Fairfax County
Family Safety Practitioner II - Protection and Preservation Services
Fairfax County, Fairfax, Virginia, United States, 22032
Overview
This position includes a signing bonus of $2,500 (full-time) for new county hires. Works as part of the Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF). Provides clinical casework services to stabilize and support families experiencing abuse/neglect or at-risk of further abuse/neglect. DFS is committed to strengthening the well-being of its diverse community by protecting and improving the lives of all children, adults, and families through assistance, partnership, advocacy, outreach, and quality services. To learn more about DFS and its Mission, Vision, and Values, please here. Works as a member of the Protection and Preservation Services (PPS). Work hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; however, evening and/or weekend work is required as well as being part of an on-call rotation for CPS that includes evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours which may require immediate response into the field. Responsibilities
Uses child welfare framework to perform comprehensive assessments of children and their families, including home visits. Areas of assessment include child abuse and neglect; parenting capacity; family relationships; mental health, substance abuse, and developmental concerns; social supports; physical health challenges and disabilities; and basic needs including shelter, food, and clothing. Collaborates with the parents/caretakers, key members of the family, and children, if appropriate, to develop a service plan to ensure children’s safety and reduce risk of future harm to children. Collaborates with the family and multidisciplinary team to coordinate casework services and ensure progress towards achieving service plan goals. Coordinates care and delivery of services such as financial, food, shelter, and housing assistance; psychiatric, psychological, or mental health evaluations; and domestic violence interventions to family members. Responds to and provides crisis intervention to maintain child safety and well-being. Documents assessments, critical incident reports, detailed case contacts, progress notes, and service plans. Prepares court petitions and testifies in court. Collaborates with various multi-disciplinary professionals and facilitates family engagement activities. Performs other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes in families. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of child protection laws, rules, and regulations. Knowledge of conducting child protective services assessment and investigation. Knowledge of foster care and adoption laws, rules, and regulations. Ability to interview, assess needs, counsel, and refer clients to other resources as needed. Ability to assess safety, risk, and protective capacity. Possess critical thinking skills and ability to apply critical thinking and knowledge and research. Ability to meet deadlines and keep up with documentation. Ability to work collaboratively with families to identify solutions to specific issues and/or challenges such as parenting, behavior management, childcare, financial stability, housing, mental health, substance abuse, etc. Requires the ability to develop goals and to use decision-making tools and resources for the safety and well-being of children. Knowledge of the principles and practices of social work and case management; knowledge of current social service problems and methods/approaches to address issues; knowledge or skill with crisis intervention or conflict resolution techniques; knowledge of regulations and guidelines relating to the assigned area of social service specialization. Ability to analyze case information to reach sound decisions based on such information; ability to demonstrate advanced critical thinking and judgment by understanding and applying governing policy and statutes alongside best practices and unique case factors; ability to engage with persons effectively and empathically from different cultures who may be experiencing stressful family situations; ability to maintain a high level of sensitivity and confidentiality while performing client related tasks; ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; ability to use case management and documentation technology to establish and maintain case records; ability to maintain professional ethics and confidentiality of client information; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals; ability to schedule and manage workload sufficiently to meet deadlines; skill in defining and explaining complex rules and guidelines in a variety of settings; skill in writing reports that are behaviorally specific, factually correct, include conclusions and recommended action; ability to engage children, adults, and/or families under safety-sensitive, time-limited, and difficult circumstances, to gather information and make informed decisions that are inclusive of their language, race, and culture; ability to engage and work with community partners and organizations; ability to collaborate as a team member to create and support safety planning and monitoring; ability to engage with juridical systems and processes to support the safety needs of clients as needed or when required by statute; demonstrated ability to set boundaries and participate in self-reflective practice and working knowledge of the National Association of Social Workers\' Code of Professional Ethical Standards. Minimum Qualifications
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor\'s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or a related field; plus two years of experience in social work, psychology, sociology, or a related field. A master\'s degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience. For Virginia Child Welfare Stipend Program Graduates: a master\'s degree in social work, plus an eligible practicum in child welfare may be substituted for two years of the required experience. A related field/experience is based solely on the position description. Certificates and Licenses Required
Valid driver\'s license. Positions within this class are required to complete the state mandated training in the functional area within a specified time period. Necessary Special Requirements
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, driving record check, and a Child Protective Services check. This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster). Requires being part of an on-call rotation that includes evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours which may require immediate response into the field. Preferred Qualifications
Master\'s degree in social work (MSW) or a related human services degree. Minimum of two (2) years of experience in child protective services intake and/or ongoing and child abuse and neglect prevention. Minimum of two (2) years of experience in service plan development and care coordination. Physical Requirements
Sufficiently mobile to attend home visits, court, and meetings and community events outside the office. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to use automated technology. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations. Selection Procedure
Panel interview; may include practical exercise. Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home. We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity. Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY. #LI-RS1
