Family Services Specialist

• Locations 120 East Court Street, Rocky Mount, VA, 24151, US
• Apply Before 03/09/2026, 04:00 AM
• Degree Level Bachelor's Degree
• Job Schedule Full time
• Minimum Salary $36,993
• Maximum Salary $79,088
• DSS Primary Work Location Franklin County

A Family Services Specialist I represents the entry level in the occupational group. Employees learning their program areas. Employees will receive every training available to provide the foundation needed to successfully become a I with direction to move upward as needed.

Learns how to use OASIS, COMPASS, SPIDER, and any other system needed for the program assigned;

Learns to effectively and appropriately work with stakeholders to include:

• co-workers,
• clients;
• Children’s Services Act employees to include FAPT,
• private providers,
• families of clients,
• fictive kin of clients;
• guardian ad litem;
• law enforcement,
• attorneys,
• Health Department,
• CASA,
• Community Services Board (CSB);
• CART.

Learns how to Interprets laws, policies and regulations as applied to specific area of responsibility;

Learns to assess risk and safety;

Learns appropriate and independent judgment in dealing with cases and clients;

Learns how to independently develop Case Plans for clients with timely submission when necessary (Court, FAPT, etc.);

Learns how to understand and accurately utilize the CANS Assessment as documented by both the supervisor and the CSA Coordinator;

Learns how to create court notes and other documents for court;

Learns how to effectively, accurately, and articulately testify in court;

Learns how to use proper technique and how to accurately document all relevant case information;

Learns how to utilize program-specific software (IPADS, Encryption programs) available to accurately document and update all case information, in a timely manner;

Learns to serve as a resource to clients in the community in area of expertise;

If resource worker, learns to solicit, approve and manage resource homes;

If resource worker, learns to write MFA/Home Studies;

If carrying adoption cases, learns how to navigate and find adoptive homes;

If carrying adoption cases, learns to handle all case management, subsidy paperwork, documentation, customer service, and all associated work for adoptions;

Provides after hours on-call coverage and responds to emergencies in child/adult protective services and/or foster care (after 6 months if new FSS employment or 3 months after previous FSS DSS experience); ( Revised 100925 )

Some knowledge of:
Social work principles and practices; human behavior and motivational theory; and social, economic, and health problems.

Skill in operating a motor vehicle and personal computer with associated software.

Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively both orally and in writing; interview, assess needs, counsel and refer clients to other resources as needed; develop and implement service plans in order to insure the delivery of appropriate services to the client; make sound judgments within the framework of existing laws, policies, and regulations; respond to the client's emotions in order to accomplish services objectives;

plan and manage own work activities including service delivery preparing reports, and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities; establish and maintain effective relationships; and stay abreast of current trends and developments in the social work field.

Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field or minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area as mandated in Section 22

VAC
40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia and implemented by the Virginia Board of Social Services. The possession of a BSW or MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are desirable.

Passes probation with a meets or higher EPPE rating ;

At the end of probation is able to functions independently, as a full-performance Family Services Specialist.

Required to take all VDSS mandated training for Permanency Staff;

VDSS is one of the largest Commonwealth agencies, partnering with 120 local departments of social services, along with faith-based and non-profit organizations, to promote the well-being of children and families statewide. We proudly serve alongside nearly 13,000 state and local human services professionals throughout the Social Services System, who ensure that thousands of Virginia's most vulnerable citizen have access to best services and benefits available to them.