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.

Please note, this job announcement may be used to fill other vacant CPS Social Services Specialist III positions within the Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF).

ABOUT THIS POSITION: The CPS Social Services Specialist III supports the Department of Family Services (DFS) Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) to provide child welfare services for Fairfax County. We invite you to learn more about DFS and its Mission, Vision, and Values, by clicking here. Under the general supervision of the CPS Supervisor, the CPS SSS III performs the following duties and responsibilities:

• Conducts child abuse and neglect family assessments/investigations
• Assesses risk and safety; responds to crisis situations
• Refers families to community resources and supportive services
• Prepares and files court petitions
• Collaborates with various multi-disciplinary professionals
• Maintains case documentation through the use of automated systems
• Participates in required training and professional meetings
• Serves as a representative on workgroups
• Assists the unit supervisor with providing technical guidance and training to staff
• Serves as a policy expert in an area of social work specialization
• Provides supervisory assistance to the unit supervisor to include but not limited to staffing cases and guiding SSS II’s in responding to child abuse and neglect referrals, reviewing work plans and goals, assisting staff with work-related problems, promoting staff’s use of best practices in interactions, and training new and less experienced specialists
• Manages and coordinates a program or project and performs related work as required
• Responds to CPS cases outside of traditional business hours
• 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 conducting child protective services assessment and investigation
• Knowledge of foster care and adoption laws, rules, and regulations
• Ability to interview, assess needs, counsel, and refer clients to other resource as needed
• Knowledge in conducting child protective services assessments
• Ability to assess safety, risk, and protective capacity
• Possess critical thinking skills and ability to apply critical thinking and knowledge and research
• Ability to meet deadlines and keep up with documentation
• Ability to work collaboratively with families to identify solutions to specific issues and/or challenges such as parenting, behavior management, childcare, financial stability, housing, mental health, substance abuse, etc.
• Requires the ability to develop goals and to use decision-making tools and resources for the safety and well-being of children
• Ability to provide guidance and train others

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
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 .

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in social work (MSW) or a related human services degree
• At least two (2) years of experience in child protective services
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• At least two (2) years of experience in child welfare. Child welfare is the continuum of services designed to ensure that children are safe and that families have the necessary support to care for their children successfully
• At least one (1) year of experience in leading/supervision child welfare staff

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background, a driving record check, and a Child Protective Services check to the satisfaction of the employer.

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 Sufficiently mobile to travel outside the office for client contact, court appearances, community events, and to conduct family assessments and investigations of allegations of child abuse and neglect. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to use automated technology. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle, and make use of personal vehicle. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a 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.