Job Announcement

This job announcement is being re-advertised. If you previously applied you do not need to reapply in order to be considered.

Are you are looking to work in a diverse community to support individuals who have been affected by domestic and sexual violence? Then this opportunity may be right for you. Supports the Division of Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS). To learn more about DFS and its Mission, Vision, and Values, click here.

ABOUT THE POSITION: Under general supervision of the Social Services Supervisor, the Social Services Specialist III provides community engagement, outreach, education and coordination of domestic violence services for those who do harm in the context of interpersonal relationships. This position performs the below duties and responsibilities:

• Serves as a liaison between DSVS, county, and community-based organizations, their staff, and respective clients to increase awareness, accessibility, and utilization of county and community-based intervention services
• Works with DSVS Countywide Coordination team to enhance and integrate policies, services, and supports within Fairfax County’s coordinated community response that promote increased survivor safety and accountability for those who perpetrate violence in the context of interpersonal relationships
• Provides community, professional, volunteer, and student-intern training, technical assistance, and coaching on best practice principles of interpersonal violence accountability, prevention, and intervention services
• Performs biopsychosocial assessments
• Provides clinical individual and group services that include crisis management, risk assessment, motivational enhancement, short-term cognitive therapeutic treatment, and relapse prevention
• Conducts prevention outreach, psychoeducation, and case management
• Serves on a rotational basis for hotline coverage, volunteer support and hospital accompaniment for victims of sexual and/or domestic violence
• Develops and applies expertise and specialized knowledge of psychobiology of trauma, substance use, domestic violence, family dynamics, cognitive restructuring, motivational interviewing, and other specialized relevant content areas
• Performs duties and special projects as assigned related to agency or program goals

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
The appointee for this position must have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA):

• Knowledge of principles of interpersonal violence accountability and community resources available to those who perpetrate violence
• Knowledge of the relationship between trauma impact and domestic violence problems
• Knowledge about best practices and domestic violence intervention, particularly with those who perpetrate violence
• Ability to facilitate group and individual treatment employing cognitive restructuring approach and monitors client treatment progress
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, co-workers, county officials, public and private sector organizations, community groups and the general public
• Public speaking competency. Position requires frequent participation in panel discussions, work groups and workshops. Ability to prepare and deliver effective presentations
• Competency based counseling and motivational interviewing skills. Required to establish boundaries with clients who may at times challenge program limits and expectations
• Ability to conduct risk and lethality assessment, mitigate risk, and employ crisis intervention skills
• Knowledge of trauma and criminogenic risk factors that correlate with risk for domestic violence
• Ability to provide telephone emergency counseling, support, lethality assessment, safety planning over 24-hour on call shifts and to provide face-to-face accompaniment support to sexual assault and domestic violence victims in a hospital setting

Important 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:
None.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• License in one of the following preferred: LPC, LCSW, LMFT, PsyD, PhD
• Master’s degree in a field related to counseling, social work, psychology, or marriage and family therapy
• Ability to provide counseling services in Spanish and English
• At least two years of experience directly providing psychotherapy specifically to treat trauma
• Demonstrated experience in broadly addressing the impacts of domestic or sexual violence
• Completed and applied professional training in a trauma-specific treatment modality

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

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 will still be subject to the 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.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Must be able to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing. Ability to transport self to various work sites. Ability to use automated technology to access, input, and retrieve computer data. Must be able to lift/carry up to 30lbs materials up to 300 feet for transportation of educational materials to service site. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview, may include writing sample 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.