Social Service Specialist In-Training; SSS- Region​/NW Washington

Job Title

Social Service Specialist 2 (SSS2) and Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3). Units: CPS, CPS/FAR, and CFWS.

Region 3 – Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, and Snohomish Counties. Offices are located in Bellingham, Mt. Vernon, Oak Harbor, Arlington (Smokey Point), Everett, Lynnwood, and Monroe (Sky Valley). Travel is a requirement.

Full‑time, Permanent.

$5,398 – $7,622. Upon reaching the Social Service Specialist 3 goal class, an additional 10% assignment pay is awarded.

Our vision is to ensure that Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy. We are looking for Social Service Specialists at the SSS2 or SSS3 level to join a Region 3 team across CPS, FAR, and CFWS. If you are passionate about working with families to keep children safe and secure the best outcomes, we encourage you to apply.

In this role you will assess complex family situations, interview children and parents, evaluate child safety, develop protective plans, and provide services to families. The work spans child protective and child welfare services and includes:

CPS Specialists investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect and recommend services. Under CPS is FAR, an alternative pathway for families with low or moderate allegations.

CFWS Specialists advance safe and timely permanency for children, including reunification and placement decisions that are safe and near the child’s school whenever possible.

• Determine if children are safe in their families through respectful investigation and assessment.
• Intervene to protect unsafe children and develop a case plan with the family.
• Follow child welfare laws, policies, and procedures.
• Conduct ongoing comprehensive assessments of risk and safety, develop case plans, and authorize services for children, youth, birth parents, and caregivers.
• Implement culturally appropriate, ADA‑sensitive, individualized service plans that are goal‑directed and time‑limited.
• Refer, coordinate, and monitor the delivery of services.
• Use shared planning meetings to coordinate with parents, relatives, attorneys, and other professionals.
• Conduct health and safety visits to ensure the child’s health, safety, and well‑being needs are met.
• Develop and implement timely permanent plans that are responsive to the child’s permanency needs.
• Provide reasonable and active efforts to parents to prevent removal and ensure early referral for court‑ordered services.
• Identify primary and concurrent permanent plans within legal and mandated time frames.
• Consult with the agency attorney and prepare required legal documents for court, placement, and service delivery.
• Assist in placing children in approved placements and prepare the child for visitation with parents and siblings.
• Transport children to placement, appointments, or family time/sibling visits.
• Schedule and supervise or monitor visitations.
• Document case notes and activity in the state computer database, FAMLINK.
• Write court reports and prepare legal documents.
• Attend court and provide expert testimony.

• Social Service Specialist 2: $5,398 – $7,254
• Social Service Specialist 3: $5,666 – $7,622

• Five (5) years paid social service experience AND completed 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
• OR Master’s degree in social services, human services, or behavioral sciences (including 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline) AND a completed practicum.
• OR Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, or behavioral sciences (including 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline) AND one (1) year paid social service experience.
• OR one (1) year experience as a Social Service Specialist 1 (SSS1).
• AND the ability to take action to learn and grow.
• AND the ability to meet the needs of others.

• Six (6) years paid social service experience
  * AND completed 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
• OR Master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral…