Family Services Specialist

About the role

The Division of Child Protection Services impacts children and families’ lives every day by assessing safety, providing intervention, and securing stability for children. This position is responsible for completing assessments with families from diverse economic, educational, and cultural backgrounds alleged to have maltreated their children.

Responsibilities

• Complete assessments with families from diverse economic, educational, and cultural backgrounds alleged to have maltreated their children including analysis of danger threats to children.
• Provide intervention services with families after a determination has occurred that conditions in the home threaten child safety.
• Work with the court system including testifying when children are placed in the custody of the state.
• Find foster and adoptive homes for children; recommend placements; monitor children placed in out of home care; case plan; assess needs of resource families and provide support services; identify and locate relatives for possible placement resources for children placed in out of home care.
• Respond to emergencies regarding reports of alleged child abuse and/or neglect on a 24 hour basis.
• Work with families who have been traumatized by sexual abuse, neglect, physical abuse, and/or emotional maltreatment.
• Work in a variety of settings ranging from departmental offices to client homes to courtrooms.
• Assume initiative with minimal supervision while utilizing critical thinking skills.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in a human service-related field is preferred.
• Or relevant experience may be considered.
• Lift up to 30 pounds in a safe manner.
• Flexible schedule which may include evening, night, holiday, and weekend hours.
• Field travel may be required to include overnight travel.
• A valid driver's license.

Qualifications

• Establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships and demonstrate Compassion, respect, courtesy, and tact when interacting with others.
• Actively listen, elicit needed information and communicate information effectively and accurately, both orally and in writing.
• Utilize computerized data and technology systems.
• Prepare clear and concise documentation, reports, and correspondence that reflect relevant facts.
• Utilize time management skills and prioritize multiple demands in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

• Utilize time management skills and prioritize multiple demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Assume initiative with minimal supervision while utilizing critical thinking skills.

Benefits

• $0 premium employee health insurance option.
• Eleven paid holidays.
• Generous vacation and sick leave accrual.
• Dental, vision, and other insurance options.
• Retail benefits.
• Class A retirement under SDRS.

Pay

• $26.99 hourly, depending on qualifications.

Schedule

• Flexible schedule which may include evening, night, holiday, and weekend hours.
• Field travel may be required to include overnight travel.