CPS Social Service Specialist ; SSS- Vancouver​/Columbia Office

Overview

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

Job Title: CPS Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3) – Investigator

Location: Vancouver, WA (Columbia Office, located on the Columbia waterfront). This position will be eligible for hybrid telework 1-2 days per week after completing the probationary period.

Closes: 1/6/26

Salary: $5666- $7622 Monthly. This position will receive 10% assignment pay. This is in addition to the regular base salary; the required duties include 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.

This recruitment has been reposted for additional applications. If you have already applied, there is no need to reapply— your application status remains unchanged.

We re looking for a proactive Child Protective Services (CPS) Social Service Specialist (SSS3) to join our supportive Vancouver Columbia Office team. Our office is focused on creating a cohesive team that supports our workers as they learn and develop their skills. If you are passionate about caring for children and providing them support, apply today!

The Opportunity

In this role, you will assess complex family situations, interview children and parents, evaluate child safety, develop plans to protect children in their homes, and offer services to children and families.

Some Of What You ll Do

• Conduct investigations into allegations of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to determine if children are safe with their families and caregivers.
• Provide advanced-level specialized case management in complex cases involving issues such as substance abuse, mental health, and domestic violence. Implement culturally-relevant, ADA-sensitive, and individualized service plans which are goal-directed, have specific behavioral objectives, and are time-limited.
• Interview children, family members, caregivers, and collateral sources to gather information necessary to assess child safety and determine service needs.
• Provide comprehensive assessments of needs for children and families while working with a diverse population, which may include Native American families.
• Assess the need for out-of-home placement and work with the family to find the most appropriate placement.
• Provide case management services to facilitate out-of-home placements and review the need for continued out-of-home care.
• Prepare and document cases for court proceedings.
• Prepare and present written and oral testimony for court proceedings.
• Utilize FAMLINK to document case activities and maintain case records.

What We Are Looking For (Required Qualifications)

• Social Service Specialist 3:
  Six (6) years of paid social service experience
  * AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.

• OR Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND Two (2) years of paid social service experience*.

• OR Master s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience*.

• OR One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2.

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
• Paid Social Service experience must include at least one year of assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications

• Prior public child welfare experience.
• Knowledge of social casework principles and practices, risk assessment and decision-making, interviewing techniques, solution-based casework, principles of child development, applicable Federal and State laws, and community resources.
• Experience assessing risk and safety concerning child abuse and neglect or developing safety…