GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The purpose of the position is to provide a pool of foster parents and/or provide support and assistance to agency clients for the area of responsibility. The position is responsible for applicant/client assessment, planning, counseling, education/training, monitoring, and reporting. The position works within a general outline of work to be performed; develops work methods and sequences under general supervision.
ESSENTIAL TASKS
The tasks listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional tasks related to the type of work of the class as necessary.

• Conducts interviews or investigations and makes client/family assessments; formulates and implements plan; screens interstate referrals; sends out and reviews home study information.
• Provides individual and group counseling for clients and families.
• Prepares purchase orders for client services, and negotiates provider rates; confirms provider availability and service authorization; verifies client information; processes invoices for payment.
• Interacts/coordinates with other agencies, organizations, or family/community members to provide services for client and family/prior custodians; makes referrals for other social services.
• Conducts home visits to supervise, observe, and document family interactions, activities, and environment; establishes a schedule with parents/prior custodians for child visitation.
• Provides direct services to clients/families including teaching basic living, parenting, budgeting, or employment skills, providing mediation counseling, and accompanying clients to appointments.
• Collects and compiles information/data, and prepares periodic and special reports; maintains files/records for area of responsibility; develops program forms.
• Provides emergency services/crisis intervention for clients/families; protects clients through court involvement; testifies at local, state, and judicial appeals; provides client placement as needed.
• Conducts pre-service foster parent orientations and classes to evaluate/screen applicants; recruits and conducts training classes and orientations for volunteers.
• Provides information to the public on eligibility requirements and available services for assigned areas.
• Performs routine office tasks such as dictating case notes, data entry, typing correspondence or forms, filing, faxing, telephoning, or photocopying.
• Conducts training classes for service providers; certifies and recertifies approved providers; attends professional workshops and seminars to improve professional skills.
• Rotates through various service provider roles in such areas as CPS , foster care, and adoption

Required Qualifications
VOCATIONAL / EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT : In order to be evaluated for vacancies in the Family Services Specialist job series, applicants shall possess the qualifications outlined in (1) OR (2) below:
1) A minimum of a bachelor's degree in the human services field, including Social Work, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Counseling and Guidance, Counselor Education, Human Services, Sociology, Family and Child Development, Aging Studies, Gerontology, Criminal Justice with a minor in one of the above studies, or other related degrees determined by the Department of Human Resources based on the similarity of the curriculum and course content.
2) A minimum of a bachelor's degree in any field accompanied by a minimum of two years of appropriate and related, full-time equivalent experience in a human services-related area.
To be considered for promotion, persons currently employed in the Family Services Specialist job series by a local department prior to January 1, 1999, who do not meet the qualifications outlined in either (1) or (2) above, must possess four years of appropriate and related experience in a human services area and must have successfully completed all available competency-based training related to the promotional area.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT : In addition to satisfying the vocational/education standards, this class requires a minimum of two years of appropriate and related, full-time equivalent experience.
SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES : Requires a valid driver's license and a driving record that is in compliance with City Driving Standards .
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT : Emergency Duty (On-Call) participation is required to comply with mandated responsibilities as listed under Section 63.2-1503,B; Section 63.2-900; and 63.2-1604-63.2-1610, Code of Virginia. Employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term departmental needs and/or City-wide emergencies.
Preferred Qualifications

• Child Welfare experience
• Current Virginia Social Service Permanency experience
• Experience using OASIS database