Senior Family Services Specialist

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We know you:  you're flexible, adaptable and well-organized; compassionate and understanding; assertive and able to make independent decisions.  You're committed to the children who need a voice and dedicated to their safety.  And you know what? You might be exactly who we're looking for.  

Customer Experience: It's Our Business, It's Our Passion.

The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services is hiring a Senior Family Services Specialist – for the Family Preservation Team and the CPS in-home team.  The Family Preservation Team provide foster care prevention services to families through the courts in Chesterfield County and Colonial Heights.  The CPS in-home team provides ongoing services to families experiencing abuse/neglect in Chesterfield County and Colonial Heights.

What You Do and How You Do It:

You will make home visits to assess the safety of children and provide services to the family to help prevent foster care. At times, you could be asked to investigate allegations by asking families personal or difficult questions on how the children are being raised. With both teams you will engage and empower families to make positive changes through assessing their needs, developing services plans, making referrals to community partners and providing case management services.  You will learn local, state and federal regulations, and stay up-to-date as things change. You will provide after-hours CPS on-call coverage on a rotating schedule.   At times, as the need arises, Senior Family Services Specialist staff are assigned to various teams within the child welfare continuum of services (foster care, adoption, CPS). You may have other assignments in other areas based on the needs of the agency. Perform other work as required. 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. 

Here's What You Need:

• 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 22VAC of the Administrative Code of Virginia); or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

We're Looking for Ideal Candidates Who Have:

• Possession of a BSW or MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are desirable
• Master's degree in a Social Work preferred.
• Experience in public child welfare, preferably child protective services, foster care and/or adoption with the mandated Virginia CPS and/or Permanency training preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to include the ability to interact with a diverse population preferred.
• Outstanding public speaking and presentation skills, especially for court interventions preferred.
• Assertive and confident – especially when being challenged preferred.
• Independent thinker and decision maker preferred.
• Strong computer skills preferred.
• Ability to deal effectively with conflict preferred.
• A real commitment to the safety of children and to Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services
• Strong time management and organization skills preferred.

Current valid driver's license and good driving record required. Based on the Virginia DMV point system, record must not reflect a total of six or more demerit points within the twenty-four months preceding the anticipated hire date, or one major violation of six demerit points within the preceding thirty-six months. Out of state driving records must be obtained by applicant and presented at time of interview. Records must reflect at least three years of history and be dated within thirty days of interview date.  Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check and education/degree verification required. A Chesterfield County application is also required and must be submitted online by the deadline.

This position is considered Critical Safety Sensitive and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing. The use of medical marijuana for this position is prohibited.

This position is part of an Emergency Shelter Team during times of natural disaster, reporting to shelter duty as required.

Chesterfield County offers an attractive benefits package. As a local Department of Social Services, Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services may offer incentives, approved through the Virginia Department of Social Services, to candidates hired who possess additional relevant training, skills and experience. Those incentives apply to individuals who possess: a Masters or Bachelors Degree in Social Work, Masters in Human Services, LCSW, Child Welfare Stipend participants, completion of COVLC new worker training or are Bilingual (Spanish & ASL).

Did you know that working for a local government provides credit towards the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)?

Realistic Job Preview 

We'll be honest—this is intense. You may have contact with hostile families and children and home visits may be in less than adequate living conditions.  Your emotions will range from the fear of what will happen on your very first home visit to profound sadness for severely traumatized or injured children. It's a stressful job with critical outcomes.  You have to be committed to your client – the children and their families.   You have the power to create positive change and have a direct impact on the lives of children and their families that lasts a lifetime.  When a child sees you years later after becoming a well-adjusted adult and thanks you, you realize you may have saved a life.  Being a family services specialist isn't for everyone, but if you are committed to making a real difference in the lives of others and are looking for a career rather than a job, we want you on our team.

This position is part of an approved Career Development Plan (CDP) and offers career progression opportunities and salary incentives, as funding permits, based on performance, qualifications, and experience.

Visit  to view instructions and to complete and submit an application.

Monday - Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.