Family Services Specialist I

Family Services Specialist I (FSSI)Recognized as one of America's Best-In-State Employers for 2024, the City of Virginia Beach is proud to offer a diverse and dynamic work environment. Our workforce plays a crucial role in delivering exceptional government services to both our citizens and fellow City employees. Apply now to join an organization where you truly make a difference.The City of Virginia Beach Department of Human Services is recruiting for a Family Services Specialist I (FSSI) to work in our Child Protective Services divisions. The FSSI will, under the supervision of a Human Services Supervisor, investigate and assess alleged child maltreatment. The FSSI must be able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team facilitating a team approach with police, medical, social work, and mental health professionals.Specific duties include, but are not limited to:Manage a high-volume workload of CPS referrals and demonstrate the ability to make independent decisions based on knowledge of policies and procedures.Document detailed, and accurate investigative narrative, dispositional assessments, safety assessments, and risk assessments.Engage children and families to maximize information gathering and to build trust to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to ensure child safety.Utilize trauma informed strategies to overcome challenges and build upon family strengthsSpend time in the community visiting client's homes, schools, court, and collateral visits that are pertinent to each family's referral.Conduct safety and risk assessments on an ongoing basis with each assigned referral. Review assigned referrals with their immediate supervisor, or designee.Take appropriate actions to ensure that children are separated from unsafe situations by utilizing natural support in the family and community and at last resort recommending placement in foster care.Write court affidavits and petition the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court for child protective orders and or emergency removal orders.Organize and participate in Family Partnership Meetings and varieties of team meetings designed to support and engage families.Receive and screen new allegations of child abuse/neglect. Make appropriate validity decisions and make plans for immediate response to new CPS referrals.Ensure that all referral interviews and interactions are documented within 24 hours.Work in collaboration with police, mental health professionals, emergency medical services partners with triaging families and conducting investigations.Standby on-call duties after normal business hours on a rotating basis.The City offers a generous benefits package which includes health, dental and life insurance, retirement, and savings plans, maternity/paternity and parental leave, and Holidays and Paid Leave.A $3,000 hiring bonus is being offered for this position. Hiring bonuses shall only be for new hires of original full-time employment or reemployment as defined in Human Resources Policy No. 5.0.$500 will be awarded in the first paycheck.$1000 will be awarded upon completion of the six (6) month interim performance evaluation with an overall rating of "Meets Expectations".$1,500 will be awarded upon completion of the employee's one (1) year probationary period and a performance evaluation with an overall rating of "Meets Expectations".Minimum Requirements:Minimum Qualifications: Must possess a minimum of a Bachelors degree in a human services field (social work, counseling, gerontology, guidance and counseling, family and child development, psychology, or sociology); or possess a Bachelors degree in any field accompanied by a minimum of two (2) years related experience in a human services area. Must have a current and valid driver's license.