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This position includes a signing bonus of $2,500 (full-time) for new county hires. Works as part of the Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF). Provides clinical casework services to stabilize and support families experiencing abuse/neglect or at-risk of further abuse/neglect. DFS is committed to strengthening the well-being of its diverse community by protecting and improving the lives of all children, adults, and families through assistance, partnership, advocacy, outreach, and quality services. To learn more about DFS and its Mission, Vision, and Values, please here. Works as a member of the Protection and Preservation Services (PPS). Work hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; however, evening and/or weekend work is required as well as being part of an on-call rotation for CPS that includes evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours which may require immediate response into the field. Responsibilities
Uses child welfare framework to perform comprehensive assessments of children and their families, including home visits. Areas of assessment include child abuse and neglect; parenting capacity; family relationships; mental health, substance abuse, and developmental concerns; social supports; physical health challenges and disabilities; and basic needs including shelter, food, and clothing. Collaborates with the parents/caretakers, key members of the family, and children, if appropriate, to develop a service plan to ensure children’s safety and reduce risk of future harm to children. Collaborates with the family and multidisciplinary team to coordinate casework services and ensure progress towards achieving service plan goals. Coordinates care and delivery of services such as financial, food, shelter, and housing assistance; psychiatric, psychological, or mental health evaluations; and domestic violence interventions to family members. Responds to and provides crisis intervention to maintain child safety and well-being. Documents assessments, critical incident reports, detailed case contacts, progress notes, and service plans. Prepares court petitions and testifies in court. Collaborates with various multi-disciplinary professionals and facilitates family engagement activities. Performs other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes in families. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of child protection laws, rules, and regulations. Knowledge of conducting child protective services assessment and investigation. Knowledge of foster care and adoption laws, rules, and regulations. Ability to interview, assess needs, counsel, and refer clients to other resources as needed. Ability to assess safety, risk, and protective capacity. Possess critical thinking skills and ability to apply critical thinking and knowledge and research. Ability to meet deadlines and keep up with documentation. Ability to work collaboratively with families to identify solutions to specific issues and/or challenges such as parenting, behavior management, childcare, financial stability, housing, mental health, substance abuse, etc. Requires the ability to develop goals and to use decision-making tools and resources for the safety and well-being of children. Knowledge of the principles and practices of social work and case management; knowledge of current social service problems and methods/approaches to address issues; knowledge or skill with crisis intervention or conflict resolution techniques; knowledge of regulations and guidelines relating to the assigned area of social service specialization. Ability to analyze case information to reach sound decisions based on such information; ability to demonstrate advanced critical thinking and judgment by understanding and applying governing policy and statutes alongside best practices and unique case factors; ability to engage with persons effectively and empathically from different cultures who may be experiencing stressful family situations; ability to maintain a high level of sensitivity and confidentiality while performing client related tasks; ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; ability to use case management and documentation technology to establish and maintain case records; ability to maintain professional ethics and confidentiality of client information; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals; ability to schedule and manage workload sufficiently to meet deadlines; skill in defining and explaining complex rules and guidelines in a variety of settings; skill in writing reports that are behaviorally specific, factually correct, include conclusions and recommended action; ability to engage children, adults, and/or families under safety-sensitive, time-limited, and difficult circumstances, to gather information and make informed decisions that are inclusive of their language, race, and culture; ability to engage and work with community partners and organizations; ability to collaborate as a team member to create and support safety planning and monitoring; ability to engage with juridical systems and processes to support the safety needs of clients as needed or when required by statute; demonstrated ability to set boundaries and participate in self-reflective practice and working knowledge of the National Association of Social Workers\' Code of Professional Ethical Standards. Minimum Qualifications
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor\'s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or a related field; plus two years of experience in social work, psychology, sociology, or a related field. A master\'s degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience. For Virginia Child Welfare Stipend Program Graduates: a master\'s degree in social work, plus an eligible practicum in child welfare may be substituted for two years of the required experience. A related field/experience is based solely on the position description. Certificates and Licenses Required
Valid driver\'s license. Positions within this class are required to complete the state mandated training in the functional area within a specified time period. Necessary Special Requirements
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, driving record check, and a Child Protective Services check. This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster). Requires being part of an on-call rotation that includes evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours which may require immediate response into the field. Preferred Qualifications
Master\'s degree in social work (MSW) or a related human services degree. Minimum of two (2) years of experience in child protective services intake and/or ongoing and child abuse and neglect prevention. Minimum of two (2) years of experience in service plan development and care coordination. Physical Requirements
Sufficiently mobile to attend home visits, court, and meetings and community events outside the office. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to use automated technology. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations. Selection Procedure
Panel interview; may include practical exercise. Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home. We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity. Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY. #LI-RS1
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