Family Services Specialist - Foster Care

The City of Roanoke is seeking a Family Services Specialist in its Foster Care division. The successful candidate will carry a caseload of 10 to 14 children and meet with each child at least monthly. They will work with families and collateral agencies to assess the needs of children in foster care, develop, implement and monitor plans to meet those needs and establish permanency plans.

They will attend court hearings, Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) meetings for consultation and funding, schedule and participate in Family Partnership Meetings (FPM) and monthly team meetings for the children on their caseload. They will maintain case records, prepare written reports of services, findings and actions, testify in juvenile, domestic relations and circuit courts, and work with agencies such as public schools and various treatment programs.

They will act as a team player and be available outside normal hours, including participation in a rotating after‑hours beeper team that responds to emergency Child Protective Services (CPS), Adult Protective Services (APS) and foster care situations. The candidate must have at least a bachelor’s degree from a four‑year college or university; a Human Services degree is preferred. A valid appropriate driver’s permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia is required.

Bilingual Spanish/English speakers are encouraged to apply.

NOTE:
If you do not hold a State of Virginia Driver’s License, you will be required to provide a certified copy of a DMV report from the state of previous residence before you can be considered for this position.

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

This is a non‑exempt position.

Supports and assists agency clients with personal, social, health and economic needs.

• Interview clients to assess the nature and extent of their needs
• Identify problems, counsel with clients, and confer with supervisor in preparing and delivering service plans
• Maintain records throughout the client’s service relationship with the agency
• Make referrals for services to agencies such as clinics, employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, etc.
• Perform work with agencies such as juvenile and domestic relations courts, circuit courts
• Provide protection and care to abandoned, abused and neglected children and adults on a regular and emergency basis
• Work with abusive or neglecting parents and families to help effect changes in the family situation, usually in the family home setting
• Make decisions to remove children from dangerous situations and recommend institutionalization of adults and children when appropriate
• Study homes for daycare, foster care, adoption placement and/or foster and adoptive placements
• Maintain case records and prepare written reports of services, findings and actions
• Serve as agency representative on a variety of multidisciplinary teams
• Participate in a 24‑hour on‑call rotation
• Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

To perform this job successfully, the following qualifications are required:

• Minimum of a 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.
• Possession of a valid appropriate driver’s permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia (or a certified copy of driving record from a previous state of residence).
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as laws, policies, regulations, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to respond effectively to inquiries orally and in writing, and to present information and respond to questions from managers, clients, customers and the general public.
• Reasoning ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions, interpret instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Bilingual Spanish/English speakers are encouraged.
• Ability to work outside normal work hours and respond to routine and emergency situations.