The City of Lynchburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Lynchburg’s Human Services Department is seeking Senior Family Services Specialist in the child welfare Child Protective Services/Protection Unit. The successful candidate will serve as a lead worker, specifically focusing on serving as the back-up to the supervisor, training and skill development with unit team members, and case management for complex, high and very high-risk cases of alleged abuse and neglect of children. This role involves interviewing children, caregivers, families, and case contacts, gathering information, making assessments, collaborating with other professionals, making referrals for service, and determining whether abuse and/or neglect has occurred. This role also includes maintaining case records, preparing written reports, and testifying in court hearings. There are time sensitive deadlines required of this position.
The successful candidate will be expected to do the following:
- Make home and community visits to assess the safety of children and the risk of abuse;
- Investigate allegations by asking families personal or difficult questions on how the children are being raised;
- Engage and empower families to make positive changes;
- Learn local, state and federal regulations, and stay up-to-date as policies and laws change;
- Help customers connect with community resources to receive the services they need;
- Provide after-hours CPS on-call coverage on a rotating schedule;
- Other assignments in other areas based on the needs of the agency. Perform other work as required.
- Serve as a back-up to the supervisor – judgement, assessment, flexibility, and decision-making are critical for this position.
- Participate in Family Partnership Meetings in a supervisory capacity. Engage, collaborate, and create safety plans with families.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Other duties to provide direct or indirect service to the citizens may be assigned.
This individual will set the standard for quality and quantity of work performed by the unit, implement human resource practices in the supervision of staff as directed by supervisor, establish and maintain good working relationships with others; manage difficult or dangerous cases; interpret the program to other agencies and the public, and participates actively in numerous committees both within the agency and the community
• As part of the Services Unit Leadership Team, the selected candidate will work closely with other supervisory staff ensuring seamless operations of the Services unit and problem solve unexpected situations
• The role involves identifying safety and risk concerns and referring families to outside services to address the needs and issues that are of risk to the safety of families and children in their own homes
• It also includes maintaining case records, preparing written reports of services, and testifying in court hearings when required
• The work involves facilitating services that address mental health, substance abuse disorders, and skill-based services for parents within their homes to prevent placement of children outside the home
• The position is also responsible for creating safety strategies, developing safety plans, and accessing federal funding in order to keep families together
• Collaboration with agencies such as the courts, schools, and other community partners is essential
• Interviews clients to assess the nature and extent of needs and determine whether abuse or neglect occurred
• Identifies problems, counsels with clients and confers with supervisor in preparing social histories in the formulation and delivery of service plans
• Maintains records through the course of client's service relationships with agency
• Identify families that will benefit from agency support in order to maintain children in their own homes or with relative/kin in their own communities
• Ensure staff are identifying safety and risk concerns and reducing the reoccurrence of child maltreatment
• Meet regularly with staff to review case progress and service implementation
• Close cases timely ensuring Family Service Specialists have followed all mandated and best practice guidance to ensure child safety
• As needed, perform casework functions for high profile cases or conflict of interest cases from other localities as requested by the agency director
• Review and prepare monthly and quarterly reports
• Review data and determine needs of the unit based on outcomes
• Monitor and evaluate progress completing monthly coaching notes and hands-on learning as needed
• Monitor staff training and recommend additional trainings based on individual development of the employee
• Attend regularly scheduled meetings as well as participate in, and act as supervisor, Family Partnership Meetings
• Provide training and education to community partners regarding child welfare services
• Apply appropriate human resource practices in the supervision of staff
• Establish and maintain working relationships with various community partners such as law enforcement, Court personnel, school staff, etc.
• Provide sound judgement to staff during high stress cases to ensure proper policy and procedures are followed according to agency and state policy
• Makes referrals for service to agencies, such as clinics, employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, etc.
• Performs work with agencies such as juvenile and domestic relations courts, circuit courts, etc.
• Provides protection and care to abandoned, abused and neglected children and adults on a regular and emergency basis in potentially dangerous situations
• Works with abusive or neglecting parents and families to help effect changes in family situation, usually in a family home setting
• Makes decisions to remove children from dangerous situations and recommendations regarding institutionalization of adults and children
• Assesses risk, safety, and protective capacity and appropriateness of parents, guardians, and relatives utilizing the Permanency Assessment Tool and other assessments
• Maintains case records, prepares written reports of services, findings and actions
• Serves as agency representative on a variety of multi-disciplinary teams
• Shares a 24-hour on-call rotation
• When activated by the City Manager or Agency Director, assume the role of manager in a local shelter during times of community emergencies or disasters
• Serves as the unit lead worker and as supervisor in the absence of the Family Services Supervisor
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions
ADDITIONAL DUTIES
• Other duties to provide direct or indirect service to the citizens may be assigned.
• When unusual situations occur and/or the City Manager declares a State of Emergency, all City employees may be required to accept special assignments and perform as needed to ensure appropriate service delivery.
• Assists in the evaluation of programs and services rendered to clients;
• Makes referrals to clinics, employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other appropriate resources;
• Processes financial documentation related to client services;
• Interprets agency programs to other agencies, community groups and associations;
• Researches and develops community resources, gives presentations;
• Performs emergency shelter duty as appropriate.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
May serve as supervisor in absence of unit supervisor, or supervise interns, volunteers or other staffMinimum Education and Experience Required:
QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in social work or another human services field or an equivalent combination of training and experience. We prefer a worker with experience in public child welfare, preferably Child Protective Services with the mandated Virginia CPS training. A Master’s degree is preferred; two years of work experience is preferred.
- 2+ years of leadership experience is required
- Excellent oral and written communication skills to include the ability to interact with a diversepopulation
- Outstanding public speaking and presentation skills, especially for courtinterventions
- Assertive and confident - especially when beingchallenged
- Independent thinker and decisionmaker
- Strong computerskills
- Ability to deal effectively withconflict
- A real commitment to the safety of children and to the City of Lynchburg Department of Social Services
Applicants who are bilingual in Spanish and American Sign Language, and meet the above requirements, are strongly encouraged to apply.Must possess a valid driver's license and a driving record acceptable according to City criteria.
View City's Driving Criteria.Must satisfactorily complete criminal background check, drug and alcohol screen and Child Protective Services Registry check.
Must successfully complete IS100 and IS700 National Incident Management (NIMS) training within 90 days of employment. May also be required to complete higher levels of NIMS training as determined appropriate for the position.
