Social Service Specialist 2-3 In-Training (SSS3) - Region 4/King County

Social Service Specialist 2 (SSS2) and Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3) Units: CPS, CPS/FAR, and CFWS. Positions in Region 4 – King County. Offices are in Kent, Queen Anne (Seattle), Rainier Valley (Seattle), Bellevue, and West Seattle. Travel is required. Applicants will travel within their assigned areas of work, with clients, trainings, and meetings at other locations. Job Type: Full‑time, Permanent. Salary: $5,398 – $7,622. King County Premium (5%) not included. Assignment Pay: 10% additional pay for SSS3 when reaching goal class. 2% wage increase effective July 1, 2026 not included. The Opportunity In this role, you will assess complex family situations, interview children and parents, evaluate child safety, develop plans to protect children in their homes, and offer services to children and families. Child Protective Services (CPS) CPS Specialists investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect and provide recommendations and services for families. Under the CPS umbrella is FAR (Family Assessment Response), an alternative pathway for families with low‑moderate allegations. Social Service Specialists work with families to keep children safe and build on their strengths to establish community support for long‑term success. Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS) CFWS Specialists provide a variety of strategies to achieve safe and timely permanency for children. Permanency planning involves active and reasonable efforts for timely reunification and identifying and monitoring placement that is in the child’s best interest, safe, stable, least restrictive, and near the parent and the child’s school when possible. Some of What You Will Do Determine if children are safe with their families through respectful investigation and/or assessments. Intervene to protect unsafe children and develop a case plan with the family to remedy the situation so families can safely parent their children. Follow child welfare laws, policies, and procedures. Conduct ongoing comprehensive assessments of risk and safety, develop case plans, and authorize services for children, youth, birth parents, and caregivers. Implement culturally appropriate, ADA‑sensitive, and individualized service plans that are goal‑directed, behavior‑specific, and time‑limited. Refer, coordinate, and monitor the delivery of services. Utilize shared planning meetings to plan, develop, and coordinate with parents, relatives, attorneys, and other relevant professionals. Conduct health and safety visits to ensure the child’s health, safety, and well‑being needs are met. Develop and implement timely permanent plans responsive to the child’s permanency needs. Provide reasonable and active efforts to parents to prevent removal and ensure early and prompt referrals for court‑ordered services. Identify primary and concurrent permanent plans within legal and mandated time frames. Consult with the agency attorney and prepare required legal documents for court, placement, and service delivery. Assist in placing children in approved placements and prepare the child for visitation with parents and siblings. Transport children to placement, appointments, or family time/sibling visits. Schedule and supervise/monitor visitations. Document case notes and case activity in the State computer database, FAMLINK. Write court reports and prepare legal documents. Attend court and provide expert court testimony. Salary Ranges The goal class of this position is Social Service Specialist 3. We will also consider candidates at the Social Service Specialist 1‑2 level, with a training plan to advance to the goal class. The Hiring Manager will evaluate the education and experience of each candidate for one of the levels mentioned below. Social Service Specialist 2: $5,398 – $7,254 Social Service Specialist 3: $5,666 – $7,622 Required Qualifications Social Service Specialist 2 Five (5) years of paid social service experience AND completed 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline. OR A Master’s degree in social services, human services, or behavioral sciences, or a Master’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND a completed practicum. OR A Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a Bachelor’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND one (1) year of paid social service experience. OR One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1 (SSS1). The ability to take action to learn and grow. The ability to take action to meet the needs of others. Social Service Specialist 3 Six (6) years of paid social service experience AND completed 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline. OR A Master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a Master’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND one (1) year of paid social service experience. OR A Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a Bachelor’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND two (2) years of paid social service experience. OR One year as a Social Service Specialist 2 (SSS2). The ability to take action to learn and grow. The ability to take action to meet the needs of others. *Paid social service experience must include at least one (1) year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family‑centered practice services. Preferred/Desired Qualifications Demonstrated knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on child protective and child welfare services. Demonstrated knowledge of addiction, treatment, relapse prevention, and recovery principles, and/or experience working with individuals with substance use disorder. Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively and build consensus with families, community partners, and professionals around difficult or sensitive topics. Experience assessing risk and safety concerning child abuse and neglect or developing safety or service plans with families. Ability to organize information to meet FAMLINK documentation requirements. Worker Core Training (WCT) As a Social Service Specialist, you are required to successfully complete a mandatory 9.5‑week Worker Core Training (WCT). The training provides foundational knowledge and skills needed to perform core job functions, including assessing risk and safety, supporting child well‑being, gathering information, and conducting case and permanency planning. During the training, you will have opportunities to practice these skills through classroom activities, simulation exercises, and debriefs. Upon hire, you will be assigned to the nearest available training cohort. The training includes four (4) weeks at our Seattle training site (scheduled for Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8). For those eligible for travel from their assigned duty location, DCYF covers hotel accommodations and per diem costs. The WCT curriculum is designed to prepare Social Service Specialists for the responsibilities of the role, including: Understanding the child welfare system Familiarity with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) related to child welfare Policies, procedures, and best practices Assessing child safety through environmental observation, interviews with children and caregivers, and collateral contacts Collecting records and collaborating with community partners, including medical providers, law enforcement, and chemical dependency services Completing assessments and documenting case notes Writing dependency petitions and court reports Preparing for and testifying in court How Do I Apply Complete your applicant profile with your full work history and highest education details, and complete the supplemental questions as accurately as possible. Attach a copy of your college transcripts to confirm the required courses. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application submission; official transcripts will be required at the time of hire. Incomplete applications may be screened out of the recruitment process. Attach the following: College Transcripts (unofficial copy is acceptable for application) Cover Letter Current 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 mission 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. Additional Information This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies. 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. 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. This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement. For more information on employee benefits eligibility visit Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB). 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) at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference must attach a copy of their DD214 or NGB Form 22, or other verification of military service. 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. Recruitment ID: 2026‑00261 #J-18808-Ljbffr State-of-Washington