CPS​/FAR Social Service Supervisor ; SSS- Tacoma

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy— thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community.”

Location:

Tacoma, WA - Region 5

This full‑time permanent position requires time in the field and the office. It will travel within its assigned areas of work and may require travel with clients as cases require, as well as travel to attend training and meetings in other locations.

Closes: 07/21/2026

Salary: $80,496—$108,228 Annually. Assignment Pay: 10% additional pay. The role involves 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.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking a Social Service Specialist 5 (SSS5) at our Tacoma Office to supervise Social Service Specialists in the CPS (Child Protective Services)/Family Assessment Response (FAR) unit. Our office supports our team as they learn and develop their skills in child welfare practice. If you have child welfare experience and are looking to expand your leadership skills, mentor others, and continue your professional growth and development in a supervisory role, we encourage you to apply.

In this role, you will use strong assessment and engagement skills to supervise Social Service Specialists in the CPS/FAR unit. As a front‑line supervisor, you will provide advanced‑level guidance and specialized case management knowledge to accomplish the agency's goals of child protection, permanency planning, and enhancing child well‑being, ensuring child safety is at the forefront of all decision‑making. The primary function is to supervise frontline employees who investigate and intervene with families where there are allegations of child abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment.

You will provide on‑the‑job training, mentoring, feedback, coaching, and consultation, including field observations and modeling of case‑management skills and techniques.

• Supervise and mentor a unit of Social Service Specialists and complete casework.
• Provide mentoring, coaching, counseling, consultation, on‑the‑job training, and feedback.
• Manage and support Social Service Specialists in formal training plans who are transitioning to field work.
• Perform quality assurance on staff documentation, assessments, reports, case management, and payment initiation.
• Ensure Social Service Specialists document case activities and information gathered within the case file and Fam Link electronic record.
• Prepare written staff performance evaluations utilizing the Performance Evaluation system.
• Consult with administrators and human resources regarding corrective or disciplinary action.
• 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 children and families they serve.
• Provide consultation and oversight to ensure accurate application of the child safety framework.
• Review and revise service referrals, letters, court reports, and assessments.
• Review case activities with parents and relatives to establish case goals, identifying services for the family.
• Initiate payments within Fam Link for child placement and child/family services.
• Coordinate with other supervisors to ensure appropriate coverage for the office.
• Participate in supervisory, administrative, and individual meetings and conferences.
• Attend and testify in Superior Court.

• Eight (8) years of paid social service experience
  * AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
• A Master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a related field with 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND three (3) years of paid social service experience.
• A Bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a related field with 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND four…