Family Services Specialist

Family Service Specialist – Department of Social Services

Job
Agency:
Department of Social Services

Location:

Vermillion, SD
Salary: $26.62 hourly (based on qualifications)
Pay Grade: 某 I

Employment Type:

Full‑Time (40 hours per week)
Closing Date:
Open Until Filled

The Division of Child Protection Services works to protect children and strengthen families by assessing safety, providing interventions, and securing stability for children. As a Family Service Specialist, you will gather detailed information from the public regarding reports of alleged child abuse and/or neglect, review those reports, determine appropriate agency responses, and collaborate with the court system.

• Collect information from the public about alleged child abuse or neglect.

• Review reports and determine appropriate agency responses.

• Conduct assessments with families, analyze safety threats, and make determinations about removal of children from unsafe environments.

• Provide intervention services and ongoing safety management after removal.

• Manage out‑of‑home placements or create in‑home safety plans.

• Work with the court system, including testifying when children are placed in state custody.

• Monitor children in out‑of‑home care, develop case plans, and assess the needs of resource families.

• Identify potential relatives for placement.

• Respond to emergencies on a 24‑hour basis.

• Work flexible hours, including evenings, nights, holidays, and weekends; travel may be required.

• Preferred: a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, public administration, or a related field.
  
  • Entry‑level knowledge and abilities acquired through training or experience that provide required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Theories and concepts related to culture, child development, family connections and dynamics, and their influence on child and parental relationships and behavior.
• Needs and potential sources of conflict for children in placement and appropriate placement resources.
• Current practices and interventions for responding to child abuse, neglect,NOV

• Establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships; demonstrate compassion, respect, courtesy, and tact.
• Actively listen, elicit needed information, and communicate effectively and accurately, both orally and in writing.
• Utilize computerized data systems (Microsoft Word preferred).
• Prepare clear, concise documentation, reports, and correspondence that reflect relevant facts.
• Plan and organize work activities, adjust to multiple demands, and prioritize tasks to meet schedules and deadlines.
• Gather and analyze data; reason logically and accurately; solve problems using common sense.
• Assume initiative with minimal supervision.
• Observe and assess situations correctly; provide training and work direction to others.

• Veterans’ Preference is available per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

• Successful applicants will undergo a background investigation and an abuse and neglect screening.

• National Career Readiness Certificate holders may submit a certificate; it is not required.

• $0 premium employee health insurance option.

• Eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options.

• Retirement benefits under Class A retirement of the South Dakota ingestion of SDRS.

Visit the state job portal to apply online: йон.
All persons hired must verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I‑9. The State of South Dakota uses E‑Verify upon hire.
---

Contact:
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone:
Email: careers.us
Website: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./workforus

“An Equal Opportunity Employer”