Lead Family Services Specialist

Lead Family Services Specialist – Permanency/Family Engagement Team

Social Services

Hiring Range: $59,452 - $69,855

Deadline: 11:59 p.m. July 7, 2024

Does this sound like you? You're flexible, adaptable, and have strong communication and leadership skills; well-organized, compassionate, and understanding; assertive, innovative, and able to make independent decisions in crisis situations. You're committed to supporting staff to ensure families are receiving services needed to provide a safe environment for their children. Then 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 Lead Family Services Specialist I to support the Family Engagement program.
 
What You Do and How You Do it:
You will assist with the development and implementation of the family engagement efforts for families receiving child welfare services through Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services. Specific duties include facilitation of child-specific, strengths based and family centered meetings for children and families involved with various child welfare teams; facilitate planning meetings to develop and implement service plans designed to attain the identified goal that may include return home, placement with relatives, adoption,  permanent foster care or another planned permanent  living arrangement; provides oversight and fiscal accountability for the reunification budget; champions agency family finding activities to include the use of Accurint and the development of genograms to gain a comprehensive understanding of relative resources. This position is a leadership position that works collaboratively between the child welfare teams to provide support and supervisory coverage in the absence of the supervisor as needed.  Perform other work as required.
 
Here's What You Need:
A bachelor's degree in social work, or a bachelor's degree in the human services field; two years of human services experience required; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Three years minimum of foster care experience preferred. We prefer a master's degree in social work.
 

• Excellent leadership skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills and solution focused
• Strong engagement, assessment, and interviewing skills
• Assertive and confident - especially when being challenged
• Creative problem solver 
• Strong critical thinking skills 
• Independent thinker and decision maker
• Strong organization, time management and computer skills
• Ability to deal effectively with conflict
• Good personal boundaries and self-care
• 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.

Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check and education/degree verification required.
 
Here’s What’s In it for YOU:
Chesterfield County offers an attractive benefits package and DSS offers incentives for candidates with a master's degree in social work and bilingual (Spanish & ASL) abilities. Did you know that working for a local government provides credit towards the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)?
 
Real Talk
Each day is unpredictable and very different. Each family that staff encounters are unique. We'll be honest--this is intense. It's a stressful high paced job with critical outcomes.  You must be committed to serving families and some of our families have experienced trauma. You will assist in the professional development of staff. You have the power to create positive change and have a direct impact on the Child Welfare which include our Child Protective and Permanency programs. You must be flexible and comfortable with taking a leadership role and champion interventions that are implemented. Being a Lead Family Services Specialist in Child Welfare 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.
 
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, Equity, and Inclusion