Social Service Specialist ; SSS- Yakima

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy— thriving physically, emotionally, and academically, nurtured by family and community.

Job Title: Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4)

Location: Yakima, WA

Closes: 1/21/26

Salary: $ 6107 - $8210 Monthly. This position will receive 10% assignment pay in addition to the regular base salary; the required duties include performing visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to conduct investigations for allegations of abuse and/or neglect to assess the safety of vulnerable children.

We are looking for a Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4) to take the role of lead worker at our Yakima Office. Our office is focused on child safety, staff retention, and creating a safe environment for our staff as they learn and develop their skills in child welfare practice. If this sounds like a team you want to be a part of, apply today!

Learn more about DCYF.

In this role, you will provide mentorship, on-the-job training, and assistance in the transition of staff from formal training to fieldwork. This position assigns work, conducts case reviews, and establishes procedures for efficient workflow. In the absence of the unit supervisor, this position will facilitate meetings and make decisions regarding case staffing.

• Provide on-the-job training, mentoring, feedback, coaching, and consultation to the staff.
• Assign work, review work for efficiency, use data to identify trends, and review case actions for accuracy and compliance with policy.
• Serve as Lead Specialist assigned to the most complex cases.
• Report on the strengths and weaknesses of employees to their direct supervisor.
• Provide feedback for annual performance evaluations and identify training needs.
• Provide coverage of assigned caseloads.
• Attend court hearings and provide testimony in court when necessary.
• Fill in as supervisor in the supervisor’s absence.

Seven years of paid social service experience. Paid Social Service experience must include at least one-year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services and 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.

OR one year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3.

OR a Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a Master's degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND two (2) years of paid social service experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs. A two-year Master's degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum may be substituted for one year of paid social service experience.

OR a Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a Bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND three (3) years of paid social service experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

* Paid social service experience must include at least one (1) year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

• Prior public child welfare experience
• Previously demonstrated case management experience.
• Previously demonstrated knowledge of child development and/or family systems.
• Previously demonstrated ability to engage children and families under difficult circumstances, to gather information to make accurate and precise decisions.
• Previously demonstrated experience researching, interpreting, and applying laws, rules, and policies, and delivering services accordingly.
• Previously demonstrated familiarity with the agency’s software programs, which include Outlook and FAMLINK.

Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:

• Transcript…