Family Services Specialist I
HS-SS FAMILY SERVICES
Family Services Specialist I - Adoptions
Are you a highly motivated and experienced Child Welfare professional who is passionate about helping children and families as they work toward reunification and/or permanency. The candidate must demonstrate their knowledge of Virginia Department of Social Services’ policies and procedures regarding Child Welfare. The candidate shall have excellent written and verbal skills, will work in direct care staff, other supervisors, colleagues and stakeholders within the department and and the community. The candidate must be flexible and willing to work outside of normal working hours. You must be a team player with the understanding that each foster care/adoption case belongs to every working within the unit.
TYPICAL TASKS
Are you a highly motivated and experienced Child Welfare professional who is passionate about helping children and families as they work toward reunification and/or permanency. The candidate must demonstrate their knowledge of Virginia Department of Social Services’ policies and procedures regarding Child Welfare. The candidate shall have excellent written and verbal skills, will work in direct care staff, other supervisors, colleagues and stakeholders within the department and and the community. The candidate must be flexible and willing to work outside of normal working hours. You must be a team player with the understanding that each foster care/adoption case belongs to every working within the unit.
TYPICAL TASKS
- Conducts interviews or investigations and makes client/family assessments; formulates and implements plan; screens interstate referrals; sends out and reviews home study information. Provides individual and group counseling for client and family.
- Prepares purchase orders for client services, and negotiates provider rates; confirms provider availability and service authorization; verifies client information; processes invoices for payment. Interacts/coordinates with other agencies, organizations, or family/community members to provide services for client and family/prior custodians; makes referrals for other social services.
- Conducts home visits to supervise, observe, and document family interactions, activities, and environment; establishes schedule with parents/prior custodians for child visitation.
- Provides direct services to clients/families including teaching basic living, parenting, budgeting, or employment skills, providing mediation counseling, and accompanying clients to appointments.
- Collects and compiles information/data, and prepares periodic and special reports; maintains files/records for area of responsibility; develops program forms.
- Provides emergency services/crisis intervention for clients/families; protects clients through court involvement; testifies at local, state, and judicial appeals; provides client placement as needed.
- Conducts pre-service foster parent orientations and classes to evaluate/screen applicants; recruits and conducts training classes and orientations for volunteers.
- Provides information to public on eligibility requirements and available services for assigned area.
- Performs routine office tasks such as dictating case notes, data entry, typing correspondence or forms, filing, faxing, telephoning, or photocopying.
- Conducts training classes for service providers; certifies and recertifies approved providers; attends professional workshops and seminars to improve professional skills.
- Rotates through various service provider roles in such areas as CPS, foster care, and adoption. Performs other related duties as assigned.
The City of Chesapeake offers an exceptional range of benefits. Please browse our Benefits Brochure, for a full list of benefits and employee perks.