Family Safety Practitioner I

This position includes a signing bonus of $2,500 (full-time) for new county hires. This is an exciting time to join Fairfax County Government as we shape racial and social equity policies in the county through the One Fairfax Policy. Using this framework, we intentionally consider equity when making policies or delivering programs and services. To learn more, watch the Becoming One Fairfax—An Introduction to Key Concepts video and visit the One Fairfax webpage.

About the role

Our Adult and Aging Division welcomes applicants for the Adult Services Family Safety Practitioner I position. Under supervision, this role performs entry-level assessment of social, health, emotional, and economic needs of clients to implement and monitor a plan of service; makes appropriate referrals; provides consultation; and performs related work identifying resources and monitoring services in place.

• Supports other family safety practitioners with routine client check-in calls and completes notes, documentation, follow-up, and referrals as needed.
• Helps identify and utilize available resources and refers clients to public and private agencies and services.
• Assists clients and families with completing Medicaid applications and obtaining needed income and resource documentation.
• Maintains documentation about availability of resources for program staff use.
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of the Adult and Aging division and the Department of Family Services, including administrative tasks and driving agency vehicles to county facilities for repair and maintenance.
• Attends and participates in local meetings.
• Works with clients, families, and service providers to resolve service delivery issues.
• Completes required paperwork and follows policy required by the state.
• Utilizes local and state information systems for individual client record keeping and tracking.
• Performs record keeping according to local and state policy requirements within designated timeframes.

The primary purpose of the Adult and Aging Division is to ensure resources, advocacy, safety, and well-being of older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers are met. The division director may reassign this position’s duties within the job class to meet agency responsibilities.

Requirements

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of professional casework.
• Knowledge of current social service problems and methods/approaches to address issues.
• Knowledge of law, policy, regulations, and guidelines relating to the assigned area of social service specialization.
• Ability to analyze case information and reach sound decisions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to use case management and documentation software systems.
• Ability to maintain professional ethics and confidentiality of client information.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals and organizations.
• Ability to schedule and manage workload to meet policy-driven deadlines, court orders, and supervisory deadlines.
• Ability to engage effectively and empathetically with persons from different cultures who may be experiencing stressful family situations.
• Ability to employ empathy and emotional intelligence while performing client-related tasks.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in a human services field OR a bachelor's degree in any field with at least two years of appropriate and related experience in a human services area (per Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia).
• Candidates in their last semester of a qualifying degree program may apply but must meet the degree requirement upon graduation.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Must complete state-mandated training in the functional area within a specified time period.
• Must pass a criminal background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Full-time equivalent professional social services or human services experience in adult protective services, adults with disabilities, child protective services/preservation, homeless shelters, hospital social work, housing, intellectual disabilities, mental health, or older adults.
• One or more years of full-time equivalent experience conducting home visits.
• One or more years of full-time equivalent experience working with a diverse, multicultural population.
• One or more years of full-time equivalent experience working in an interdisciplinary team setting.
• Experience working in a public, state, or local social services agency.
• One or more years of full-time equivalent experience working with computerized case management programs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite applications: Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or Access.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform administrative tasks supporting advocacy, well-being, and protection for older adults and adults with disabilities.
• Sufficient mobility to attend meetings and community events outside the office.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to use automated technology and operate a motor vehicle.
• Ability to sit for long periods, walk, stand, kneel, reach, bend, and climb stairs.
• Visual acuity to read data on a computer monitor and operate keyboard-driven equipment.
• Ability to transport older adults and adults with disabilities to appointments.
• Ability to follow directions, read maps, and complete forms.

All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Benefits

Positions within this classification that are general merit may be eligible for a one-time hiring incentive bonus of $2,500 for new county employees, requiring a signed payback agreement.

Additional Information

Fairfax County encourages bilingual candidates (English and another language) to apply, as the county serves a highly diverse population. Reasonable accommodations are available for persons with disabilities during the application and interview process.