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Social Service Specialist

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Frankfort, KY Full Time
POSTED ON 12/3/2025 CLOSED ON 1/7/2026

What are the responsibilities and job description for the Social Service Specialist position at Commonwealth of Kentucky?

Description

The Kentucky Department for Community-Based Services (DCBS) is a multi-faceted agency that provides services and programs to enhance the self-sufficiency of families, improve safety and permanency for children and vulnerable adults and engage families and community partners in a collaborative decision-making process. We offer an exciting opportunity to be part of a team of professionals committed to providing services to the children and families of the Commonwealth. The employee is expected to perform all duties to the best of their ability, act responsibly at all times, and treat all persons with respect. Career growth is encouraged through training and mentoring opportunities.

The Division of Protection and Permanency is hiring for a Social Service Specialist within the Director’s Office. The Division offers an opportunity to guide the public and agency staff as they work with families, children, and adults to ensure safety, permanency, and well-being. We seek a Social Service Specialist with a passion for child welfare and an interest in working with agency partners, private child placing and private child caring (PCC/PCO) providers. This is a demanding position that requires maturity and self-discipline. If you are interested in a challenging, yet rewarding, opportunity to make a positive difference in your community, we are hiring and would love to review your application for a Social Service Specialist in the Prevention and Evidence-Based Branch.

For more information on the Department for Community Based Services, please visit our website at: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/pages/default.aspx

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To

  • Provides consultation to public agency staff regarding youth in OOHC in private agency placements.
  • Provides support and consultation to Public Child Caring and Public Child Placing Agencies.
  • Drafts and completes legislative bill reviews, proposals, presentations, MOU’s, agreements, etc. regarding private agency partners.
  • Collaborates with public agency and private agency staff to support youth in the OOHC population.
  • Data tracking and analysis.
  • Develops PCP Caring and Private Child Placing Agreements.
  • Completes agency site visits.
  • Collaboration with OIG.
  • Leads statewide Building Bridges Initiative.

Skills and Expectations include but are not limited to the following:

  • Experience working with families or children in the child welfare system.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Strong public speaking skills.
  • Good time management and organizational skills.
  • Ability to work in a high-pressure and fast-paced work environment.
  • A willingness to work as part of a team.
  • Critical thinking skills.

The position you are applying for has access to or use of federal tax information (FTI) or meets the statutory definition of front-line staff. Therefore, pursuant to IRS Publication 1075 and 900 KAR 1:009 or KRS 194A.062 and 900 KAR 1:050, applicants for this position in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) shall submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background check by the Department of Kentucky State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

CHFS also participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. CHFS will only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that CHFS has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at 888-897-7781 or https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Minimum Requirements

EDUCATION: A master's degree in social work, sociology, psychology, marriage and family therapy or a related field

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR SKILLS: Must have three years of professional social work experience.

Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: NONE

Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: A bachelor's degree supplemented by five years of professional social work experience will substitute for the primary education and experience requirements.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS (AGE, LICENSURE, REGULATION, ETC.): If employed by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice, an employee in this job classification must furnish to the appointing authority within one month of employment documentation that he/she possesses a valid driver's license. Must maintain any required licensure(s), certification(s), or other credentials for the length of employment in this job classification. Employing agency is responsible for ensuring employee possesses and maintains required licensure(s), certification(s) or other credentials.

Working Conditions

Performs job duties in an office/facility setting and visits clients and/or families at their residence.

Salary : $67,204 - $78,425

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