Family Services Specialist II

The City of Alexandria is bordered by Washington D.C. and the Potomac River, Arlington and Fairfax counties, and Maryland. The small city has a cosmopolitan feel with 150,000 people living within its 15.75 square miles. At the Department of Community and Human Services, we provide essential safety net services to help city residents enjoy a sense of well-being, safety and self-sufficiency. Our behavioral health programs provide compassionate services that support self-determination and recovery. The beauty of our diverse and resilient people and our commitment to race and social equity, coupled with a historic district dating to 1749, charming waterfront, vibrant arts community and unique places for foodies and shopping, make the City of Alexandria a uniquely wonderful place to live, work and play. We invite all qualified candidates to learn more and apply for our Family Services Specialist II position.

This the specialist level in the class series for Family Services. Employees specialize in program areas and assume more complex duties such as: interviewing/investigating in cases involving suspected child/adult abuse/neglect, out-of-home placements, guardianships, emergency protective orders, and adoptions; testifying in legal proceedings; and placing children in foster/adoptive homes. Employees have contacts with others and influence outcomes by participating on task forces, strategic planning, mentoring, teaching, and conducting outreach. Programs areas generally include Adult/Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Foster Care, and Adoptions. Additionally, in some agencies, positions may be partly dedicated to Child Care and Employment Services in addition to other program areas. The Family Services Specialist III is distinguished from the Family Services Specialist IV class by the latter’s functioning as a lead worker, or an expert resource specialist.

A Family Services Specialist II provides intensive and specialized, culturally competent social work services to individuals and families. Alexandria DCHS utilizes a racial equity approach in all decision making.

This position uses social work theory to provide intensive and specialized culturally competent social work services to identify, engage, assess, and train prospective resource families. Resource families—which include foster parents, foster-to-adopt families, and kinship caregivers—are critical partners for child welfare professionals because they provide care for children who cannot live with their parents, and they can play a supportive role in reunification.

Telework may be available with appropriate consideration given to work assignment location, and in accordance with current City policy.

Examples of Duties:

• Provides approved curriculum to resource parent and fictive kin applicants;

• Assesses applicants understanding of training materials, assess their ability to participate in the resource parent program and their ability to provide a safe, nurturing home for a child in need;

• Prepares written resource home assessments and ICPC assessments utilizing information gathered through training, face to face interviews, collateral interviews and visits to the home and monitors homes after initial approval;

• Provides case management of resource homes including entering contacts into OASIS statewide system, teaming with the placement coordinator on placement options and support of families, adding families to the Resource Home data base, and gathering statistical data;

• Provides supportive counseling to resource families in identifying and resolving emotionally challenging decisions;

• Provides crisis intervention on a timely basis to resource families who are caring for children placed in their home;

• Makes presentations to community groups, schools and other professional groups on the need for resource parents in the City of Alexandria;

• Participate in the development and implementation of a recruitment plan to increase the resource families of color;

• Assist in the development of agency approved resource home recruitment materials such as brochures, media campaigns and events;

• Responsible for the recruitment, marketing materials and posting info meetings (city website, one church one child, Alexandria Gazette, etc.); holding on a regular basis, timely in person, community, or virtual foster parent information meetings; ability to work evenings and weekends at community recruitment events for effective recruitment;

• Represents the agency by serving on community workgroups and regional professional groups;

• Teams with Resource Parent Placement Coordinator, as needed, on placement decisions;

• Assists unit in organizing special training and recognition events for agency approved resource parents;

• Conducts reassessment visits with approved resource families to maintain certification;

• Participates in the Adoption Placement Panel process;

• Serves as a policy expert in the area of resource home approval guidance;

• Teams with unit members to develop recruitment and training materials;

• Participate in Family Partnership Meetings, Treatment Team Meetings, and case consultations as requested to support resource families and help team in making decisions;

• Provides after hours on-call on a rotating basis;

• Performs related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field or minimum of a 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). Considerable 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. Considerable knowledge of social work principles and practices; Considerable knowledge of laws, policies, and regulations relating to human services program areas; Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated software and the operation of a motor vehicle. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; Demonstrated ability to develop and present training programs and other presentations; Demonstrated ability to develop speeches and represent the agency on program training and workshops; Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with others.

Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree in a human services field. Some relevant experience. Master’s degree in social work.