Social Services Specialist Ii - Fqhc Social Services Specialist

Job Announcement

This position includes a signing bonus of $2,500 (full-time) for new county hires.

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated practitioners in the Division of Health Services, Health Integration program of the Fairfax County Health Department (HD).

Grow your career with Fairfax County Health Department!

The Fairfax County Health Department is a progressive public health leader serving 1.2 million residents from diverse ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds. With more than 100 years of leadership in the field, we are committed to promoting population health, protecting public health and the environment, and ensuring residents' equitable access to health services and information. Join a team that works with individuals and families to improve lives in meaningful and significant ways.

As a Social Services Specialist you will work with a team of dedicated public health professionals whose focus is to link participants to needed county and community resources to improve social, health, emotional, and economic needs of participants. Use your expertise and compassion to positively change people’s lives. Under supervision of the Health Integration Team Manager and in partnership with on-site primary care staff, this position works independently to perform full range professional social services on a variety of social work cases. Performs clinical assessments of social, health, emotional, and economic needs of clients. Links clients to needed County and community resources. Acts as patient advocate, when needed. Works with the Public Health Nurse Liaison and Community Health Worker (CHW) in the development of a care plan to address unmet social and health needs. Collaborates with Federal Qualifying Health Care ( FQHC) staff and medical providers with referrals for County residents. Responsible for on-going participation on Health and Human Services agency-wide initiatives.

Care Coordination and Social Determinants of Health:
Coordinates with the Public Health Nurse and Community Health Worker (CHW) in the development of a comprehensive service plan, as well as ongoing case planning, for Care Coordination clients. Performs home visits to assess social, financial, physical, and emotional status. Develops a plan of care that addresses identified social/economic needs. Provides guidance and support to the PHN and CHW in implementation of the plan of care. Communicates with clients in a culturally and linguistically appropriate format, as well as using a trauma-informed approach. Coordinates and facilitates access to needed services for Care Support clients. May participate in the discharge planning process for patients who are hospitalized and assist with arranging post-hospital supportive services. Participates in inter-disciplinary and inter-agency team meetings as appropriate. Monitors and tracks changes/outcomes of identified needs. Reassesses patient needs, as indicated. Documents clients plan of care and other related data in County/Agency supported systems to share information with provider staff. Coordinates and collaborates with FQHC staff regarding patient care, as needed. Provides patient/family advocacy. In partnership with the FQHC staff, identifies the availability of County and community health-related resources, specialty options, and charity programs. Follows agency’s process and procedures in processing complex, medically necessary referrals.

Note: Health Department positions are designated as emergency responders in the event of a public health crisis. As a public health emergency responder, this position may be reassigned to provide support based on the emergency response service needs.

Employment Standards

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:
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:
Driver's License
CPR (Required within 60 days)
AED (Required within 60 days)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a child protective services registry, a driving record check, and sanction screenings to the satisfaction of the employer. Tuberculosis test.
All newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks after the last required dose) as a condition of employment or obtain approval of a medical or religious exemption prior to their start date. Proof of an exemption or vaccination status will be required during the pre-employment onboarding process. New employees who obtain an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs may be subject to a weekly testing requirement. Vaccinated employees and employees with a medical or religious exemption will complete the attestation online on their first day of employment or shortly thereafter.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Master's degree in Social Work or other related field.
Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Work well with multi-disciplinary team members and community partners.
Knowledge and experience with chronic disease care-coordination, case management and/or health coaching.
Ability to reach out and maintain positive community relationships.
Experience with home visiting and cultural competence.
Use of Motivational Interviewing techniques in previous work.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Job is generally sedentary in nature, and requires walking, standing, sitting (for long periods of time), and kneeling, reaching, bending, climbing stairs; may be required to lift or carry up to 25 lbs. occasionally. Uses hands to grasp, handle, or feel. Visual acuity is required to read data on a computer monitor; ability to operate keyboard driven equipment and computer. Position frequently communicates and must be able to exchange accurate information with others verbally and in writing. Ability to drive a motor vehicle. Generally, works in an office environment yet may occasionally be required to perform job duties outside of the typical office setting. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) 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. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.