CPS​/CFWS Social Service Specialist In Training; SSS- Tumwater

Overview

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: CPS/CFWS Social Service Specialist 2-3 In Training (SSS3)

Location: Tumwater, WA

Closes: 1/29/26

Salary: $5398 - $7622 Monthly. This position may receive 10% assignment pay when the incumbent reaches the goal class of Social Service Specialist 3. The 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.

The Opportunity: In this role, you will perform assessments, deliver services, conduct permanency planning, interview children and parents, evaluate child safety, and develop plans to protect children in their homes. You will take additional action when needed to meet the needs of child safety, permanency, and well-being.

• Provide comprehensive assessments of casework needs for children and families.
• Investigate, assess, and evaluate reports of child abuse.
• Provide ongoing safety and risk assessment of the family throughout the life of the case and take appropriate action to protect children, correct parental deficits through services, and provide support to the family.
• Assess the need for out-of-home placement, and work with the family to find the strongest placement.
• Provide psychosocial summaries, home studies, and other appropriate correspondence to outside agencies.
• Provide case management services to facilitate out-of-home placements and review the need for continued out-of-home care.
• Supervise and place dependent children (abused, neglected, and abandoned) in foster or other approved placements, as necessary.
• 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.

The goal class of this position is a Social Service Specialist 3. We will also consider candidates at the Social Service Specialist 2 level, with a training plan to advance to the goal class.

• Social Service Specialist 2:
  Range 56 ($5398 – $7254)
• Social Service Specialist 3:
  Range 58 ($5666 - $7622)

Social Service Specialist 2:

• Five (5) years of paid social service experience AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.

OR

• Bachelor’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.

OR

• A Master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND completed practicum.

OR

• One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1.

Social Service Specialist 3:

• Six (6) years of paid social service experience
  * AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.

OR

• 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*.

OR

• 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*.

OR

• One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2

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 year of assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

• 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…