CPS Social Service Specialist ; SSS- Parkland

Job Title: CPS/FAR Lead Worker - Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4).

Location: Parkland, WA – Region 5. The Parkland Office is located at the Tacoma Building. This position is full-time and permanent, requiring time in the field and the office. Some remote work is permitted based on office need and with approval.

Closes: 03/04/2026

Salary: $6,107 - $8,210. Assignment Pay:
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.

We are looking for a Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4) to provide mentoring and guidance to Social Service Specialists in our Parkland Office, which is located on the second floor of the Tacoma Building. The ideal candidate brings strong experience, knowledge in CPS (Child Protective Services), and is eager to utilize that experience in a supportive mentoring role. This position is an opportunity to continue developing leadership skills while helping staff build confidence, grow professionally, and deliver high-quality services to children and families.

Our Parkland Office is deeply committed to child safety and applying DCYF values in our daily work. We foster a collaborative and supportive team environment where learning and growth are encouraged. If you have the necessary skills and are passionate about coaching others, strengthening practice, and making a positive impact on children and families, we encourage you to apply.

to learn more about DCYF.

This Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4) position functions as a Lead Worker over Social Service Specialists (SSS1-SSS3) who provide professional-level social services to clients involved with (CPS) Child Protective Services Investigations and (FAR) Family Assessment Response. This position provides advanced specialized case management, coaching, mentoring, on-the-job training, and assistance in transitioning staff from a formal training program to fieldwork. This position assigns work, conducts case reviews, maintains procedures to ensure efficient workflow, and acts as the unit supervisor (SSS5) in their absence.

• Serves as the lead worker assigned to the most complex cases, determined by the supervisor or Area Administrator.
• Provides on-the-job training, mentoring, feedback, coaching, and consultation to staff.
• Serves as a lead position over Social Service Specialists and Social Service Support Specialists (SSSS, SSS1, SSS2, and SSS3 levels).
• In conjunction with the supervisor, assigns work, reviews work for efficacy, uses data to identify trends, and reviews case actions for accuracy.
• Provides feedback and reporting to the supervisor on employees’ performance and training needs.
• Provides coverage of assigned caseloads in the absence of a Social Service Specialist.
• In the supervisor’s absence, attends meetings and provides supervisory coverage.
• Prepares and provides testimony at administrative hearings, court proceedings, and criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings.
• Refers, coordinates, and monitors the delivery of services.
• Provides goal-directed, task-centered, and time-limited crisis intervention to children and families.
• Utilizes shared planning activities to obtain input from others to develop and coordinate collaborative case plans.
• Trains, coaches, and supports Social Service Specialists in preparing court reports, court testimony, hearings, and proceedings.
• Provides staff with guidance and training on caseload and time management, case actions, appropriate assessment, and intervention techniques.
• Provides staff with guidance and training on applying the Safety Framework and Structured Decision-Making process to assess risk and safety through the life of a case.
• Places dependent children in foster or other approved placements (if necessary, for the most complex cases).
• Permanency Planning.
• Utilizes Fam Link to document case activities and maintain case records/files.
• Prepares and files dependency petitions, guardianship petitions,…