Family Service Worker

Are you passionate about making a meaningful impact in your community? At the Department of Family Services (DFS), we are committed to improving the well‑being of Fairfax County residents by working together to protect, empower, and guide individuals and families toward self‑sufficiency. We’re searching for a dedicated Human Service Worker IV to join the Public Assistance & Employment Services Division, and lead caseworkers in delivering essential public assistance services. If you’re ready to turn your expertise, leadership skills, and passion into action, this opportunity is for you! What You’ll Do Supervise a team of caseworkers conducting eligibility determinations for public assistance services. Collaborate with the management team to ensure services are delivered effectively and consistently across our branch offices. Lead staff allocation efforts to meet high‑demand times and balance workloads. Identify and address gaps in service delivery to enhance operations and maximize impact. Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices to maintain full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Analyze complex data, generate actionable insights, and create detailed reports to monitor program performance. Leverage technology to streamline operations and ensure accurate documentation while consistently applying policies to assist those in need. The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all‑inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description. As a member of the management team, collaborates with other supervisors and managers to ensure that staff, the community, and other human service providers work together to provide a holistic program of services; Provides day‑to‑day guidance, direction, and mentoring to a group of professional staff on case related issues, policies and procedures, agency initiatives, and professional development; Plans caseloads, assigns cases and reviews case records; Ensures all program timeframes and performance outcomes are met; Communicates performance expectations and monitors performance and accomplishments of staff and overall unit against the goals and objectives of the program; Regularly conducts individual conferences with staff to discuss specific case problems and monitors casework progress; Identifies crisis situations and provides crisis intervention as needed to address difficult or dangerous situations; Interviews job applicants and makes recommendations for hiring; Prepares and conducts formal and informal performance evaluations in a timely manner; Handles performance and discipline issues in a timely manner and in accordance with County personnel policy; Plans for and facilitates the professional growth of staff; Interprets, applies, and explains complex federal, state and County policies to applicants, service providers, the general public and other interested parties; Participates in inter and intra agency multidisciplinary work groups and teams; Makes public presentations on programs and services; Monitors and assures efficient, effective coordination of services provided to clients, identifies service delivery gaps and takes action to improve operations; Evaluates the effectiveness of policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations; Prepares or oversees and presents narrative and statistical reports documenting the work of the unit and/or in relation to case activity. Qualifications Thorough knowledge of complex federal, state and local laws governing public assistance and welfare reform; Knowledge of basic human behavior and social problems; Knowledge of social, economic, health and cultural factors which can serve as barriers to employment; Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; Ability to make mathematical computations; Ability to schedule, organize, and manage workload of self and others sufficient to meet deadlines; Ability to read, interpret and apply program policies and procedures; Ability to use automated technology to conduct research, to establish and maintain case records, and to produce correspondence and reports; Ability to interpret and analyze data; Ability to handle multiple deadlines, high volume of client contact, high caseloads, and competing priorities; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co‑workers, other human service providers and the general public; Ability to work well with clients and coworkers from various socio‑economic and cultural backgrounds; Ability to maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality of client information; Ability to work in a team environment; Ability to work effectively with people under stress; Ability to provide excellent customer service; Ability to identify clients in crisis and intervene to stabilize the situation; Ability to identify client issues requiring referral to other human service providers (e.g., substance abuse, spousal abuse); Ability to supervise the work of others effectively; Ability to provide ongoing, timely, and constructive feedback to staff regarding case work; Ability to develop, train, mentor, and motivate staff; Ability to review cases for consistency, best practice, timeliness, accuracy and appropriateness of action; Ability to accept changes in work assignments and environment; Ability to recognize and implement best proactive approaches to service delivery; Ability to make public presentations. Minimum Qualifications Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: Graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with a bachelor’s degree plus four years of professional human services or related work experience. Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement. Necessary Special Requirements The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and child protective services check to the satisfaction of the employer. Preferred Qualifications Experience working with Public Assistance Programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF and demonstrated ability to interpret, understand, and effectively apply complex policies, regulations, and procedures with precision and confidence. Supervisory experience guiding professional staff, providing constructive feedback, coaching for professional growth, and coordinating team workloads to meet deadlines and organizational goals. Experience utilizing Human Services Case Management systems and Proficiency with Virginia Department of Social Services' computer systems and programs. Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly, concisely, and professionally to diverse audiences. Proven ability to excel under pressure, managing competing priorities with a calm and focused approach. Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain collaborative, professional relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, clients, and community partners. Advanced proficiency and experience in analyzing data, generating insights, and using data to make informed decisions that drive operational efficiency and results. Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools. Physical Requirements Sufficiently mobile to attend meetings throughout the area and visit DFS offices as needed. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to use automated technology. Ability to function well under extreme pressure. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations. Selection Procedure Panel interview and may include exercise. Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others). We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity. Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY View phone number on click.appcast.io. View email address on click.appcast.io EEO/AA/TTY. #J-18808-Ljbffr