Kinship Care Licensing Team Lead

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". Attention: This recruitment has been reposted for additional applicants. If you have already applied, no need to reapply; your application status remains unchanged. Job Title: Kinship Care Licensing Supervisor | Social Service Supervisor 5 (SSS5) Location: Tacoma, WA . Region 5. ( Region Map ). This is a hybrid position and requires reporting to the Tacoma office at least once per week. Closes: Wednes day, October 14th, 2026 Salary: $80,496 - $108,228 Annually This position supports the mission of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) by helping protect children and strengthen families through the work of the Licensing Division’s Kinship Care Licensing program. Kinship Care Licensing focuses on assessing and licensing relatives and other individuals with a significant relationship to a child who may provide care when the child cannot safely remain in their own home. In this role, you will supervise a team of Social Service Specialists who provide professional licensing services to kinship caregivers, including home studies and updates, licensing and renewal assessments, amendments, facility complaints, and health and safety monitoring visits. You will also provide advanced consultation and support on complex or high-profile cases involving children or vulnerable adults. Click here to learn more about DCYF . The Opportunity: As a first-line supervisor, you will provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and on-the-job training to Social Service Specialists while supporting their transition from formal training to independent fieldwork. You will conduct case reviews, facilitate meetings and case staffings, establish procedures that support efficient workflow, and provide final approval of staff work products. You will also use planning, accountability, and tracking processes to ensure casework is completed in accordance with law, policy, and other requirements while supporting staff performance and development. A key part of this role is fostering a kin-first and culturally responsive approach, helping staff recognize and respect the strengths, heritage, values, and cultural identities of families while supporting children in maintaining meaningful connections to their families, cultures, and communities. Some of what you will get to do: Perform supervisory personnel functions, including setting performance goals, performance evaluation, and scheduling staff for five (5) SSS3s. Prioritize and assigns work to a unit of Kinship Care Licensing staff who conduct kinship home studies, licenses, updates, renewals, amendments, licensing complaints and health and safety monitoring visits. Provide informal training regarding licensing functions and home study assessment requirements, licensing, maintenance and relicensing of kinship caregivers for staff, divisions, programs, the community or others, and arranges for formal agency training for staff. Develop onboarding training plans for incoming staff and assists the Social Service Specialist 4 with the delivery of onboarding training. Provide case consultation and reviews of home study assessments and reassessments. Conduct monthly reviews, case staffing, unit meetings, and other meetings as needed. Provide ongoing guidance to Kinship Care Licensors regarding home study/licensing process, policy, and procedure. Provide direct technical assistance to Social Service Specialists regarding the licensing and maintenance, support, retention and recruitment of kinship homes. Assist Kinship Care Licensors by providing training and technical assistance. Collaborate with the community, including the provider community, law enforcement, medical personnel and families of children in out-of-home care. Perform quality assurance on staff documentation, assessments, reports, case management and payment initiation. Provide the Area Administrator monthly statistical information for work pending and completed by staff. Required Qualifications: Eight (8) years of paid social service experience* AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline. OR A master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or any master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Three (3) years of paid Social Service experience*. OR A bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or any bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Four (4) years of paid Social Service experience*. OR One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4). OR Two (2) years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3). AND The ability to take action to learn and grow. The ability to take action to meet the needs of others. NOTE: A two-year master's degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum may be substituted for one (1) year of paid social service experience. *Paid Social Service experience must include assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services. In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have previously demonstrated experience with: Supervise, teach and train staff. Manage a large volume of work. Communicate with other agencies and community groups. Communicate up and down the chain of command and develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range and level of staff. Evaluate job performance. Interview job applicants. Make professional judgments. Ability to work cooperatively with diverse populations. Working understanding of agency policies, WAC and RCW related to licensed facilities. Must be able to effectively, clearly and concisely communicate verbally and in writing with management, peers, clients, and the public as required to carry out the assigned duties of the position. Be skilled in the use of MS Office- Word, Outlook and Excel, FAMLINK and other databases used. How do I apply? In addition to completing the online application, please attach the following: College/University Transcripts - an unofficial copy is acceptable for application purposes. Cover Letter Resume 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. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does 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. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within twelve months of initial appointment. 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. This position is included in the supervisory bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: If you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact DCYF Recruiter . If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io .Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at360-664-1960. 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. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22 or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD form 214, NGB form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here . DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment. 2026-07160 #J-18808-Ljbffr State of Washington