Senior Family Services Specialist - Foster Care

This Senior Family Services Specialist provides professional administrative and lead work in case management in support of and assistance to agency clients within the Foster Care Division. Serves as a resource for staff assigned to a variety of programs. Work is performed with limited supervision and reports to a Family Services Supervisor.

The preferred hiring amount for this position is between $31.62 - $41.35 an hour ($65,757.80 - $85,998.54 annually). Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This full-time, non-exempt position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including 13 paid holidays plus one floating holiday, vacation and sick leave, health insurance with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, gym membership reimbursement, tuition assistance, and professional development opportunities. This position is also eligible for the following retirement benefits:

• Choice of retirement plan: 
  • Defined Benefit Pension Plan: Provides a monthly benefit upon retirement, calculated using a defined formula based on earnings history, years of service, and age. The plan includes a 5-year vesting period and requires an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
  • Defined Contribution 401a Plan: Employer makes fixed contributions to an individual account, which are invested, and returns are credited to the account. The account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. Vesting occurs at 33% after one year, 67% after two years, and 100% after three years of service. No salary contribution is required.
• Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Eligibility to purchase prior service credit under the Defined Benefit Plan

The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS; however, a Portability Agreement is available for eligible employees. For additional details, please refer to the “Benefits” tab within this posting or visit the City’s Employee Benefits webpage.To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

• Assesses individuals/family needs, counsels’ clients, prepares service plans.
• Coordinates specialized and complex departmental service programs.
• Provides training and guidance to staff regarding policy as well as operating systems. Serves as policy expert.
• May determine validity of reports received by adult/child protective services for assignment to workers. 
• Handles complex and difficult cases of assigned area, which may include working with abandoned, abused and/or neglected children and/or adults, or foster care based on assigned area.
• Completes associated casework within associated timelines; prepares and submits court-related documentation within established deadlines.
• May provide group work, client or provider training, meeting facilitation, and public presentations.
• Serves as a resource to other department staff; Consults with/advises others on case planning and service delivery.
• Participates in developing, coordinating and enhancing agency and community resources.
• Provides expert testimony and recommendations for court proceedings when necessary.
• Provides trauma-supportive and appropriately responsive service.
• Conducts monthly home visits and may coordinate progress with the treatment team as necessary.
• Evaluates programs and services rendered to clients.
• Represents the department and interprets agency programs to other agencies, community groups, and associations. 
• May be responsible as an on-call staff on a rotating basis.
• Required to respond upon activation from the City Manager of the Continuity of Operations Plan and/or Emergency Operations Plan. Must have the ability to be contacted and respond based on Department guidelines;
• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time. 
• Regular and reliable attendance.

Other Duties

• May oversee temps, interns, volunteers, or college students in their field experience.
• Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field such as Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, or similar area AND 2 years progressively responsible work experience related to human services or social services programs.

• Bachelor’s degree in any field AND 3 years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services related field; as mandated in Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia and implemented by the Virginia Board of Social Services may be substituted as equivalent.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in a Human Services field.
• 2 Years of experience in a Virginia Department of Social Services or other related agency in Virginia.
• Ability to communicate in a second language.

Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements:

• Must obtain and maintain a valid Virginia Driver’s license and acceptable driving record according to city criteria.
• Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics: 
Job Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge and complete comprehension of eligibility requirements for public assistance, principles and practices of child welfare, substance abuse, employment services, family services and/or protective service work and state and federal procedures and legal terminology to solve common and unusual problems, advise on technical matters, and serve as a resource for others.
• Thorough knowledge of techniques for interviewing, counseling, investigating problems and social work principles and practices.
• Thorough knowledge of trauma informed practices, crisis intervention, and behavior change techniques.
• Knowledge of human behavior and of current social, economic, and health problems of the community served and available resources.

Reading

• Intermediate: Ability to read and understand standard to more advanced written materials, such as policies, regulations, and professional articles/journals.

Writing

• Intermediate: Ability to organize data, maintain case records, and write clear and concise reports and prepare explanations and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech.

Math

• Intermediate: Ability to work with, understand, and apply simple formulas to process financial documentation related to client services, reimbursements, and prepare statistical reports.

Communication Skills

• Intermediate: Establish and maintain effectively working relationships with clients, families, co-workers, city staff, other agencies, and the public. Provide and receive standard to more complex information. May include interactions that involve stressful, negative situations requiring significant tact and the ability to diffuse aggressive behavior and reach consensus. Requires recognizing different points of view to ensure understanding and appropriate response. Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and understanding.

Independence and Decision-Making

• Requires Limited Direction: Normally completes work according to their own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance occasionally. Case management is completed with little oversight and may be reviewed periodically. Special projects are managed with little oversight and assignments may be reviewed upon completion.

Technical Skills

• Skilled: comprehensive knowledge of techniques for interviewing, counseling and investigating problems. Uses analytical judgment to develop comprehensive courses of action for families. Applies understanding of individual and group behavior and social, economic and health problems. Skill in the use of Microsoft Office applications and department software.

Fiscal Responsibilities

• No budgetary or fiscal responsibilities. But may recommend budget allocations.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Lead worker: Performs the same work as others; guides, instructs, monitors, assigns work, provides direction, and serves as a resource to other workers or program staff in more advanced cases and situations. 
• May performs back up supervisory role as needed.

Other Characteristics

• Organization and time management skills, sometimes under strict time constraints.
• Constant interruptions and requests for service.
• Performs multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to maintain clam under pressure and in a fast-paced environment.
• Requires dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
• Works effectively with sensitive and confidential issues and information.
• May be required to be on-call and respond within certain timeframes.
• May be required to work additional hours outside of normal schedule, which may include weekends, mornings, afternoons, and/or evenings.

Physical Demands:

• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects
• Must be able to frequently remain in a stationary position.
• Must occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Must constantly position self to maintain files in file cabinet.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Ability to observe at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:

• Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.  

Work Environment:

• Work is performed in an office environment where there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust.  
• Work may also occur in client homes, other community agencies, or during court hearings. 
• Work may involve threatening and potentially dangerous settings and disturbing circumstances.
• The noise level is typically moderate and may vary dependent on the work site.

A pre-hire background check will be conducted on all candidates who are selected for employment with the Department of Social Services. It will include a criminal record check and a child abuse/neglect registry search. Additionally, a driving record check and education verification may be conducted if applicable.

Please note: The Charlottesville Department of Social Services is unable to hire any applicant, intern, or volunteer if the criminal record check reveals a conviction for, or arrest awaiting final disposition of a barrier crime as set forth in § 63.2-1719 of the Code of Virginia. Please click here for the list of barrier crimes: http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/63.2-1719/

Salary : $65,749 - $86,008