Senior Family Services Specialist - CPS Investigations

About the role

The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services is hiring a Senior Family Services Specialist for our CPS Investigations team to respond to referrals alleging child abuse/neglect and provide ongoing services to families experiencing abuse/neglect in Chesterfield County and the City of Colonial Heights.

As a Senior Family Services Specialist for CPS Investigations, you will be tasked with focusing on assessing child safety through home visits and investigating allegations of abuse. You will need to build trust with families to ask the necessary personal or difficult questions, with the goal of empowering them to make positive changes in their lives.

Your work is a crucial link, helping families connect with essential community resources and services that can provide long-term support. As a key part of the team, you'll be responsible for staying current on a range of local, state, and federal regulations that guide our work.

Additionally, you will provide after-hours on-call coverage on a rotating basis to ensure that children in crisis are always protected. This position requires flexibility, as you may also be given other assignments as the agency's needs evolve.

Responsibilities

Perform other work as required.

Requirements

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field or minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia).
• Considerable experience in assigned program area and completion of required training programs or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Possession of a BSW or MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are desirable.
• Considerable knowledge of social work principles and practices, human behavior and motivational theory, laws, policies, and regulations relating to human services program areas, investigating and interviewing techniques, legal procedures as related to program area, and social, economic, and health problems.

Skills

• Excellent organizational, time management, oral/written communication, interpersonal, and public relations skills preferred.
• Outstanding public speaking and presentation skills, especially for court interventions preferred.
• Ability to be assertive and confident – especially when being challenged preferred.
• Knowledge and ability to apply social work principles and Virginia policies in family services programs preferred.
• Ability to demonstrate exceptional critical thinking and decision-making skills during crisis situations preferred.
• Computer competency required; proficiency in OASIS and Safe Measures preferred.
• Current valid driver's license and good driving record required.

Benefits

Chesterfield County offers an attractive benefits package. As a local Department of Social Services, Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services may offer incentives, approved through the Virginia Department of Social Services, to candidates hired who possess additional relevant training, skills and experience.

Those incentives apply to individuals who possess: a Masters or Bachelors Degree in Social Work, Masters in Human Services, LCSW, Child Welfare Stipend participants, completion of COVLC new worker training or are Bilingual (Spanish & ASL).

This position is 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.

Working for a local government provides credit towards the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

Pay

Salary $65,416.00 - $76,864.00 Annually.

Schedule

Shift Monday - Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.