Protection and Preservation Services Social Services Specialist II

Salary : $64,190.88 - $106,984.59 Annually
Location : FAIRFAX (EJ27), VA
Job Type: FT Hourly W BN
Job Number: 24-02473
Department: Family Services
Opening Date: 10/19/2024
Closing Date: 11/29/2024 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S23
Posting Type: Open to General Public
Job Announcement
This position includes a signing bonus of $2,500 (full-time) for new county hires.
Appointees to this position will receive an environmental stipend. This stipend will be paid out at a rate of $138.46 per pay period (26 pay periods annually).
This announcement may be used to fill multiple full-time Protection and Preservation Services Social Services Specialist II positions located throughout Fairfax County. Works as part of the Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF.) Provides clinical casework services to stabilize and support families experiencing abuse/neglect or at-risk of further
abuse/neglect. DFS is committed to strengthening the well-being of its diverse community by protecting and improving the lives of all children, adults, and families through assistance,
partnership, advocacy, outreach, and quality services. To learn more about DFS and its Mission, Vision, and Values, please click here.
Works as a member of the Protection and Preservation Services (PPS). Work hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., however, evening and/or weekend work is required as well as being part of an on-call rotation for CPS that includes evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours which may require immediate response into the field are required.
Duties of the SSS II:

• Uses child welfare framework to perform comprehensive assessments of children and their families, including home visits. Areas of assessment include child abuse and neglect; parenting capacity; family relationships; mental health, substance abuse, and developmental concerns; social supports; physical health challenges and disabilities; and basic needs including shelter, food, and clothing
• Collaborates with the parents/caretakers, key members of the family, and children, if appropriate, to develop a service plan to ensure children's safety and reduce risk of future harm to children
• Collaborates with the family and multidisciplinary team to coordinate casework services and ensure progress towards achieving service plan goals
• Coordinates care and delivery of services such as financial, food, shelter, and housing assistance; psychiatric, psychological, or mental health evaluations; and domestic violence interventions to family members
• Responds to and provides crisis intervention to maintain child safety and well-being
• Documents assessments, critical incident reports, detailed case contacts, progress notes, and service plans
• Prepares court petitions and testifies in court
• Collaborates with various multi-disciplinary professionals and facilitates family engagement activities
• Performs other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes in families

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of child protection laws, rules, and regulations
• Knowledge of conducting child protective services assessment and investigation
• Knowledge of foster care and adoption laws, rules, and regulations
• Ability to interview, assess needs, counsel, and refer clients to other resource as needed
• Ability to assess safety, risk, and protective capacity
• Possess critical thinking skills and ability to apply critical thinking and knowledge and research
• Ability to meet deadlines and keep up with documentation
• Ability to work collaboratively with families to identify solutions to specific issues and/or challenges such as parenting, behavior management, childcare, financial stability, housing, mental health, substance abuse, etc.
• Requires the ability to develop goals and to use decision-making tools and resources for the safety and well-being of children.

Note: All applicants selected from this solicitation must successfully complete DFS's Child Welfare Institute program prior to joining their assigned unit.
Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree, plus two years of professional social work experience. A master's degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, driving record check, and a Child Protective Services check.
This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in social work (MSW) or a related human services degree.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in child protective services intake and/or on-going and child abuse and neglect prevention.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in service plan development and care coordination.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Sufficiently mobile to attend home visits, court, and meetings and community events outside the office. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to use automated technology. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include practical exercise.
This job announcement is listed with a closing date of 11/29/24 and interested applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. Interviews will be conducted on a regular basis throughout the recruitment with candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. If your application is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be reviewed or considered. The application process may close prior to the currently advertised closing date when the position has been filled.
The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home () and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.
#LI-RS1
Merit Positions
Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Commuter Benefit Program
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:
For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01
What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02
Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Psychology
• Social work
• Education
• Counseling
• Public administration
• Human services
• Other (related)
• Other (non-related)
• None of the above

03
If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your completed majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable."
04
How many years of full-time equivalent professional social work experience do you have?Note: "Social Work" is defined as an academic discipline and profession that concerns itself with individuals, families, groups and communities in an effort to enhance social functioning and overall well-being.

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

05
Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

06
How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience do you have working in the child welfare field?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more

07
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have working in child abuse and neglect prevention?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

08
Do you have at least three years of full-time equivalent professional social services or human services experience in any of the following areas? Check all that apply.

• Adult protective services
• Alcohol and drug services
• Case Management
• Child protective services
• Children and families
• Domestic violence
• Foster care
• Intellectual disabilities
• Mental health
• Older adults
• Physical disabilities
• Prevention
• Sexual assault
• None of the above

09
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have working with a diverse multicultural population?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

Required Question