Family Services Student Intern (Unpaid)

The City of Roanoke's Department of Social Services is seeking a Family Services Summer Intern. The successful student will experience work with a variety of divisions such as Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services, Adoptions and Foster Care per University guidelines and state regulations.  The Student Intern may act as a team player willing to assist co-workers and able to work outside the normal range of hours when necessary. 

SUMMARY 
 Supports and assists agency clients with personal, social, health and economic needs.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
 Interviews clients to assess the nature and extent of needs
 
 Identifies problems, counsels with clients and confers with supervisor in preparing social studies in the formulation and delivery of service plans
 
 Maintains records through the course of client's service relationships with agency
 
 Makes referrals for service to agencies, such as clinics, employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, etc
 
 Performs work with agencies such as juvenile and domestic relations courts, circuit courts, etc
 
 Provides protection and care to abandoned, abused and neglected children and adults on a regular and emergency basis in potentially dangerous situations
 
 Works with abusive or neglecting parents and families to help effect changes in family situation, usually in a family home setting
 
 Makes decisions to remove children from dangerous situations and recommendations regarding institutionalization of adults and children
 
 Studies homes for day care, foster care of adoption placement and/or foster care and adoptive placements
 
 Maintains case records, prepares written reports of services, findings and actions
 

Serves as agency representative on a variety of multi-disciplinary teams
 
 Shares a 24-hour on-call rotation
 
 Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply
 
 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
 This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Typical Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS
 To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Currently obtaining Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field and part internship fulfills educational requirement.  

Supplemental Information

LANGUAGE SKILLS 
 Ability to read and interpret documents such as laws, policies, regulations, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to respond effectively to inquiries orally and in writing. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. 
 
REASONING ABILITY 
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
 
 ***CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS*** 
Possession of a valid appropriate driver's permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.  If you do not have a Drivers License issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia, you must submit a certified copy of your driving record issued by the DMV from your previous state of residence with your application.
 
 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS  
 The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
 While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Requires the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at keyboard or work station. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk. Some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.
 
 Must be willing to work outside normal work hours and respond to both routine and emergency situations.

SENSORY REQUIREMENTS 
 Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

WORK ENVIRONMENT  
 The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
 While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as traffic hazards, violent individuals, communicable diseases, or rude/irate customers.

This is a job description and not an individualized position description. A job description defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but it is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.