Social Service Specialist 4 Lead Worker

About This Role

Lead and mentor Social Service Specialists in providing professional social services to clients involved with Child Family Welfare Services, Child Protective Services, and Family Voluntary Services, managing complex cases and ensuring efficient workflow.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced specialized case management, coaching, mentoring, and on-the-job training to social service specialists.
• Assign work, conduct case reviews, and establish procedures for efficient workflow.
• Act as unit supervisor (SSS5) in their absence, including attending and facilitating meetings, case staffing, and decision making.
• Serve as the lead worker for the most complex cases.
• Provide feedback and reporting to the supervisor on employee performance and training needs.
• Provide coverage of assigned caseloads in the absence of a Social Service Specialist.
• Prepare and provide testimony at administrative hearings, court proceedings, and criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings.
• Refer, coordinate, and monitor delivery of services.
• Provide goal-directed, task-centered, and time-limited crisis intervention to children and families.
• Utilize shared planning activities to obtain input from others to develop and coordinate collaborative case plans.

Requirements

• Seven (7) years of paid social service experience AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline
• OR a Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or Bachelor’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND three (3) years of paid social service experience
• OR a Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or Master’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND two (2) years of paid social service experience
• OR One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3
• Paid Social Service experience must include at least one year of assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services
• Ability to take action to learn and grow
• Ability to take action to meet the needs of others
• Current and active permanent employee with the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or Bachelor’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline, OR Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or Master’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline, OR a two-year Master's degree with a practicum, OR One year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3
• 7 years of paid social service experience OR 3 years with a Bachelor's degree OR 2 years with a Master's degree, including at least one year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

Nice to Have

• Child welfare experience in program areas: Child Protective Services (CPS), Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS), Family Voluntary Services (FVS), Family Reconciliation Services (FRS), Family Assessment Response (FAR), and Adoptions/Permanency
• Master's in Social Work and completed practicum
• Case management experience with mandatory clients
• Knowledge of child development and/or family systems
• Professional experience working with clients who have mental health or substance use disorders, developmental delays, or criminal behaviors
• Experience researching, interpreting, and applying Child Welfare laws, rules, and policies, and delivering services accordingly
• Experience with the agency's software program, FamLink

Skills

* Required skills

Benefits