Family Services Specialist III

Job Title

Under general supervision, performs professional work in the protection, safety, placement and care of children, adults and families in need of services, resources, referrals and or treatment. Reports to the Family Services Supervisor, and will be assigned to one of the five units (Adoption, Foster Care, Child Care, In-Home Services or Adult/Adult Protective Services) within the agency.

Essential Job Functions

Performs case management duties to include planning and coordinating services for individuals and families; interviews and identifies barriers; performs assessment of client and family needs; develops and implements service plans to address the nature and the extent of needs for the child/children, adults, and the elderly and disabled; implements services that focus on safety, self-care, family perseveration and family reunification; monitors progress and completes routine paperwork in timeframes established by the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS). Initiates or approves credit authorizations and purchase orders for client needs and services and maintains financial records.

Facilitates agency and independent adoptions; travels and transports children; conducts home visits, counsels, and serves as an advocate for clients' rights. Initiates court petitions, prepares written reports for court submission, and attends court hearings and testifies as necessary. Coordinates with local law enforcement as necessary. Plans and attends meetings, and works with other agencies such as the courts, public schools, treatment programs, Family Assessment Planning Teams (FAPT), and other community partners. Serves as a resource and provides agency information and/or resources to the community. May facilitate or assist in the facilitation of agency groups.

Performs advance level work on complex and sensitive cases. Serves as a lead worker and expert resource for the Family Services program unit. Provides assistance with training, mentoring and couching unit staff. Assist supervisor with record reviews and audit preparations.

Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Performance Indicators

Knowledge of Job: Has considerable knowledge of local, state and federal laws, ordinances, rules and regulations pertaining to Adult Services, Adult Protective Services, Child Care, Foster Care and In Home Services. Has considerable knowledge of the forms, documents and manuals associated with Family Services programs. Has some knowledge of other programs administered through Social Services and through community human services agencies or volunteer groups. Is able to use common office machines and audio-visual playback equipment. Is able to read and compare works and figures carefully and accurately. Is able to maintain accurate participant records and prepare reports from such records. Is able to exercise independent judgment in organizing and establishing format. Is able to analyze and evaluate programs and to prepare reports on the programs' functioning. Is able to communicate effectively in oral and written form. Is able to make oral presentations before large groups of people. Is able to explain rules, regulations and policies of programs in terms understood by clients and the general public. Is able to exercise considerable tact, courtesy, discretion, firmness and fairness in contact with program clients. Is able to exercise considerable discretion in handling confidential files. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all co-workers and the general public.

Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions."

Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.

Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.

Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.

Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc.

Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisor for mutual and city benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all city employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, to project a good city image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, program clients, supervisor, professionals and the general public.

Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for appointments, meetings and deadlines.

Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.

Education, Experience & Special Requirements

Education & Experience

Bachelor's degree in a human services field, and 3 – 4 years of human services, case management, or social work experience, or a Bachelor's degree in any field and 4 – 5 years of related experience.

Special Requirements

A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record. An acceptable general background check to include a local, state and federal criminal history and sex offender registry check. Individuals in this position cannot be listed as having a founded child abuse or neglect complaint.

In the event of a declared emergency in the city of Portsmouth, individuals in this position are required to work shelter duty and may be called on to perform duties as required to provide for the safety and care of the citizens of the community.

Physical Demands

Minimum Qualifications or Standards Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines which include computers, calculators, adding machines, copiers, facsimile machines, etc. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and up to 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Medium work may involve walking, driving, or standing for periods of time.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from superiors.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, records, forms, statistical summaries, etc. Requires the ability to prepare reports, correspondence, records, forms, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to plan work and develop procedures. Requires the ability to learn and/or evaluate complex information in order to make judgements and decisions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages, including legal, medical and insurance terminology.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas, to add and subtract, multiply and divide. Must be able to utilize decimals and percentages.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment and operating a motor vehicle.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs