JOB
This position includes a signing bonus of $2,500 (full-time) for new county hires.Appointees to this position are eligible for an environmental stipend. This stipend will be paid out at a rate of $138.46 per pay period and will be in effect until further evaluation of the position class warrants other considerations.This is an exciting time to join Fairfax County Government as we shape racial and social equity policies in the county through the One Fairfax Policy. Using this framework, we intentionally consider equity when making policies or delivering programs and services. To learn more, we highly encourage you to watch the Becoming One Fairfax—An Introduction to Key Concepts video by clicking here and visit the One Fairfax webpage here. In alignment with One Fairfax, Department of Family Services (DFS) is committed to strengthening the well-being of its diverse community. To learn more about DFS and its Mission, Vision, and Values, please click here.ABOUT THIS POSITION: DFS is seeking a full-time Home Study and Training Specialist (Social Services Specialist III) to support the Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF). If you are looking to work in a diverse community to strengthen the well-being of children and families, then this opportunity may be ideal for you.The Home Study and Training Specialist position is a member of the Foster Care and Adoption, Resource and Support Program, based in the Fairfax office. Occasional travel is required to our regional offices in Reston, Annandale, and South County. Frequent driving around the county and to outlying areas is also required. The specialist in this position is responsible for the following: Visiting prospective foster parent applicants in their homes to determine appropriateness of participation in a multi-session group preparation process to assure development of areas of foster parent competencyApplying clinical knowledge in assessing families' strengths and challenges with regard to foster parenting during the mutual family assessment processConducting assessment interviews in the applicants’ homes utilizing the genogram, eco map, and other clinical toolsPreparing detailed written assessments for applicants to include Mutual Family Assessments (i.e., home studies)Making recommendations for certification of foster parent applicantsProviding supportive counseling to applicants and information and referrals to community resourcesProviding interstate compact services to familiesCompleting Reports of Investigation for the Fairfax County Circuit Court, as well as court custody home studiesParticipating in Family Partnership Meetings and court hearings, as neededServing as a trainer for prospective foster parent applicants and current foster parentsFacilitating training for families to include topics such as trauma, discipline, loss & grief, adoption, and competencies required to be a foster/adoptive parentProviding information to agency staff about foster home regulationsResponding to inquiries from the public about foster care and adoption by telephone, in person, and electronicallyAttending supervision, unit and program meetings, work group meetings, training sessions, interdepartmental meetings, RED team, and case consultationsAttending large scale community education events and presenting information to the public about foster care and adoption, as neededStrategizing and linking resources to prospective foster familiesUsing automated technology for training and to maintain client data, case records, and correspondenceAssisting with maintaining training dataFunctioning as a leader and mentor to other team membersProviding supervisory coverage and support to the team when the supervisor is on leavePerforming other duties as assigned
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
(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.)Contributes to the development of protocols, policies, procedures, grants and contracts for a social services program, department, and other entities;Manages service contracts and provide and directs other contract-related functions;Assists the supervisor in planning and carrying out training for new staff, providing guidance to staff. May directly supervise staff, and covers for the supervisor in their absence;Serves as a policy expert in an area of social work specialization;Coordinates or oversees the daily activities of a program or project to include staff supervision, oversight of administrative functions/requirements associated with the program or project, evaluation of the program or project for its impact/effectiveness, and making recommendations for changes or improvements;Conducts comprehensive clinical assessments and prepares and implements service plans;Works with clients to develop a plan of service to meet social, health, emotional and economic needs. With the client, formulates objectives and identifies actions to resolve the clients' problems;Conducts home visits to families for the purpose of monitoring, counseling and supervision;Provides crisis intervention on a timely basis to clients or families whose well being is seriously and immediately threatened, to include Child Protective Services after-hours;Conducts mediation services to families in conflict;Investigates allegations of abuse and neglect of children, elderly persons and incapacitated adults who live in the community and institutional facilities;Makes assessment of risks posed to clients in accordance with state and local policies, and works to ensure risks are eliminated or minimized;Performs emergency removal of children from their homes when required, places children in foster homes and residential programs, and coordinates services for them as needed;Represents the agency in court proceedings; prepares testimony and testifies in Juvenile, Circuit, Criminal, Civil and Federal Courts;Interviews and counsels natural parents, adoptive parents, foster parents and children to be placed in foster homes or residential facilities and those involved in adoption placement;Evaluates child's readiness for placement and recommends placement, ensuring compliance with legal provisions;Conducts and documents interstate and intrastate family home studies to evaluate and make recommendations as to families' ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children;Evaluates and trains foster and adoptive parents;Works with the community to identify families, children and individuals needing services and to coordinate these services using a wrap-around approach;Advocates and assists families and individuals in obtaining services (e.g., mental health, intellectual disability, alcohol and drug, housing referrals, home based services, training and medical services);Communicates and works with colleagues, clients and the community in a manner that supports the agency and program goals and objectives;Participates as a contributing member on interagency, multi-disciplinary teams, community groups and professional organizations;Collaborates and contributes to child specific teams on non-agency cases as assigned to assist in identifying community resources and services for families;Assesses eligibility for foster care protect/prevent funds;Participates, collaborates and contributes to Comprehensive Services Act activities for families on caseload;Provides training and education on a variety of social work topics;Recruits volunteers and manages volunteer services;Uses automated technology and hard copy files to maintain and update case data, notes, documents, records, contacts and summaries of information;Manages and maintains program data and outcomes.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree, plus three years of professional social work experience. A master's degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required 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.CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED: Valid driver's license.NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background, a driving record check, and a Child Protective Services check to the satisfaction of the employer.PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Master's degree in social work or closely related field. Minimum of two (2) years of experience in foster care and adoption.PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to lift 40 pounds. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to use automated technology, including but not limited to computer and cellular phone. Sufficiently mobile to make home visits and attend community events. Ability to operate a motor vehicle to attend home visits, meetings, and training not accessible by public transportation. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.SELECTION PROCEDURE: Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to 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. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY. EEO/AA/TTY.#LI-RS1