Social Services Specialist 1 (Adoptions Unit)

Salary: $47,083.51 Annually
Location : Hall Co., GA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2025-69610
Division/Office: County DFCS - Region 2
Unit: Hall Co. DFCS
Opening Date: 08/29/2024
Closing Date: 10/29/2024 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia. The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is a dynamic state agency responsible for delivering a wide range of services to Georgia's most vulnerable populations. Our mission is to strengthen Georgia by providing individuals and families access to services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, and protect Georgia's vulnerable children and adults.
What we offer. Enjoy a generous benefits package that includes a flexible work schedule, unique training opportunities, employee retirement plan, 401(k) plan and 457 plan, 13 paid holidays, vacation & sick leave, medical, dental, vision, long/short-term care, life insurance, and employee discount programs; in addition to telework opportunities depending upon the position.
Start your career in public service . The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) is seeking candidates for the position of Social Social Services Specialist 1 in the Adoptions Unit. This position provides comprehensive investigative and case management for a caseload involving child/adult abuse or neglect. Makes immediate and follow-up actions for at risk clients in need of protective services and/or placement. The Social Services Specialist 1 specializes in expediting permanency for children in foster care who are legally free for adoption and would work under general supervision in the Region 2 Adoption Unit that covers all of Region 2 counties.
Region 2 Counties consists of Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White
JOIN OUR TEAM!!!
Job Description
Pay Grade: G
Under general supervision, the Social Services Specialist 1 provides investigative and comprehensive case management for a caseload involving child/adult abuse or neglect. Makes immediate and follow-up actions for at risk clients in need of protective services and/or placement.
Role and Responsibilities:

• Initiates timely, face-to-face responses to screened-in reports of alleged child maltreatment and conducts assessments that identify and address safety concerns.
• Addresses identified safety concerns by immediately developing and implementing safety plans.
• Conducts diligent search efforts to locate the child/family when unable to make contact.
• Implements Solution Based Casework (SBC).
• Partners with child(ren) and parents in the development and utilization of the Family Functioning Agreement, Action Plan, and Family Plan to achieve desired individual and family-level outcomes.
• Completes genograms to identify available family support network.
• Collaborates with community partners to create systems of support for children and families.
• Ensures that frequency and quality of visits with children and families are adequate to ensure safety, permanency, and well-being.
• Identifies the physical, educational, and mental/behavioral health needs of children, parents, and foster parents and ensures identified needs were effectively addressed.
• Establishes permanency goals for the child(ren).
• Ensures foster care placements and/or living situations are stable and in the best interests of the child(ren) and are consistent with achieving established permanency goal(s).
• Makes concerted efforts to achieve permanency for children in a timely manner and consistent with regulations contained in the Adoptions and Safe Families Act.
• Ensures that siblings in foster care are placed together unless a separation is necessary to meet the needs of one of the siblings.
• Maintains child's connections to his or her neighborhood, community, faith, extended family, tribe, school, and friends.
• Promotes, supports, and otherwise maintains a positive and nurturing relationship between the child(ren) in care and their biological parents/caretakers by encouraging and facilitating activities and interactions beyond visitation.
• Documents case management activities within time frames established by policy.
• Celebrates positive outcomes with child(ren) and family.
• Utilizes privately owned vehicle for work-related travel and duties (including transportation of children).
• Routinely serves on after-hours on-call duty.
• Embraces ongoing learning and professional development opportunities.

Core Competencies:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work as a team.
• Interpersonal skills
• Ability to routinely serve on after-hours or on-call duty.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Must have reliable transportation, proof of auto insurance, a valid state-issued driver's license, and an acceptable driving history record.

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:
Preference will be given to candidates who, in addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, demonstrate some or all of the following skills/experience.

• Experience in Foster Care at DFCS

Note:

• Applicants must pass the standard agency testing protocol for the position in which they are hired in order to maintain the position.
• Although agency employees are authorized to telework temporarily, employees are subject to be called into the office as needed.

Additional Information
For more detailed information about the Georgia Department Human Services

Employment Information Current State employees are subject to State Personnel Board (SPB) Rules regarding salary.
DHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
If you require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), email request by the closing date of this announcement to:
The candidate selected for this position may be subject to pre-employment drug screening, education verification, reference, motor vehicle records, and criminal background checks.
DHS accepts educational credential recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the US Department of Education (DOE) will be considered. DHS will contact educational institutions to verify degree, diploma, licensure, etc.
As an employee of DHS, in the event of an identified emergency you may be required, as a term and condition of employment, to assist in meeting the emergency responsibilities of the department.Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or e-mail. All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview. Selected applicants will be contacted by the hiring official for next steps in the selection process. Only applicants who are selected and interviewed will receive notification This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.
In addition to a competitive salary, DHS offers a generous benefits package, which includes employee retirement plan; paid holidays annually; vacation and sick leave; health, dental, vision, legal, disability, accidental death and dismemberment, health and child care spending account. Visit for more information.
Insurance
Health, dental, vision, legal, disability, accidental death and dismemberment, healthcare and childcare spending accounts, and life insurance plans are available.
Health Benefits : 1-800-610-1863
Flexible Benefits : 1-877-342-7339
Retirement
State employees participate in the Employee's Retirement System. Contributions are based on a percentage of salary and service date entry
Employee Retirement System: 1-800-805-4609
Deferred Compensation
Tax shelter plans are available that enable employees to provide for greater retirement security. Fund programs are available in both 457(k) and 401(k) plans.
Peach State Reserves : 1-877-342-7339
Credit Union
Employees are eligible to become members of the and
01
Are you aware this position supports all counties in Region 2?

• Yes
• No

02
What is your highest level of education completed?

• Doctorate Degree
• Master's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• None of the Above

03
How proficient are you in Microsoft Office Suite?

• None
• Beginner
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• Expert

04
Are you aware this position requires working frequent overtime, on-call, evenings, weekends, overnights, and holidays

• Yes
• No

05
Do you have ALL of the following: Possession of a valid driver's license, access to a reliable automobile, and proof of automobile insurance for required work-related travel?

• Yes
• No

Required Question