Social Service Specialist 1-3 (In-Training) - Region 3/ NW Washington

Our vision is to ensure that "Washington state's children and youth grow up safe and healthy-thriving physically, emotionally, and academically, nurtured by family and community."

Job Title: Social Service Specialist 1-3 (In-Training). We're hiring for multiple offices, programs, and units for Child Protective Services (CPS)- which includes Family Assessment Response (FAR), and Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS).

Locations: Region 3. Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, and Snohomish Counties. Offices are in Bellingham, Mt. Vernon, Oak Harbor, Arlington (Smokey Point), Everett, Lynnwood, and Monroe (Sky Valley). Region Map

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent, & Non-Perm.

Compensation:  Social Service Specialist 1: $4,385 - $5,900; Social Service Specialist 2: $4,968 - $6,676; Social Service Specialist 3: $5,214 - $7,016. Assignment Pay: When the incumbent reaches the goal class of Social Service Specialist 3, they will receive 10% assignment pay. This assignment pay is in addition to the regular base salary as the required duties include performing visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to conduct investigations for allegations of abuse and/or neglect to assess the safety of vulnerable children.

Review Date: Applications are reviewed regularly. This announcement will be used to generate a candidate pool to fill multiple vacancies within Region 3. 

We're looking for Social Service Specialists to join DCYF to protect children from harm, working toward the common goal of eliminating child and youth outcome disparities based on race and ethnicity.  If you are passionate about working with parents to safely care for their children, and secure a safe, nurturing, and permanent family for every young person, whether through reunification with their birth family, kinship care, or adoption one of these positions may be perfect for you! We are hiring for Social Service Specialist 3s or Social Service Specialist 1 and 2s "in-training" with the goal class being Social Service Specialist 3.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

CPS (Child Protective Services): CPS Specialists investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect and provide the appropriate recommendations and services for families.  Under the CPS umbrella is FAR (Family Assessment Response) an alternative CPS pathway for families with low and moderate allegations of child abuse or neglect. Qualifying families may choose this pathway. Social Service Specialists work with the families to keep children safe and build on their strengths to establish community support for long-term success.

CFWS (Child and Family Welfare Services): CFWS Specialists provide a variety of strategies to achieve safe and timely permanency for children. Permanency planning involves active and reasonable efforts for timely reunification.  Identifying and monitoring placement that is in the child's best interests, safe, stable, least restrictive, and near the parent and the child's school when possible. This requires safety, permanency, and well-being activities.

Duties include, but not limited to:

• Determine if children are safe with their families through respectful investigation and/or assessments.

• Intervene to protect unsafe children and develop a case plan with the family to remedy the situation so families can safely parent their children.

• Follow child welfare laws, policies, and procedures.

• Conduct ongoing comprehensive assessments of safety and risk, develop case plans, and authorize services for children, youth, birth parents, and caregivers.

• Implement culturally appropriate, ADA-sensitive, and individualized service plans with families that are goal-directed, behavioral-specific, and time-limited.

• Refer, coordinate, and monitor the delivery of services.

• Utilize shared planning meetings to plan, develop, and coordinate with parents, relatives, attorneys, and other relevant professionals.

• Conduct health and safety visits to ensure the child's health, safety, and well-being needs are met.

• Develop and implement timely permanent plans that are responsive to the child's permanency needs.

• Provide reasonable and active efforts to parents to prevent removal and ensure early and prompt referrals for court-ordered services.

• Identify primary and concurrent permanent plans within legal and mandated time frames.

• Consult with agency attorney, and prepare required legal documents for court, placement, and service delivery.

• Assist in placing children in approved placements and prepare the child for visitation with parents and siblings.

• Transport children to placement, appointments, or family time/sibling visits.

• Schedule and supervise/monitor visitations.

• Document case notes/case activity in the State computer database, FAMLINK.

• Attend court and provide expert court testimony.

What we are looking for (Required Qualifications):

The goal class is a Social Service Specialist 3, however, we will consider candidates at the Social Service Specialist 1 and 2 levels, with two different options to meet the qualifications through an In-Training Plan.  Applicants must have completed a Bachelor's degree for both options.

In-Training Plan Option #1 - Degree "with" the Required Credits

For applicants who completed a Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Social Service, Human Service, or Behavioral Science (or for applicants who completed an unrelated Bachelor's degree (or higher) that included 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline).

• Social Service Specialist 1: Bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline; no experience necessary.

• Social Service Specialist 2: Bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND one (1) year of paid social service experience*; OR Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences AND a completed Practicum; OR One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1.

• Social Service Specialist 3: Bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND Two (2) years of paid social service experience*; OR Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience*; OR One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2.

• Paid Social Service experience must have included assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

In-Training Plan Option #2 - Degree "without" the Required Credits

For applicants who completed a Bachelor's degree (or higher) in an unrelated field but do not have the required 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in the social service field but are willing to obtain them within 18 months of hire. This option is great for applicants who have some or most of the required credits and only need to complete a few classes to meet this requirement. Applicants who apply under this hiring option will begin employment at the Social Service Specialist 1 level and must complete the educational course requirements within 18 months of hire to advance to the next in-training step.

How do I apply?

Complete your applicant profile with your full work history and highest education details and complete the supplemental questions as accurately as possible. Applicants MUST attach a copy of their college transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application submission however, official transcripts will be required at the time of hire. Incomplete applications may be screened out of the recruitment process.

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington's children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve.  If you are excited about this role but believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

This position requires a valid unrestricted (other than corrective lenses) driver's license.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).  For more information: https://wfse.org/

If you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact DCYF Recruiter.  If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email support@neogov.com. 

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 902-2276 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (800) 833-6388.
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