Placement Coordinator Social Service Specialist 2-3 In Training (SSS3) - Kelso

State of Washington; Kelso (WA); Hybrid; USD 66,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Washington’s DCYF in Kelso is seeking a Placement Coordinator Social Service Specialist 2-3 in Training to provide specialized case management for youth in DCYF care. You will support field staff, engage with placement systems, and help secure suitable foster or relative placements in a hybrid in-person/telework setting.

You will review placement referrals, match youth with relatives, licensed foster families, or group care, and maintain placement logs.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years of paid social service experience AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.
• Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND one (1) year of paid social service experience.
• Master's degree in social services, behavioral sciences, or any degree with 30 credits AND completed practicum.
• One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1.
• Six (6) years of paid social service experience AND 30 credits in a Social Service discipline.
• Bachelor’s degree with 30 credits in Social Service discipline AND Two (2) years paid experience.
• Master's degree with 30 credits in Social Service discipline AND One (1) year paid experience.
• One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2.

Responsibilities

• Obtain and review placement referrals for youth needing placements or respite.
• Match youth with relatives, licensed foster families, licensed group care, or other approved placements.
• Maintain strong communication with agency staff, foster families, and recruitment agencies.
• Maintain data/placement logs including foster home availability and monthly stats.
• Assist licensed caregivers to resolve payment issues and placement-related matters.
• Review CIPR forms to assess placement needs and determine suitable home.

Skills

Case management

Communication

Collaboration

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social services

Master’s degree in social services

Experience as SSA 1/2

Job description

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

Job Title: Placement Coordinator Social Service Specialist 2-3 In Training (SSS3)

Location: Kelso, WA (Hybrid - Work will include a mixture of in-person, telework, and field work.)

Closes:10/15/26

Salary: $66,072 - $93,288 Annually.

DCYF is looking for Placement Coordinator Social Service Specialists 3 to join our amazing Kelso office. Our office excels at teamwork, including cross-program communication, collaboration, and assistance. We pride ourselves on providing high-quality services to the children and families we serve. If you are passionate about caring for children and providing them support,

The Opportunity:

In this position, you will provide specialized case management support in the Region 6 Placement Desk Unit. You will support field staff in securing placement for children and youth who come into DCYF Care, participate in Regional Staffing daily at Complex Youth Staffing, engage with statewide placement systems, and work as part of an integral team within DCYF.

Some of what you'll do:

• Obtain and review the Placement Referral Form for every youth needing emergent or non-emergent placements or respite.
• Match youth who are in Placement Care with a relative, licensed foster family, licensed group care, emergent placement services, receiving care, or other approved placement types.
• Maintain strong communication with agency staff, licensed foster families/facilities, and contracted recruitment retention agencies.
• Maintain data/placement logs including foster home availability, monthly stats, and placement and respite requests.
• Assist licensed caregivers to resolve payment issues and other issues related to child placements.
• Review CIPR forms to assess the placement needs of children and determine the most suitable home or facility.
• Gather the EPS Referral Form and Supervision Plan for children needing emergent placement.
• Assist foster parents with urgent placement matters.
• Communicate with the Statewide Placement Desks to check available resources for children still needing placement.
• Interview foster parents to check in and complete feedback surveys.

Salary Ranges:

The goal class of this position is a Social Service Specialist 3. We will also consider candidates at the Social Service Specialist 2 level, with a training plan to advance to the goal class. The Hiring Manager will evaluate the education and experience of each candidate for one of the levels mentioned below.

• Social Service Specialist 2: Range 57 ($66,072 – $88,788)
• Social Service Specialist 3: Range 59 ($69,348 - $93,288)

What we are looking for at each level: Social Service Specialist 2:

• Five (5) years of paid social service experience AND30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND one (1) year of paid social service experience.

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 Service discipline AND completed practicum.

OR

• One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1.

Social Service Specialist 3:

• Six (6) years of paid social service experience* AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND Two (2) years of paid social service experience*.

OR

• Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience*.

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.

*Paid Social Service experience must include at least one year of assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Prior public child welfare experience.
• Case management experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on child protective and child welfare services.
• Demonstrated knowledge of addiction, treatment, relapse prevention, and recovery principles, and/or experience working with individuals with substance use disorder.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively and build consensus with families, community partners, and professionals around difficult or sensitive topics.
• Experience assessing risk and safety concerning child abuse and neglect or developing safety or service plans with families.
• Ability to organize information to meet FAMLINK documentation requirements.

Worker Core Training (WCT):

As a Social Service Specialist, you are required to successfully complete a mandatory 9.5-week Worker Core Training (WCT). This training provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed to perform core job functions, including assessing risk and safety, supporting child well-being, gathering information, and conducting case and permanency planning. During the training, you will have opportunities to practice these skills through classroom activities, simulation exercises, and debriefs. Upon hire, you will be assigned to the nearest available training cohort. The training includes four (4) weeks at our Seattle training site (scheduled for Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8). For those eligible for travel from their assigned duty location, DCYF covers hotel accommodations and per diem costs.

The WCT curriculum is designed to prepare Social Service Specialists for the responsibilities of the role, including:

• Understanding the child welfare system
• Familiarity with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) related to child welfare
• Policies, procedures, and best practices
• Assessing child safety through environmental observation, interviews with children and caregivers, and collateral contacts
• Collecting records and collaborating with community partners, including medical providers, law enforcement, and chemical dependency services
• Completing assessments and documenting case notes
• Writing dependency petitions and court reports
• Preparing for and testifying in court

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.

We want a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the lives and experiences of the people we serve. See our comprehensive anti-bias & anti-harassment policy for more details.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do 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 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.

DCYF PARTICIPATES IN THE FEDERAL E-VERIFY PROGRAM. THE SELECTED CANDIDATE MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF AUTHORITY TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES, CONSISTENT WITH E-VERIFY REQUIREMENTS, ON THEIR FIRST DAY OF EMPLOYMENT.