Job Announcement

This is an exciting time to join Fairfax County Government as we shape racial and social equity policies in the county through the One Fairfax Policy. Using this framework, we intentionally consider equity when making policies or delivering programs and services. To learn more, we highly encourage you to watch the Becoming One Fairfax—An Introduction to Key Concepts video by clicking here and visit the One Fairfax webpage here.

ABOUT THIS POSITION: Supports the Department of Family Services (DFS), Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF). We invite you to learn more about DFS and its Mission, Vision, and Values, by clicking here. Under general supervision of the CPS Hotline Supervisor, the CPS Hotline Specialist III performs tasks independently to protect children and build family resilience as articulated by local, state, and federal policies and laws. Duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Serves as the first point of contact for Fairfax County residents to report child abuse and neglect by ways of telephone, email, fax, and police report, conducts initial assessment of child abuse and neglect reports
• Provides information and referral resources, and brief immediate crisis intervention to callers for referrals that do not warrant a Child Protective Services intervention
• Applies child welfare knowledge and critical thinking skills to interpret Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) and Department of Family Services (DFS) Children, Youth, and Families (CYF)/Child Protective Services (CPS) policies to determine validity of child abuse and neglect reports
• Implements and Leads the Review, Evaluate, and Direct (RED) Team of CYF Safe & Connected Model to determine the validity, response time, and track assignment for reports of child abuse and neglect
• Serves as subject matter expertise surrounding VDSS policies on screening child abuse and neglect referrals
• Uses automated technology in multiple systems (e.g. SPiDeR and OASIS) to support the decision-making process
• Assigns the referral to CPS or Protection and Preservation Services (PPS) for investigation or family assessment
• Provides supervisory assistance to the specialist IIs that are within the unit
• Provides consultation and feedback about screening decisions, training of newer employees, covering for the unit supervisor when they are out of the office and serving as a policy expert amongst the hotline staff
• Provides CPS screening policy consultation to program staff and supervisors
• Works during two (2) County observed Holidays when Fairfax County Public Schools are operational
• Be part of an on-call rotation that includes evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours which may require immediate response into the field
• Performs other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes in families

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of child protection laws, rules, and regulations
• Knowledge of foster care and adoption laws, rules, and regulations
• Ability to interview, assess needs, counsel, and refer clients to other resource as needed
• Ability to assess safety and risk
• Knowledge of conducting child protective services assessment and investigation
• Ability to apply critical thinking and knowledge and research
• Ability to perform comprehensive assessment
• Ability to guide and direct other staff in the absence of a supervisor

Note: All Fairfax County Government employees are expected to adhere to the Standards of Conduct. In maintaining a drug free workplace, employees are prohibited from manufacturing, distributing, possessing, using or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while at work or on county premises.

Employment Standards

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree, plus three 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:
Valid driver's license.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in social work (MSW) or a related human services degree
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in child protective services intake and/or on-going
• Experience working in a Virginia Child Protective Services Intake Hotline
• Experience working with Virginia Department of Social Services database such as SPIDeR and OASIS

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, 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:
Work requires performing tasks with risks of secondary traumatic stress (STS). Ability to navigate through and make decisions in stressful and crisis situations Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to use automated technology. Ability to concentrate and multi-task in a fast-pace environment. Mobility to attend meetings at various county locations. Ability to perform duties in a position that is sedentary in nature. 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.