Senior Family Services Specialist (Foster Care)

The City of Roanoke is seeking a Senior Family Services Specialist to lead and provide support and assistance to agency clients with personal, social, health and economic needs. The successful candidate will render specialized and difficult casework services which may require a smaller caseload; provide case consultation to family services specialists and serves as the team leader in arranging for services and helping clients use resources; and may serve as a lead worker directing activities of family services specialists and/or aides. Bachelor's degree from four year college or university with a degree in human services or related field, BSW/MSW preferred, and at least two years related experience in human services. Possession of a valid appropriate driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

SENIOR FAMILY SERVICES SPECIALIST IN FOSTER CARE
The Senior Family Services Specialist leads and provides support and assistance to agency clients with personal, social, health and economic needs. Renders specialized and difficult casework services which may require a larger caseload. May serve as a lead worker directing activities of family services specialists and/or aides. Provides case consultation to family services specialists and serves as the team leader in arranging for services and helping clients use resources. Shares a 24-hour on-call rotation. Bachelor's degree from four year college or university with a degree in human services or related field. BSW/MSW, at least two years experience with a Department of Social Services and knowledge of foster care policy, preferred. Possession of a valid appropriate driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The City of Roanoke is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA/M/F/Disability Employer.

To elevate the performance of the organization, we are committed to respecting, celebrating, and embracing the collective mixture of differences and similarities between our employees as a rich tapestry. Our behaviors will demonstrate open communication, and we will seek opportunities to learn, recognizing and rewarding actions that promote acceptance while suspending judgment. By doing this, we will foster an inclusive, open work environment that delivers excellent service and creates a more vibrant and inviting community.

This is an exempt position.
 SUMMARY 
Leads and provides support and assistance to  agency clients with personal, social, health and economic needs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Renders specialized and difficult casework services which may require a smaller caseload, e.g., family therapy

May serve as a lead worker directing activities of family services specialists, and/or aides

Serves as the central person in a "team approach" in arranging for services and helping clients use resources

Serves in special program areas such as group work services, community planning and organization, and volunteer
service and coordination

Participates in planning and evaluating agency programs

Provides training, technical assistance and guidance to social work staff

Implements service plans and documents action and rationale

Enters and updates client and case data in multiple state data systems

Identifies and develops resources to implement service plans

Maintains case records, prepares written reports of services, findings and actions.

Makes decisions to remove children from dangerous situations and makes recommendations regarding institutionalization of adults and children

Provides crisis intervention in potentially dangerous situations

Shares a 24-hour on-call rotationQUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's degree from four year college or university with a degree in human services or related field, BSW/MSW preferred, and at least two years related experience in human services OR equivalent combination of education and experience. 
 LANGUAGE SKILLS 
Ability to read and interpret documents such as laws, policies, regulations, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to respond effectively to inquiries orally and in writing. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. 

REASONING ABILITY 
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

***CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS*** 
Possession of a valid appropriate driver's permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. If you do not have a Drivers License issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia, you must submit a certified copy of your driving record issued by the DMV from your previous state of residence with your application.
 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Requires the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at keyboard or work station. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk. Some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.

Must be willing to work outside normal work hours and respond to both routine and emergency situations.

SENSORY REQUIREMENTS 
Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

WORK ENVIRONMENT  
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as traffic hazards, violent individuals, communicable diseases, or rude/irate customers

This is a job description and not an individualized position description. A job description defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but it is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.