains CPS caseload while completing routine paperwork in time frames required by Virginia State Code. Ability to multi-task and respond to crisis situations in a timely and professional manner. Acts as a team player willing to assist co-workers and able to work outside the normal range of hours when necessary. Participates in a rotating after hours beeper team that responds to emergency CPS/APS/Foster Care situations.

***NOTE: If you do not hold a State of Virginia Drivers License, you will be required to provide a certified copy of a DMV report from the state of previous residence before you can be considered for this position.***

The City of Roanoke is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA/M/F/Disability Employer.

To elevate the performance of the organization, we are committed to respecting, celebrating, and embracing the collective mixture of differences and similarities between our employees as a rich tapestry. Our behaviors will demonstrate open communication, and we will seek opportunities to learn, recognizing and rewarding actions that promote acceptance while suspending judgment. By doing this, we will foster an inclusive, open work environment that delivers excellent service and creates a more vibrant and inviting community.

This is a non-exempt position.

Examples of Duties

SUMMARY

Supports and assists agency clients with personal, social, health and economic needs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Interviews clients to assess the nature and extent of needs
• Identifies problems, counsels with clients and confers with supervisor in preparing social studies in the formulation and delivery of service plans
• Maintains records through the course of client's service relationships with agency
• Makes referrals for service to agencies, such as clinics, employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, etc
• Performs work with agencies such as juvenile and domestic relations courts, circuit courts, etc
• Provides protection and care to abandoned, abused and neglected children and adults on a regular and emergency basis in potentially dangerous situations
• Works with abusive or neglecting parents and families to help effect changes in family situation, usually in a family home setting
• Makes decisions to remove children from dangerous situations and recommendations regarding institutionalization of adults and children
• Studies homes for day care, foster care of adoption placement and/or foster care and adoptive placements
• Maintains case records, prepares written reports of services, findings and actions
• Serves as agency representative on a variety of multi disciplinary teams
• Shares a 24-hour on-call rotation
• Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Typical Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or 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.

Supplemental Information

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as laws, policies, regulations, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to respond effectively to inquiries orally and in writing. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

***CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS***

Possession of a valid appropriate driver's permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. If you do not have a Drivers License issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia, you must submit a certified copy of your driving record issued by the DMV from your previous state of residence with your application.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Requires the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at keyboard or work station. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk. Some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.
Must be willing to work outside normal work hours and respond to both routine and emergency situations.

SENSORY REQUIREMENTS

Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as traffic hazards, violent individuals, communicable diseases, or rude/irate customers.

This is a job description and not an individualized position description. A job description defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but it is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.