INTERNAL ONLY Social and Health Program Consultant 4 (SHPC4) - Richland

State of Washington; Richland (WA); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Washington's DCYF is seeking a highly skilled SHPC4 to lead training and mentoring for a team of Social Service Specialists across Region 2 in Richland. This hybrid role focuses on improving consistency of practice, investigations, assessments, and interventions in child welfare cases.

You will provide consultation, supervise staff on high-risk cases, and drive performance improvements in line with state requirements and safety goals. Involves travel and cross-office collaboration.

Qualifications

• Equivalent education and experience totaling nine years in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs.
• OR One year of experience as a Social and Health Program Consultant 3 or equivalent.
• OR Two years of experience as a Social and Health Program Consultant 2 or equivalent.
• OR A Bachelor's degree in social work, a health or social science, public administration or a related field; and five years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs.
• OR A Master's degree or higher in social work, a health or social science, public administration or a related field, and four years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
• Note: Two years of paid social service experience must include assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services (strengthening and preserving family units).

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate, monitor, teach, observe, and mentor field operations staff.
• Provide consultation services to new and experienced Social Service Specialists to improve the quality-of-service delivery and safety outcomes to children and families in child welfare cases.
• Supervise, consult with, direct, and support Social Service Specialist staff who are managing high-risk/complex cases.
• Conduct periodic, or upon request, observation of Social Service Specialists to ensure consistency of standard of practice expectations.
• Review region, local office, and unit child welfare program goals, identify needs, and work on meeting set targets for improvement in practice and child safety.
• Review cases, analyze compliance with state and federal requirements, policies, and procedures, and implement formal and informal training and action plans to address deficiencies.

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field

Master's degree in social work or related field

Tools

FamLink

Job description

Our vision is to ensure that “All Washington's children and youth grow up safe andhealthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community.”

Job Title: INTERNAL ONLY Social and Health Program Consultant 4 (SHPC4) This position is open to current DCYF employees only.

Location: Richland, WA (Hybrid- work will include a mixture of in-person, telework, and field work.) Travel required to provide regional support and coverage to all seven Region 2 offices. For a detailed view of DCYF's regional boundaries, Click Here.

Closes: 10/22/26

Salary: $78,504 - $105,612 Annually

This recruitment has been reposted for additional applications. If you have already applied there is no need to reapply— your application status remains unchanged.

We’re looking for a Social and Health Program Consultant 4 (SHPC4) who is interested in being a trainer and mentor to an amazing team of Social Service Specialists. Would you like a career where you make a significant difference in the lives of children?

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:

This Social and Health Program Consultant 4 position is a critical lead role designed to increase consistency of practice in child welfare cases to improve child safety outcomes and the overall quality of investigations, assessments, and interventions. In this role, you'll provide consultation services and mentoring to new and experienced staff. This position trains to the delivery of program-specialized casework in the investigation and assessment of child abuse and/or neglect, and provides performance-related feedback to Supervisors and Area Administrators,

Some of what you will get to do:

• Demonstrate, monitor, teach, observe, and mentor field operations staff.
• Provide consultation services to new and experienced Social Service Specialists to improve the quality-of-service delivery and safety outcomes to children and families in child welfare cases.
• Supervise, consult with, direct, and support Social Service Specialist staff who are managing high-risk/complex cases.
• Conduct periodic, or upon request, observation of Social Service Specialists to ensure consistency of standard of practice expectations.
• Review region, local office, and unit child welfare program goals, identify needs, and work on meeting set targets for improvement in practice and child safety.
• Review cases, analyze compliance with state and federal requirements, policies, and procedures, and implement formal and informal training and action plans to address deficiencies.

Required Qualifications:

Equivalent education and experience totaling nine years in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs.

OR

One year of experience as a Social and Health Program Consultant 3 or equivalent,

OR

Two years of experience as a Social and Health Program Consultant 2 or equivalent,

OR

A Bachelor's degree in social work, a health or social science, public administration or a related field; and five years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs,

OR

A Master's degree or higher in social work, a health or social science, public administration or a related field, and four years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs,

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Note: Two years of paid social service experience must include assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services (strengthening and preserving family units).

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Strong working knowledge of Washington’s electronic child welfare records system, FamLink.
• Strong risk assessment and safety assessment skills.
• Working knowledge of developing effective safety plans that reduce future risk of child abuse or neglect and improve child safety.
• Knowledge and understanding of the connection between research, data, and practice.
• Working knowledge of child development, including early childhood brain development.
• Previously demonstrated knowledge of Child Protective Services’ roles, responsibilities, and authority.
• Previously demonstrated working knowledge of DCYF programs and policies, Family Assessment Response, Child Protective Services Investigations, Family Voluntary Services, Child and Family Welfare Services, Family Reconciliation Services, Adoptions, Interstate Compact, etc.

Supplemental Information: 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.

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 supervisory bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.

The incumbent must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of their appointment.

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.

If you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact DCYF Recruiter.

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.

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