CFWS/FVS Social Service Supervisor 5 (SSS5) - Bellingham

Job Title: CFWS/FVS Social Service Supervisor 5 (SSS5).
Location: Bellingham, WA - Region 3. This position is full-time and permanent requiring time in the field and the office; full-time teleworking is not an option.
Closes: 01/22/2025
Salary: $6,227 - $8,377. This position will also 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.

Click here to learn more about DCYF. The Opportunity:
In this role, you will use your strong assessment and engagement skills to supervise Social Service Specialists in the FVS (Family Voluntary Services) unit and supervise two lead Social Service Specialist 4s (SSS4). As a front-line supervisor, you will provide staff with guidance and case management knowledge to accomplish agency goals of child protection, permanency planning, and enhancing child safety and well-being. You will train, support, and supervise a unit of social service specialists who provide advanced-level, specialized case management in high-profile or complex cases involving children. The SSS5's highly complex professional work in the Field Operations Division has direct and indirect responsibility for protecting children and strengthening families so they flourish.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Supervise and mentor a unit of Social Service Specialists and assign and review casework.
• Coordinate with other supervisors to ensure appropriate coverage for the office.
• Participate in supervisory, administrative, and individual meetings and conferences.
• Perform quality assurance on staff documentation, assessments, reports, case management, and payment initiation.
• Ensure that Social Service Specialists document all case activities and information gathered within the case file and FAMLINK electronic record.
• Provide coaching, counseling, and feedback as necessary.
• Prepare written performance evaluations for staff utilizing the current Performance Evaluation system.
• Consult with administrators and human resources regarding corrective or disciplinary action as necessary.
• Train new and existing staff to gather accurate and complete information, organize information, and make case decisions.
• Keep staff informed of policies, rules, and regulations affecting their jobs and the families they serve.
• Provide consultation and oversight to ensure accurate application of child safety framework.

Required Qualifications:
Eight (8) years of paid social service experience* AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
OR
A Master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or any Master’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.
OR
A Bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or any Bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Four (4) years of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.
OR
One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 4.
OR
Two (2) years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3.

NOTE: A two-year Master's degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum may be substituted for one (1) year of paid social service experience.

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

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• A Master's Degree in Social Work.
• Previous case management experience working with children and families in Child Welfare Programs (CPS, CFWS, Adoptions/Permanency, or Afterhours).
• Experience teaching and training staff, including identifying strengths and motivating staff.
• Current knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on the delivery of child protective and child welfare services within Washington State.
• Experience implementing risk assessment in cases using the preferred risk assessment model.
• Experience using FamLink and maintaining Famlink documentation.

In addition to completing the online application, please attach the following:

• College/University Transcripts - an unofficial copy is acceptable for application purposes.
• Cover Letter
• Resume

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

Supplemental Information:
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

This position requires a valid unrestricted (other than corrective lenses) driver's license.

The incumbent must successfully complete of Supervisor Core Training (SCT) within one year of initial appointment.

The incumbent must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law and, policy, and regional requirements within one year of their appointment.
2025-00374