Salary : $52,187.20 – $78,270.40 Annually
Location : Richmond, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 27M00000644
Department: Social Services
Opening Date: 09/17/2023
Closing Date: 10/1/2023 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
The City of Richmond Department of Social Services is seeking a highly qualified candidate to fill the position of Family Services Specialist for the Family Search & Engagement Unit. The focus of Family Search & Engagement is to build, maintain and strengthen the family support network of children, families, and individuals served by the Division of Children, Families and Adults. The incumbent is responsible for partnering with the primary Family Services Worker to promote early identification and engagement of fathers and paternal family members. This will be accomplished by providing services through the implementation of family searches in Accurint and other search engines, assessments, and service delivery to increase permanency and lifelong connections for children/youth within a safe environment.
Duties include but are not limited to
Duties include, are but not limited to:
- Acting in the absence of the Family Services Supervisor and demonstrating positive leadership and support to the team;
- Assisting in the training of newly hired Family Services Workers;
- Assisting in the mentoring of Student Interns;
- Attending Richmond Emergency Case Staffing meetings as needed;
- Making phone calls/holds meetings to evaluate case situations/circumstances;
- Conducting bi-monthly (or as needed) home visits to fathers to support them with case management-based support;
- Linking fathers to community resources, including but not limited to, shelter, domestic violence services, legal, childcare, food support programs, financial assistance, employment/training, health, and immigration support services;
- Serving as a secondary worker on case assignment to provide family-centered and community-based services to at-risk cases assigned to Child Protective Services, Foster Care, In-Home programs;
- Utilizing finding family-finding tools to identify family, including paternal family members;
- Creating and utilizing Genogram software;
- Completing family assessments;
- Counseling fathers and paternal families and/or making referral recommendations for services;
- Providing case management services that engage fathers and paternal family members in establishing and strengthening positive parental relationships.
- Advocating and preparing father/paternal family to ensure they have a voice and choice in case planning;
- Initiating and maintaining contact with father/paternal family to ensure engagement in planning process;
- Submitting case reports within agency requirements and meeting state-mandated deadlines;
- Maintaining documentation of services provided in accordance with state and local policies and procedures;
- Participating in Family Partnership Meetings;
- Participating in Family Assessment & Planning Team (FAPT);
- Assisting with other agency responsibilities as required, i.e., CPS and Foster Care assignments;
- Establishing and maintaining working relationships with clients, co-workers, staff, other professionals, officials and the public.
- Providing good customer service by being courteous, timely and trauma-informed.
- Educating the community on program services;
- Participating in community engagement activities;
- Representing the agency to other departments, Courts and City personnel.
**City of Richmond Department of Social Services employees working in this position are considered essential personnel and may be required to work beyond scheduled hours, during inclement weather, and during declared emergencies.**
Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses
QUALIFICATIONS, SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Considerable knowledge in Social Services programs; principles and practices in the human services field, including knowledge of programs, social-economic trends, and behaviors that impact the delivery of human services; agency administration policy and administering individual and family assessments and interpreting results.
Demonstrated skills in case management; consulting and advising; interpersonal communication; oral/written communication; effective listening; and formulating, interpreting, or implementing policies or operating procedures.
Demonstrated ability to think critically; make sound judgement; work with diverse population; perform job responsibilities effectively with minimal supervision; prioritize and manage time effectively.
MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in social work;
- Master’s degree in social work is preferred;
- Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree in a human services field is also acceptable if it includes at least 30 semester hours, or 45 quarter hours, in the development of human behavior, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures, or therapeutic techniques, such as: (a) social work; (b) psychology; (c) sociology; (d) guidance and/or counseling; or (e) child development;
- Two or more years of human services experience is required.
LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- MSW and three (3) or more years of related experience in the areas of child welfare, child development, family systems, application of policy and processes including court.
- Ability to form and maintain effective and cordial working relationships at all levels.
- Excellent communication skills and strong presentation skills.
- Bilingual ability in Spanish preferred.
- Considerable knowledge of trauma-informed practices;
- Demonstrated skill in using automated systems related to program area and job role.
With over 4,000 employees, the City of Richmond is an “Employer of Choice” among cities throughout the nation. The City strives to hire and retain employees who bring dedication and talent to the workforce. Offering a competitive, cost effective, and quality benefits package is one element of an “Employer of Choice”.
The City offers a full range of benefit programs from initial hire through retirement. Please visit our Web site for details.
01
10-point compensable veteran. You must have an existing compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. Other 10-point veteran include disabled veteran or a veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for wound or injuries received in action, veteran’s widow or widower who has not remarried, wife or husband of a veteran who has a service-connected disability, widowed, divorced or separated mother of an ex-service son or daughter who died in action, or who is totally and permanently disabled. Do any of these apply?
- Yes
- No
02
5-point veteran’s must have been discharged under honorable conditions and had one of the following:Active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, in a war, or during the period 4/28/52-7/1/55 or active duty for more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 2/1/55 and 10/14/76 or active duty during the Gulf War sometime between 8/2/90 – 1/2/92 or active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or active duty for which more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 9/11/2001 and ending on the date prescribed by the Presidential proclamation or by the law as the last date of operation Iraqi Freedom. Do any of these apply?
- Yes
- No
03
Employees in this job classification are designated as Essential Personnel and must be available to report to work during inclement weather, disasters and other emergencies. Are you willing and available to report to work during these conditions?
- Yes
- No
04
Do you have a valid Driver’s License or ability to obtain a VA Driver’s License within 30-days of hire?
- Yes
- No
05
Indicate the types of degree(s) you have. Select all that apply.
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW)
- Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field
- Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW)
- Master’s degree in a Human Services field
- None of the above
06
Which of the following best describes your experience completing comprehensive assessment of families?
- Less than 1 year of experience
- 2 to 3 years of experience
- 4 to 5 years of experience
- 6 or more years of experience
07
Which best describes your years of experience collaborating with coordinators and assessment teams including Family Engagement, DRS, Community Services Board and others to ensure the well-being of clients?
- Less than 1 year of experience
- 2 to 3 years of experience
- 4 to 5 years of experience
- 6 or more years of experience
08
Which of the following best describes your experience using the On-line Automated Services Information System (OASIS) or other case management systems?
- Less than 1 year of experience
- 2 to 3 years of experience
- 4 to 5 years of experience
- 6 or more years of experience
09
Which best describes your years of experience preparing reports to demonstrate compliance/results?
- Less than 1 year of experience
- 2 to 3 years of experience
- 4 to 5 years of experience
- 6 or more years of experience
10
Which best describes your years of experience with crisis intervention?
- Less than 1 year of experience
- 2 to 3 years of experience
- 4 to 5 years of experience
- 6 or more years of experience
11
Which best describes your years of experience working with Juvenile Court Services?
- Less than 1 year of experience
- 2 to 3 years of experience
- 4 to 5 years of experience
- 6 or more years of experience
12
Which best describes your level of proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking Spanish?
- Limited proficiency
- intermediate proficiency
- Advanced proficiency
- No proficiency
13
Describe your experience with Family Partnership Meetings and other multidisciplinary teams.
14
Describe your experience with providing case management services to fathers and/or paternal family members.
15
Describe your experience performing in a mentoring or leadership role in a human services organization.
16
Are you willing to work on-call or beyond normal business hours if necessary?
- Yes
- No
Required Question