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

Job Title Social Service Specialist 2 (SSS2) and Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3) Units

CPS, CPS/FAR, CFWS

Locations Region 4 – King County (Kent, Queen Anne, Rainier Valley, Bellevue, West Seattle). Travel is required within the assigned area and with clients as cases require. Job Type Full‑time, Permanent Salary $66,072 – $93,288 annually. King County employees receive an additional 5% premium, not shown in the base amount. Assignment pay of 10% is granted upon reaching Social Service Specialist 3. Review Date Applications are reviewed regularly. Overview 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. Responsibilities 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. Follow child welfare laws, policies, and procedures. Conduct ongoing comprehensive risk and safety assessments, develop case plans, and authorize services. Implement culturally appropriate, ADA‑sensitive, individualized service plans that are goal‑directed, behavior‑specific, and time‑limited. Refer, coordinate, and monitor delivery of services. Use shared planning meetings to coordinate with parents, relatives, attorneys, and other professionals. Conduct health and safety visits to ensure children’s needs are met. Develop and implement timely permanent plans responsive to child permanency needs. Provide reasonable and active efforts to parents to prevent removal and ensure early referrals for court‑ordered services. Identify primary and concurrent permanent plans within legal and mandated time frames. Consult the agency attorney and prepare required legal documents for court, placement, and services. Assist in placing children in approved placements and prepare children 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 database, FAMLINK. Write court reports and prepare legal documents. Attend court and provide expert testimony. Required Qualifications – Social Service Specialist 2 (SSS2) Five (5) 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, or behavioral sciences with 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, or behavioral sciences with 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). Ability to take action to learn and grow. Ability to take action to meet the needs of others. At least two (2) years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license. Required Qualifications – Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3) Six (6) 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, or behavioral sciences with 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, or behavioral sciences with 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline and two (2) years of paid social service experience. Or one (1) year as a Social Service Specialist 2 (SSS2). Ability to take action to learn and grow. Ability to take action to meet the needs of others. At least one (1) year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family‑centered practice services. At least two (2) years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license. Preferred / Desired Qualifications Knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on child protective and child welfare services. Knowledge of addiction, treatment, relapse prevention, and recovery principles, and/or experience with individuals with substance use disorder. 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) The Social Service Specialist is required to complete a 9.5‑week Worker Core Training program focusing on core job functions such as assessing risk and safety, supporting child well‑being, gathering information, and planning. The curriculum includes: understanding the child welfare system; familiarity with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW); policies, procedures, and best practices; assessing child safety through observation, interviews, and collateral contacts; collecting records and collaborating with community partners; completing assessments and documenting case notes; writing dependency petitions and court reports; and preparing for and testifying in court. Benefits & Compensation Benefits eligibility may differ from the benefits tab. This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). Equal Opportunity Employer 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, veteran status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability. #J-18808-Ljbffr State of Washington Dept of Children, Youth, and Families