CFWS Social Service Specialist ; SSS- South Bend

Job Title

CFWS Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3)

South Bend, WA (primarily in office, with some remote work possible).

$5666 - $7622 Monthly, plus 10% assignment pay. Includes visits in unregulated environments such as private residences.

In this role, you will assess complex family situations, interview children and parents, evaluate child safety, develop plans to protect children in their homes, and offer services to children and families, primarily in North Pacific County.

• Conduct investigations into allegations of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to determine if children are safe with their families and caregivers.
• Provide advanced-level specialized case management in complex cases involving issues such as substance abuse, mental health, and domestic violence.
• Implement culturally-relevant, ADA-sensitive, and individualized service plans that are goal‑directed, have specific behavioral objectives, and are time‑limited.
• Interview children, family members, caregivers, and collateral sources to gather information necessary to assess child safety and determine service needs.
• Provide comprehensive assessments of needs for children and families while working with a diverse population, which may include Native American families.
• Assess the need for out‑of‑home placement and work with the family to find the most appropriate placement.
• Provide case management services to facilitate out‑of‑home placements and review the need for continued out‑of‑home care.
• Prepare and document cases for court proceedings.
• Prepare and present written and oral testimony for court proceedings.
• Utilize FAMLINK to document case activities and maintain case records.

• Six (6) years of paid social service experience AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.
• Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND two (2) years of paid social service experience.
• Master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND one (1) year of paid social service experience.
• One (1) year experience as a Social Service Specialist 2.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

• Prior public child welfare experience.
• Knowledge of social casework principles and practices, risk assessment and decision‑making, interviewing techniques, solution‑based casework, principles of child development, applicable federal and state laws, and community resources.
• Experience assessing risk and safety concerning child abuse and neglect or developing safety or service plans with families.
• Familiarity with community resources and the local community.
• Ability to organize information to meet FAMLINK documentation requirements.

As a Social Service Specialist, you are required to successfully complete a mandatory 9.5‑week Worker Core Training (WCT) that covers core job functions, including assessing risk and safety, supporting child well‑being, gathering information, and conducting case and permanency planning. The training includes four weeks at our Seattle training site and, for those eligible for travel from their assigned duty location, DCYF covers hotel accommodations and per diem costs.

• Understanding the child welfare system.
• Familiarity with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) related to child welfare.
• Policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Assessing child safety through environmental observation, interviews, and collateral contacts.
• Collecting records and collaborating with community partners.
• Completing assessments, documenting case notes, writing dependency petitions.
• Preparing for and testifying in court.

Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:

• Unregistered transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application submission).
• Cover letter.
• Current resume detailing experience and education.