Family Services Specialist II - Kinship Family

Family Services Specialist II

The City of Richmond Department of Social Services is seeking a highly qualified candidate to fill the position of Family Services Specialist II within the Division of Children, Families & Adults' Kinship Family Unit. The Family Services Specialist will independently perform a variety of tasks in support of identifying best practices in child welfare, inclusive of case management, home assessments and approvals, training and completing assessments.

The incumbent will report to the Family Services Supervisor and will work to ensure that the Agency's practice model is fully embedded and implemented within all units of the division and will also coordinate of special projects and initiatives to further the mission of the City of Richmond Department of Social Services.

Duties Include But Are Not Limited To

• Performs casework activities
• Responds to and investigates complaints, requests for, and referrals to various social services programs
• Evaluates case circumstances to determine eligibility/approval for program benefits and services; Prepares case plans, coordinates with service providers, and attends meetings and hearings
• Conducts face-to-face interviews
• Requests, conducts, and completes a risk/needs assessment to identify required services based on information from the child, individual, family, relatives, schools, churches, family courts, or other agencies
• Works with families to formulate service plans, revises plans as needed and monitors provision of services to ensure safety, compliance with court orders, federal/state/local regulations, etc.
• As assigned, may investigate reports of child abuse and neglect, documenting results of investigation and completing required forms
• Documents results of investigation and completes required forms
• Performs case management activities
• May include a combination of the following: completes, updates, evaluates, submits, reviews, and maintains required documentation (e.g. service plans, court reports) and case records, ensuring accuracy and compliance with various agencies, court orders, and federal, state, and local regulations
• Reads and interprets policies/procedures
• Writes letters and referrals
• Prepares and completes forms and reports in accordance with local and state regulations
• Enters casework activity and client information into database systems and retrieves information as needed
• Provides casework counseling and crisis intervention which includes arranging for and monitoring the provision of services to individuals or families, targeted to ameliorate circumstances or to protect individuals unable to protect their own interests
• Makes home/school visits to evaluate the home/school environment and monitor progress toward achieving goals
• Prepares, reviews, explains, interprets, and executes court orders regarding client placement and social service-related plans
• Transports clients to ensure welfare and facilitates delivery of appropriate services
• Supervises cases, monitoring progress and compliance with court orders, federal/state/local laws, and department/agency regulations and requirements
• Ensures safety and well-being of clients
• Establishes and maintains individual case records
• Documents client interactions and maintains databases
• Reviews and generates reports
• Serves as a client advocate
• Secures client financial and other support
• Authorizes, negotiates, and monitors payments to service providers
• Assists in the preparation of legal documents and in initiating legal actions such as motions, notices, petitions, and hearings
• Testifies in court and provides documentation
• Acts as a liaison and collaborates with various agencies and community partners to which individuals and families can be referred for services such as law enforcement agencies, courts, the medical community, and school personnel in the course of an investigation
• May be involved in community outreach activities, providing educational awareness and information to the general public about program requirements and referrals to service providers; May be involved in the initiation of court action when necessary
• Other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Considerable knowledge in principles and practices in the human services field, including knowledge of programs, social-economic trends, and behaviors that impact the delivery of human services; and State and local policies and procedures, laws, and regulations.

Demonstrated skills in advocating and counseling; administering individual and family assessments and interpreting results; Interviewing; Case management, including reporting and documenting; Oral/written communication; and conducting forensic interviews.

Demonstrated ability in understanding and interpreting policies, procedures, regulations, and laws; thinking critically; manage time effectively; make sound judgments; problem solve; and analyze, assess, and evaluate data.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field OR Bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia)
• Experience in assigned program area and completion of required training programs or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record.

• Two (2) or more years of Social Work experience working with families;
• Advanced computer, written and oral communication skills;
• Knowledge of best practices and policies used throughout the reunification and permanency process;
• Working knowledge of the Commonwealth of Virginia court system;
• Proficient crisis intervention techniques and case management skills;
• Effectively develop relationships among a diverse, socio-economic class of clients;
• Ability to read, write, and speak Spanish fluently.
• Possession of a BSW or MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Veronica Kenner, by email at View email address on click.appcast.io.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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