Family Services Specialist II

The City of Alexandria is bordered by Washington D.C. and the Potomac River, Arlington and Fairfax counties, and Maryland. The small city has a cosmopolitan feel with 150,000 people living within its 15.75 square miles. At the Department of Community and Human Services, we provide essential safety net services to help city residents enjoy a sense of well-being, safety and self-sufficiency. Our behavioral health programs provide compassionate services that support self-determination and recovery. The beauty of our diverse and resilient people and our commitment to race and social equity, coupled with a historic district dating to 1749, charming waterfront, vibrant arts community and unique places for foodies and shopping, make the City of Alexandria a uniquely wonderful place to live, work and play. We invite all qualified candidates to learn more and apply for our Family Services Specialist II position.

This the specialist level in the class series for Family Services. Employees specialize in program areas and assume more complex duties such as: interviewing/investigating in cases involving suspected child/adult abuse/neglect, out-of-home placements, guardianships, emergency protective orders, and adoptions; testifying in legal proceedings; and placing children in foster/adoptive homes. Employees have contacts with others and influence outcomes by participating on task forces, strategic planning, mentoring, teaching, and conducting outreach. Programs areas generally include Adult/Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Foster Care, and Adoptions. Additionally, in some agencies, positions may be partly dedicated to Child Care and Employment Services in addition to other program areas. The Family Services Specialist III is distinguished from the Family Services Specialist IV class by the latter’s functioning as a lead worker, or an expert resource specialist.

A Family Services Specialist II provides intensive and specialized, culturally competent social work services to individuals and families. An employee in this position utilizes the Family Engagement best practices of Family Partnership Meetings (FPMs) and Family Group Conferences (FGCs) to promote child safety, stability, permanency, and family connection. Alexandria DCHS utilizes a racial equity approach in all decision making.

Examples of Duties

• Provides case consultation around referrals for Family Engagement best practices.
• Collaborates with colleagues and community service providers throughout the Family Engagement process.
• Prepares participants for FPMs and FGCs, facilitates the meetings, and completes follow up activities on assigned cases.
• Applies clinical and strength-based interventions that help the family identify and utilize their strengths throughout the FPM and FGC process.
• Applies culturally based interviewing and assessment skills and implements and utilizes them effectively.
• Utilizes clinical assessments and case collaboration to ensure that issues related to safety planning are addressed in the preparation of every Family Engagement meeting and makes accommodations for safe participation, if needed and appropriate.
• Advocates for all family members to take a major role in FPMs and the primary role in FGCs in planning their children’s safety, stability, permanency, and family connections along with DCHS and other service providers.
• Assesses that the developed plans address risk and safety issues and meets the requirements of federal, state, and local policies and procedures.
• Documents case contacts and FPM plans in OASIS.
• Participates in program evaluation efforts.
• Participates in ongoing skills training to develop expertise in current Family Engagement practices.
• Acts as a liaison and provides training to colleagues and community service providers in Family Engagement best practices.
• Performs other duties as assigned by Supervisor, Program Manager or Chief of Child Welfare.
• Serve on the afterhours on call rotation for Foster Care.
• Serve as a VEMAT rater as part of the department’s rotating VEMAT team, participating in assessments of children in foster care to determine their behavioral, emotional, and physical/personal care needs and the appropriate level of enhanced maintenance support.

Minimum Qualifications

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.

Considerable knowledge of social work principles and practices; Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated software and the operation of a motor vehicle. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; Demonstrated ability to interview, assess needs, counsel and refer clients to other resources as needed; Demonstrated ability to plan and manage own work activities including service delivery preparing reports, and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities; Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with others.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in a human services field. Some relevant experience. Some social work experience. Bilingual or multilingual proficiency, particularly in English and Spanish or other languages commonly spoken within the community.