Lead Family Services Specialist II - Resource Family

Posting number: 27-00100

Department: Social Services

Job classification: Lead Family Services Specialist II

Posting type: Open

Categories: Social Services

Summary

Does this sound like you? You're flexible, solution-focused, adaptable, and have strong communication and leadership skills; well-organized, compassionate, and understanding; assertive and able to make independent decisions in crisis situations. You're committed to supporting staff to ensure families are receiving services needed to provide a safe environment for their children. And you know what? You might be exactly who we're looking for.

Customer Experience: It's Our Business, It's Our Passion.

The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services is seeking a dynamic Lead Family Services Specialist II to join our team. In this position you will play a crucial role in our mission to protect and support children and families. You will assist our agency in maintaining state and federal compliance with the continued oversight of the Resource Family program. You'll work closely with agency leadership to achieve performance goals and foster a culture of excellence. If you're passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families, this is an excellent opportunity to utilize your skills and experience. We offer competitive benefits and a supportive work environment.

What You Do and How You Do it:

Are you ready to make a difference while leading the way?

In this role, you'll be at the forefront of our foster care program, working alongside agency leadership to set the standard for excellence. You'll recruit and train foster parents and relatives, ensuring we have loving homes for children in need. You'll conduct thorough assessments, write detailed home studies, and serve as a bridge between families and case workers.

But that's not all! You'll develop strong community partnerships, identify placement options, and oversee our foster home respite and training programs. You'll provide on-call supervision, represent our department on important committees, potentially take on a small foster care caseload and provide direct supervision to interns and support staff if the need arises. Perform other work as required.

Ready to roll up your sleeves and dive in? This position requires a passion for helping others, strong organizational skills, and a commitment to upholding state and federal regulations. If you're up for the challenge and want to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families, we encourage you to apply. Perform other work as required.

Here's What You Need:

• Bachelor's degree in social work or a related human services field; Master's degree preferred; two years of experience in the human services field; or equivalent combination of training and experience.

We're Looking for Candidates Who Have:

• Three years of foster care experience desired
• Foster care experience preferred
• Training and certification in Family Partnership Meetings facilitation and Virginia Enhanced Maintenance Assessment Tool preferred
• Virginia foster care and adoption policy training preferred
• Excellent leadership skills
• Ability to supervise staff effectively
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with a solution-focused approach
• Exceptional engagement, assessment, and interviewing skills
• Confidence and assertiveness, especially when faced with challenges
• Independent thinking and decision-making abilities
• Strong organizational, time management, and computer skills
• Effective conflict resolution skills
• Effective personal boundaries and self-care practices

If you're ready to take on a role where you can truly make a difference, we want to hear from you!

Current valid driver’s license and good driving record required. Based on the Virginia DMV point system, record must not reflect a total of six or more demerit points within the twenty-four months preceding the anticipated hire date, or one major violation of six demerit points within the preceding thirty-six months. Out of state driving records must be obtained by applicant and presented at time of interview. Records must reflect at least three years of history and be dated within thirty days of interview date.  Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check and education/degree verification required. A Chesterfield County application is also required and must be submitted online by the deadline.

This position is considered Critical Safety Sensitive and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing. The use of medical marijuana for this position is prohibited.

This position is part of an Emergency Shelter Team during times of natural disaster, reporting to shelter duty as required.

Chesterfield County offers an attractive benefits package. As a local Department of Social Services, Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services may offer incentives, approved through the Virginia Department of Social Services, to candidates hired who possess additional relevant training, skills and experience. Those incentives apply to individuals who possess: a Masters or Bachelors Degree in Social Work, Masters in Human Services, LCSW, Child Welfare Stipend participants, completion of COVLC new worker training or are Bilingual (Spanish & ASL).

Did you know that working for a local government provides credit towards the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)?

Real Talk

Each day is unpredictable and very different. You will be called upon to lead staff through difficult situations. We'll be honest -this is intense. It's a stressful high paced job with critical outcomes. You must be committed to serving families and some of our families have experienced trauma. You will assist in the professional development of staff and work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders to find creative solutions to the challenges we face. You have the power to create positive change and have a direct impact on the Permanency Services program. You must be flexible and comfortable with taking a leadership role and champion interventions that are implemented. You will work outside of normal business hours which include providing on-call supervision for emergencies 24 hours a day on a rotating schedule including weekends and holidays. Being a Lead Family Services Specialist in Permanency Services isn't for everyone, but if you are committed to making a real difference in the lives of others and are looking for a career rather than a job, we want you on our team.

QualificationsMonday - Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; this position requires on-call availability, including weekends and holidays, to
provide emergency supervision on a rotating schedule. This position is required to serve on an emergency shelter team
during times of natural disaster. Supplemental informationSocial Services