Senior Family Services Specialist - CPS Investigations
Senior Family Services Specialist – CPS Investigations
Social Services
Hiring Range: $48,015 - $56,510
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. June 27, 2021
We know you: you’re flexible, adaptable and well-organized; compassionate and understanding; assertive and able to make independent decisions. You’re committed to the children who need a voice and dedicated to their safety. And you know what? You might be exactly who we’re looking for.
Customer Experience: It's Our Business, It's Our Passion.
The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services is hiring a Senior Family Services Specialist – CPS to respond to referrals alleging child abuse/neglect and provide ongoing services to families experiencing abuse/neglect in Chesterfield County and Colonial Heights.
What You Do and How You Do it:
You will make home visits to assess the safety of children and the risk of abuse. You will investigate allegations by asking families personal or difficult questions on how the children are being raised. But it doesn’t stop there. You will engage and empower families to make positive changes. You will learn local, state and federal regulations, and stay up-to-date as things change. You’ll help customers connect with community resources to receive the services they need. At times, as the need arises, Senior Family Services Specialist staff is assigned to various teams within the child welfare continuum of services (foster care, adoption, family preservation, CPS ongoing). Perform other work as required.
Here’s What You Need:
We prefer a worker with experience in public child welfare, preferably Child Protective Services with the mandated Virginia CPS training. A master’s degree in social work is preferred. A bachelor’s degree in social work or another human services field with one year of social work experience preferred; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills to include the ability to interact with a diverse population
- Outstanding public speaking and presentation skills, especially for court interventions
- Assertive and confident – especially when being challenged
- Independent thinker and decision maker
- Strong computer skills
- Ability to deal effectively with conflict
- A real commitment to the safety of children and to Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services
- Current valid driver’s license and good driving record required. Based on the Virginia DMV point system, record must not reflect a total of six or more demerit points within the twenty-four months preceding the anticipated hire date, or one major violation of six demerit points within the preceding thirty-six months. Out of state driving records must be obtained by applicant and presented at time of interview. Records must reflect at least three years of history and be dated within thirty days of interview date.
- The hiring range is $48,015 - $56,510 annually, plus an attractive benefits package.
Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check and education/degree verification required.
Realistic Job Preview
We’ll be honest—this is intense. You may have contact with hostile families and children and home visits may be in less than adequate living conditions. Your emotions will range from the fear of what will happen on your very first home visit to profound sadness for severely traumatized or injured children. Removing a child who doesn’t understand he’s in danger and doesn’t want to leave is tough. It’s a stressful job with critical outcomes. You must be committed to your client – the children. Your time won’t be your own if you’re good at what you do. You might have to drop your plans to ensure a child’s safety whenever you’re called. But you have the power to create positive change and have a direct impact on the life of a child and their family that lasts a lifetime. When a child sees you years later after becoming a well-adjusted adult and thanks you, you realize you may have saved a life – and you’re eager to handle your next case. Being a Senior Family Services Specialist isn’t for everyone, but if you are committed to making a real difference in the lives of others and are looking for a career rather than a job, we want you on our team.
This position is a part of an approved Career Development Plan (CDP) and offers career progression opportunities and salary incentives, as funding permits, based on performance, qualifications, and experience.
Still Interested?
A Chesterfield County application is required and must be submitted online by deadline. Visit chesterfield.gov/careers to view instructions and to complete and submit an application. (804) 748-1551.
An Equal Opportunity Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity