FVS Social Service Specialist 2-3 In Training (SSS3) - Kent KSE
State of Washington
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Job summary
Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) in Kent, WA seeks a Social Service Specialist 2-3 In-Training to investigate and assess family situations, work with CPS, and provide services to keep children safe. This full-time role travels within its assigned area and includes court-related responsibilities.
Responsibilities include evaluating risk, coordinating services, and developing family-centered plans.
Qualifications
- Five (5) years of paid social service experience AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
- OR Master’s degree in social services AND 30/45 credits AND practicum.
- OR Bachelor’s degree AND 1 year paid social service experience.
- AND The ability to take action to learn and grow.
- AND The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
Responsibilities
- Provide advanced-level assessments of safety, danger, and risk for families.
- Coordinate and monitor delivery of services to sustain child safety.
- Prepare and file dependency and guardianship petitions and other legal documents.
- Attend court hearings and provide testimony; produce discovery.
Skills
Education
Job description
Family Voluntary Services (FVS) - Social Service Specialist 2-3 In-Training (SSS3).
Kent, WA - Region 4 Region Map. This full-time, permanent position requires time in the field and office. Travel is a requirement of this position. This position will travel within its assigned areas of work, travel with clients as cases require, and travel to attend trainings and meetings in other locations.
$66,072 - $93,288 Annually. King County Premium: The salary listed does not include the additional 5% premium granted to all King County employees. This position may receive 10% assignment pay when the incumbent reaches the goal class of Social Service Specialist 3. This is in addition to the regular base salary; the required duties include performing visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to conduct investigations for allegations of abuse and/or neglect to assess the safety of vulnerable children.
10/25/2026
The Child Protective Services (CPS) unit investigates allegations of child abuse or neglect and provides appropriate recommendations and services for families. This position performs advanced-level work in the assessment of families referred to FVS through CPS Investigations with a primary focus on child safety. The (FVS) Family Voluntary Specialist provides services to a caseload of families, allowing parents to voluntarily engage in services to increase their protective capacities and meet the child’s safety, health, and well-being needs. In this role, you will evaluate family situations, interview children and families, assess child safety and risk, develop plans to protect children, offer services to keep children safely in the home, and provide advanced-level specialized case management in high-profile complex cases.
- Provide case-specific assessments and ongoing assessments of safety, danger, and risk.
- Assess resource needs of children, birth parents, and caregivers, and provide stabilization supports.
- Refer, coordinate, and monitor delivery of services.
- Provide goal-directed, task-centered, and time-limited crisis intervention to children and families.
- Utilize shared planning activities to develop and coordinate collaborative case plans.
- Determine resources available for placement of the child.
- Identify and develop appropriate permanent plans and implement concurrent planning.
- Provide reasonable and active efforts to parents and ensure early and prompt referrals.
- Utilize SACWIS/CCWIS to document case activities, maintain case records, and initiate payments for placement and services.
- Prepare and file dependency petitions, guardianship petitions, and other legal documents.
- Prepare written reports to the court on dependency matters and make appropriate recommendations.
- Consult with attorneys and court-appointed personnel.
- Serve summonses to parties for court hearings and explain court process to parents and children.
- Attend court hearings and provide testimony.
- Produce discovery.
Five (5) years of paid social service experience AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
OR
A Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND a completed practicum.
OR
A Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience.
OR
One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1.
AND
- The ability to take action to learn and grow.
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
Six (6) years of paid social service experience* AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
OR
A Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.
OR
A Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Two (2) years of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.
OR
One (1) year of experience* as a Social Service Specialist 2.
AND
- The ability to take action to learn and grow.
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
- For the SSS3 level: Paid social service experience must include at least one (1) year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.
- Prior public child welfare experience.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Social Work with a completed practicum.
- Prior case management experience with mandatory clients.
- Professional experience working with clients who have mental health problems, substance use disorder, developmental delays, or criminal behaviors.
- Experience assessing risk and safety regarding child abuse and neglect concerns or developing safety and service plans with families.
- Knowledge of child welfare laws, policies, and procedures.
- Knowledge of child development and/or family systems.
- Knowledge and familiarity with local community services and resources.
- Prior experience displaying critical thinking skills and the use of shared decision-making.
- Strong skills in time management and organization, and the ability to develop independent systems to manage large workloads.
- Ability to make critical decisions, based on integration of information from multiple sources that may be discrepant, in high-stress situations.
- Effective communication skills, both orally and in writing.
- Experience researching, interpreting, and applying laws, rules, and policies, and delivering services accordingly.
- Able to partner effectively with clients, caregivers, colleagues, and other professionals.
- Prior experience using FamLink case management system and documenting casework information within timeframes.
- Familiarity with agency’s software programs, which include Outlook and SACWIS/CCWIS.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.
Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
Incumbent must attend all mandatory DCYF training, including Social Service Specialists Academy Training Institute and CHET-specific training requirements, within twelve months of initial appointment.
This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment, but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/
Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement. For more information on employee benefits eligibility visit Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB).
DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave, and paid holiday.
As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 01-07-2026
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