Job Announcement

The Department of Family Services’ Adult and Aging Division welcomes applicants for a Social Services Supervisor position. This position provides supervision to staff assigned to Adult Protective Services (APS) to investigate reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older and vulnerable adults. The position provides clinical supervision to Social Services Specialists, plans and assigns caseloads; monitors case outcomes; ensures compliance with local, state, and federal laws/policies; and maintains best practice standards. The position hires and promotes staff following County and agency policies/procedures. It promotes healthy teamwork among unit members; works collaboratively across the division/agency and with the community and other County agencies. The Social Services Supervisor provides input into the development of efficient and effective processes, oversees contracts for services and provides representation on work groups. This position provides clear expectations for staff performance; assists staff with establishing and meeting performance and developmental goals, meets regularly and as needed with staff; and completes evaluations jointly with staff. It develops and provides training for staff, other program areas, other agencies, and in the community. The position supports and facilitates care planning teams and may provide mentoring to other supervisors. It authorizes funds for purchase of services; tracks and prepares reports related to expenditures. The position uses state and local information systems and prepares reports related to APS. This position requires participation in on-call rotation, which would include emergency response out in the field across the county.

Illustrative Duties

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES:
Provides day-to-day guidance and direction to a group of social services specialists
on case related issues, policies and procedures, and agency initiatives;
Ensures acceptable levels of quality and quantity in the delivery of services;
Plans caseloads, assigns cases and reviews case records and reviews and signs off on service plans, case assessments, and other reports which require supervisory review;
Identifies crisis situations and provides intervention as needed to address difficult or dangerous client situations;
Interviews job applicants and makes recommendations for hiring, prepares and conducts formal and informal performance evaluations, and handles performance and discipline issues in a timely manner and in accordance with County personnel policy;
Reviews the work of individual social services specialist and provides feedback and instruction;
Communicates performance expectations; monitors performance and outcomes of staff against the goals and objectives of the program;
Approves and monitors expenditures for client services consistent with the program budget and client outcomes;
Solicits concerns, issues and recommendations from staff regarding programmatic needs and systemic is sues;
Evaluates the effectiveness of policies and procedures and recommends changes;
Holds group and individual conferences with staff to discuss general policies and to interpret related rules, regulations or laws and to assess cases objectively based upon the significant risk factors and to monitor casework progress;
Facilitates open communication between staff and senior management to achieve agency and unit goals;
Plans for and facilitates social services specialists' professional growth and development. Provides staff development including training, mentoring, and encouragement for staff to improve professional skills in order to support access to human services;
Develops and implements ongoing team training plan;
Works with the community to identify families and children needing services and to coordinate these services;
Communicates effectively with social services specialists and senior management regarding the needs of the agency, social services specialist, and clients;
Participates in intra and interagency work groups, supervisors' meetings and special projects;
Provides oversight for required data systems and uses data systems for management of day-to-day work;
Prepares or oversees and presents narrative and statistical reports documenting the
work of the unit and/or in relation to case activity;
Promotes the attainment of agency and individual staff goals related to service access
components (Automatic Call Distribution service levels, case objective outcomes, time studies, silent monitoring, and customer service surveys) through the ongoing monitoring of service requests and subsequent service delivery;
Establishes and maintains ongoing collaborative relationships with public and private providers, community-based groups, and residents to coordinate and integrate services, improve access, and identify community needs and barriers to service delivery;
Participates as a team member in the continuous improvement of the human services access process.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Extensive knowledge of the principles, methods and problems of organization and management;
Extensive knowledge of regulations and guidelines relating to the assigned area of social service specialization;
Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of social work and casework supervision;
Thorough knowledge of current social service problems and methods/approaches to address them;
Ability to accurately apply, interpret and administer regulations and guidelines relating to the assigned area of social service specialization;
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
Ability to use automated technology;
Ability to maintain professional ethics and confidentiality of client information;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals;
Ability to plan and direct the activities of a group of social service professionals.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree; plus four years of increasingly responsible, directly-related professional experience in the social services or human services field. A master’s degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of required experience.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid Driver's license.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Master of Social Work
2 years of supervisory experience
Adult Protective Services experience
Experience working with older and vulnerable adult population

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, a 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).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Sufficiently mobile to attend meetings and community events outside the office. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely verbally and in writing. Ability to use automated technology and keyboard driven equipment. Ability to lift 10 lbs. Ability to walk, negotiate or traverse property sites that may be undergoing construction or terrain that is not level. Ability to operate a motor vehicle. Job requires walking, standing, sitting (for long periods of time), kneeling, reaching, bending, climbing stairs; 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. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview, may include practical exercise.

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 status as a veteran 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.