Family Services Specialist- CPS

Job Title

Provide services to families and/or child/children who reside in the City of Danville, by assessing the needs of the families; making referrals to the community partners; monitoring the compliance with services within the home and the community; attending meetings, hearings, assisting clients with home placements as needed as well as Child Care needs; providing crisis assistance; attending court proceedings to testify and complete court ordered documents;

providing transportation to appointments in town and out of town; monitoring home through announced and unannounced visits; making referrals as needed; maintaining case documentation. Other duties include facilitating family engagement meetings with families; emergency management and on-call duties. The Child Care worker is also responsible for training of vendors for CPR/First Aid.

The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

When Assigned to Social Services
- Child Protective Services:

• Investigates and assesses child abuse and neglect cases by conducting home and school visits; conducting criminal background checks on family members; scheduling mental health appointments; interacting with hospital for medical and forensic information; conducting drug screens; and actively participating in all proceedings at the local or state level courts.
• Documents all client interactions and interactions with other professionals by preparing affidavits to be turned into court; creating safety and case plans; completing documents for child and adult referrals; and obtaining release of information forms.
• Provides other functions such as home studies, training to raise awareness and educate community about abuse.
• Participates in 24 hour on-call services.
• Conducts CPS and Service intake by searching database for previous CPS or criminal history of family members; assessing calls pertaining to child(ren); and completing paperwork for rental assistance, food vouchers and other services.
• Provides ongoing services by monitoring families at risk for further child abuse/neglect; making referrals for mental health support and placement; transporting children to residential placements; and offering recommendations to caretakers regarding parenting.
• Ensures protection of child(ren) by interacting with attorneys and court officials; gathering information to build a case of abuse/neglect; and making suggestions to the court that pertain to child safety.

When Assigned to Social Services
- Childcare:

• Schedules and conducts interviews, by reviewing additional history, completing narrative, evaluating information of client's resources, determining current and future needs, identifying needs of client, completing forms, involving client in service planning process, preparing client to utilize service plan, and setting appropriate goals. Conducts case redetermination. Instructs client how to properly use the child care card, authorizes purchase orders/payment, provides service to clients with unusual circumstances, contacts employers, and contact community partners (Head Start, community Action, Health Dept.
  
  and other State Agencies).
• Organizes, case records, monitors incoming cases on Common Help, maintains case records to ensure documentation of chronological history and completes necessary reporting and record keeping requirements. Regularly monitors and updates Virginia Child Care Management System, EPPIC, SPIDER, ADAPT, Common Help, and other systems as needed. Maintains regular contact with clients within a quarter, redetermination of eligibility completed yearly, updates Service Plans, completes authorizations for payment, and prepares records for State review and audits.
• Regularly maintains person to person contact with vendors. Trains vendors (CPR/First Aid), provides skills training for providers in age appropriate groups and special needs areas, and makes referrals to other agencies for required training when needed. Counsels vendors. Makes referral to State agencies for approval and updates, maintains close contact with Virginia Child Care Licensing, Child Care Aware of Virginia. Monitors Electronic Payment Processing and Information Control System in order to review child attendance, child care payments, card history.
  
  Reissues child care cards. Troubleshoots and mediates disputes between vendors and clients.
• Participates in mandated trainings, community collaborations, State and Local committees and boards, Court and appeal hearings. Gathers information for investigation of fraud cases. Maintains ongoing waiting list when money is not available for child care program and dispute resolutions.

When Assigned to Social Services – Foster Care Prevention Unit:

• Assesses families and child(ren)'s strengths and needs and develops a service plan to address the needs of the child & family; making home visits announced or unannounced; attending Court…