Family Services Specialist; CPS Investigations

Job Overview

The City of Roanoke is seeking a Family Services Specialist within the Child Protective Services Investigations division. The specialist will assess and investigate allegations of child abuse and/or neglect while providing needed services to at-risk families and children. They will work closely with ancillary agencies to enforce child protective laws and provide required services to families in need, coordinate needed services, make appropriate referrals, prepare court affidavits/reports, and maintain CPS caseloads while completing routine paperwork within Virginia State Code time frames.

As a member of a rotating after-hours beeper team, the specialist will respond to emergency CPS/APS/foster care situations and work outside normal hours as necessary.

• Interview clients to assess the nature and extent of their needs.
• Identify problems, counsel clients, and conferring with supervisor to formulate and deliver service plans.
• Maintain records throughout client service relationships.
• Make referrals to agencies such as clinics, employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, etc.
• Work with courts (juvenile, domestic relations, circuit) and other agencies.
• Provide protection and care to abandoned, abused, and neglected children and adults on both routine and emergency basis in potentially dangerous situations.
• Work with abusive or neglecting parents and families to effect changes, usually in the family home setting.
• Make decisions to remove children from dangerous situations and provide recommendations regarding institutionalization of adults and children.
• Study homes for day-care, foster care, adoption placement, and/or residential placement.
• Maintain case records, prepare written reports of services, findings, and actions.
• Serve as agency representative on multidisciplinary teams.
• Share in a 24-hour on-call rotation.

• Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field or a Bachelor’s degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in Human Services.
• Valid driver’s permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia (or a valid out-of-state DMV record). If you do not hold a State of Virginia Driver's License, you must provide a certified copy of a DMV record from your previous state of residence.
• Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.
• Strong reasoning ability, ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply laws, policies, and regulations; respond effectively orally and in writing; present information and answer questions from managers, clients, and the public.
• Ability to use hands, reach, and apply light physical effort; occasional standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling light-weight objects up to 30 lbs.

Previous experience in child protective services, foster care, or related social services is preferred but not required.

This is a non-exempt position.

The City of Roanoke is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA/M/F/Disability Employer.

Regular use of hands, reaching arms; light effort; occasional standing, walking; light lifting up to 30 lbs; exposure to outdoor weather and moderate noise. May involve exposure to traffic hazards, violent individuals, communicable diseases, or irate customers.

Moderate noise level, occasional exposure to adverse conditions including traffic, violence, communicable diseases. Occasional work outside normal hours required.

Language skills:
Ability to read, interpret and write laws, policies, regulations, procedural manuals, and respond to inquiries orally and in writing. Presentation skills:
Able to present information effectively to groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.

Reasoning ability:
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret instructions and handle abstract and concrete variables.

Applications must be submitted online; supporting documents are required as described in the application process.

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.