Family Services Worker (Statewide Continuous Recruitment

The Department for Children & Families' Family Services Division is actively seeking compassionate and dedicated Family Services Workers to bolster our team in championing the welfare of children, families, and communities. Our overarching mission is to foster safety, stability, and compliance with the law for children in vulnerable situations. In this role, you'll play a pivotal part in conducting assessments related to child abuse and neglect or delinquency, as well as providing essential ongoing support to at-risk families, children under state care, or youth under juvenile probation.

Collaboration is key, as we work closely with parents, relatives, educators, law enforcement, community-based service providers, courts, foster parents, and other stakeholders. Join us in this deeply meaningful, challenging, and indispensable endeavor to safeguard and nurture the future of Vermont's children and families.

Please visit the DCF website for more information and resources to help you decide if this might be the right career for you.

A cover letter regarding your interest and qualifications for this work is needed in lieu of a writing sample.

• Manage a caseload of voluntary and court-involved families, maintaining regular contacts with children and caregivers, monitoring safety, and ensuring compliance with case plans and court orders.
• Develop, implement, and update case plans and permanency goals; coordinate services (e.g., behavioral health, substance use treatment, parenting supports, education); facilitate family team meetings and revise safety plans as risk changes.
• Support children in foster and kinship care by stabilizing placements, arranging and supervising family time/visitation, and advancing permanency through reunification, guardianship, or adoption.
• Prepare court reports and testify as needed; document thoroughly in the case system; collaborate with attorneys, GALs, providers, and schools; and make recommendations to leadership and the legal team.

• Commence accepted intakes through an assessment or investigation.
• Conduct initial safety and risk assessments by interviewing children, parents, and collateral contacts; observing the home; and coordinating with law enforcement/medical providers as needed.
• Develop and implement immediate safety plans, arrange emergency placements when necessary, and connect families to services and supports.
• Document findings and decisions, determine substantiation and need for ongoing services, and prepare reports or testimony for court when required.

This position, Family Services Worker (Statewide Continuous Recruitment) (Job Requisition #13865), is open to all State employees and external applicants.

Please note that multiple positions in the same work location may be filled from this job posting.

Candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position. In accordance with AHS Policy 4.02, Hiring Standards, Vermont and/or national criminal record checks, as well as DMV and adult and child abuse registry checks, as appropriate to the position under recruitment, will be conducted on candidates, with the exception of those who are current classified state employees seeking transfer, promotion or demotion into an AHS classified position or are persons exercising re-employment (RIF) rights.

Duties are performed in a variety of setting ranging from departmental offices, client homes, courtrooms or alternative staffing sites. Considerable field travel is required, for which private means of transportation must be available. Crisis situations may arise at any hour and may require evening or weekend responses. Incumbents predictably encounter high levels of stress and emotional situations, strong differences of opinion, and potentially exposure to physical danger.

Class incumbents may be required to be on available or standby status during night, weekend, and holiday hours.

Master's degree in social work.

OR

Bachelor's degree AND eighteen (18) months of human services casework, including at least six months with a child or youth services caseload where duties included direct responsibility for client intake, assessment, plan development, monitoring, service procurement, and case closure in a formal human services delivery system.

OR

Associate's degree in a human services related field AND two (2) years or more of experience in human services work.

OR

Four (4) years or more of experience in human services work.

Master's degree in social work.

OR

Bachelor's degree AND eighteen (18) months of human services casework, including at least six months with a child or youth services caseload where duties included direct responsibility for client intake, assessment, plan development, monitoring, service procurement, and case closure in a formal human services delivery system.

As a State…