Job Announcement

The Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) of the Department of Family Services (DFS) is seeking a Social Services Specialist II to recruit prospective foster families. DFS is committed to strengthening the well-being of its diverse community by protecting and improving the lives of all children, adults, and families through assistance, partnership, advocacy, outreach, and quality services. To learn more about DFS and its Mission, Vision, and Values, please click here.

The Social Services Specialist II (SSS II) is a member of the Foster Care and Adoption (FC&A) Resource and Support Program. The objective of this program is to ensure safety and permanency for children and youth either through parental reunification, placement with relative or adoption by a relative/non-relative. The SSS II works flexible hours to include mornings, evenings and weekends as scheduled for foster parent information meetings, community outreach, partner meetings and events.

Under general direction of the Foster Care & Adoption Supervisor, the Social Services Specialist performs the following duties and responsibilities:

• Responds to public inquiries about foster care and adoption
• Attends speaking engagements as a representative of the agency to educate families and community partners about foster care and the need for foster parents
• Facilitates information sessions for prospective foster and adoptive parent applicants in a group format (both virtual and in-person)
• Identifies opportunities for partnerships and collaboration with community organization to include (faith based, civic groups, corporate, and small businesses) to aid in recruitment of prospective foster families
• Completes assessments of individuals and couples on their suitability to fulfill responsibilities of a foster/adoptive family while visiting prospective foster parents and foster parent applicants in their homes
• Stays abreast of marketing techniques to include social media, web pages, list serves, etc. to create recruitment strategies
• Collaborates with other agency/County professionals and community partners to create internal/external correspondence and communications
• Represents the unit in staffings such as case consultations and Review, Evaluate, and Direct (R.E.D) team, other meetings, and events as needed
• Performs other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes in families

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to provide excellent customer service internally with the agency as well as with community partners
• Knowledge of foster care and adoption and/or child welfare
• Understanding of trauma, attachment, and emotional regulation and the impact of traumatic experiences as it relates to child development, and family relationships and dynamics
• Experience/ability to learn social media and implement/utilize as a recruitment strategy
• Experience/ability to learn marketing information
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to use automated technology
• Well-developed listening, creative problem-solving, and decision- making skills
• Ability to learn, retain, and apply both state and federal law and policy for foster home providers
• Ability to work independently

Please note: this requisition may be used to fill other vacant SSS II positions in FC&A Resource and Support.

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 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.

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).

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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) or in a related field
• At least four (4) years of work experience in Child Welfare
• Experience working with individuals and families from diverse multi-cultural populations and facilitating community outreach

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to operate a motor vehicle to attend home visits, community events, meetings, and training not accessible by public transportation. Sufficiently mobile to make home visits and attend community events Ability to lift community education and recruitment supplies (up to 30 lbs). Ability to navigate through and make decisions in stressful and crisis situations. Ability to set up training rooms for events which includes moving tables, chairs, and lifting supplies needed for the event. Work requires performing tasks with risks of secondary traumatic stress (STS). All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and 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 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. EEO/AA/TTY.