Family Services Specialist II

Virginia Department of Social Services · Alexandria

The City of Alexandria is bordered by Washington D.C. and the Potomac River, Arlington and Fairfax counties, and Maryland. The small city has a cosmopolitan feel with 150,000 people living within its 15.75 square miles. At the Department of Community and Human Services, we provide essential safety net services to help city residents enjoy a sense of well-being, safety and self-sufficiency. Our behavioral health programs provide compassionate services that support self-determination and recovery. The beauty of our diverse and resilient people and our commitment to race and social equity, coupled with a historic district dating to 1749, charming waterfront, vibrant arts community and unique places for foodies and shopping, make the City of Alexandria a uniquely wonderful place to live, work and play. We invite all qualified candidates to learn more and apply for our Family Services Specialist II position.

An Adult Protective Services (APS) social worker performs intensive, professional work in conducting investigations of alleged abuse, neglect and exploitation of disabled adults aged 18 years and older and adults aged 60 years and older. Work responsibilities involve rendering specialized and critical assessment of complex, high risk vulnerable adults involving complex psycho social diagnoses and differential treatments.

Social Workers in this class provide psychotherapy to clients with serious problems in such areas as mental illness, substance abuse, and family dysfunction, and help them develop their own capabilities. Social Workers in this class render services to vulnerable adults impacted by issues such as abuse, neglect or exploitation and suffering emotional, physical, financial or environmental distress as a result. Adult Protective Services social workers are responsible for providing crisis intervention and emergency responses to volatile situations involving vulnerable adults.

Performs assessment of risk factors, analyzes causes and contributing factors, and develops intervention providing the maximum protection in the least restrictive manner based on the immediate and predicted long term needs of the client. Adult Protective Services is distinguished from Adult Services by virtue of the investigative/intervention requirement as a State mandated program, and the intensive protective services required addressing safety issues, and preventing harm.

This specialized work requires smaller caseloads than other Adult Service delivery programs. Adult Protective Service social workers manage cases independently with supervisory review and consultation for adherence to regulatory requirements.

This the specialist level in the class series for Family Services. Employees specialize in program areas and assume more complex duties such as: interviewing/investigating in cases involving suspected child/adult abuse/neglect, out-of-home placements, guardianships, emergency protective orders, and adoptions; testifying in legal proceedings; and placing children in foster/adoptive homes. Employees have contacts with others and influence outcomes by participating on task forces, strategic planning, mentoring, teaching, and conducting outreach. Programs areas generally include Adult/Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Foster Care, and Adoptions. Additionally, in some agencies, positions may be partly dedicated to Child Care and Employment Services in addition to other program areas. The Family Services Specialist III is distinguished from the Family Services Specialist IV class by the latter’s functioning as a lead worker, or an expert resource specialist.

Example of Duties:

Receives and responds to Adult Protective Service reports of abuse/neglect/exploitation within 24 hours or within seven days depending on the allegation;
Responds to unknown and /or potentially dangerous environments that may include verbal abuse or threat to bodily harm;
Provides immediate response to Adult Protective Service emergency complaints and/or case crises;
Collaborates with law enforcement to respond to unknown and/or potentially dangerous environments that may include threat of bodily harm;
Provides specialized and intensive case management services to elderly and disabled adults to prevent or eliminate abuse, neglect or exploitation;
Coordinates emergency placement in facilities such as assisted living, nursing homes, or other residential programs;
Conducts home visits to investigate, assess, provide intervention and monitor safety issues;
Conducts joint investigations with State regulatory agencies when abuse, neglect and exploitation occur in adult residential facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes such as Licensing and the Ombudsman offices.
Provides crises intervention and emergency response to vulnerable adults who are threatened with abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Provides specialized and intensive case management services to elderly and disabled adults to prevent or eliminate abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Determines disposition of abuse and neglect complaints and makes ongoing assessment of risks posed to clients in accordance with state and local policies;
Conducts comprehensive clinical assessments and coordinates with peers and community partners to develop plans of service to meet the social, health, and emotional needs to resolve client challenges;
Use the identified strengths and needs to guide service planning which involves and empowers clients to change;
Reviews and updates the treatment plan to reflect progress and reduction of risk;
Constructs detailed therapeutic interventions which set specific goals and objectives for the client and identify service providers;
Completes investigative reports to include uniform assessment instrument (UAI), service plans, statistical reports, documentation in state data system (ASAPS);
Conducts Adult Protective Service training presentations for other City programs/agencies, and community organizations (public and private);
Conducts training regarding abuse, neglect and exploitation for mandated reporters such as Companion Aides, hospital personnel, law enforcement, & the banking community;
Provides specialized casework strategies to assist clients with crisis resolution;
Petitions court on behalf of elderly and disabled adults who require appointment of a guardian or conservator;
Provides expert testimony for guardianship and/or conservatorship hearings;
Recruits and trains volunteer guardians and conservators to serve vulnerable adults;
Serves on community task forces/committees to engage in community outreach;
Provides case management services, including utilization of State and City computer systems to update and maintain case information;
Assess safety issues, develop safety plans, and implement services;
Submit timely revisions to work schedule as needed for overtime hours due to response to emergent cases;
Reviews and updates treatment plans to reflect progress and reduction in risk;
Coordinates Long Term Care Medicaid Screenings for Elderly and Disabled Consumer Directed (EDCD) waiver for nursing home placement or personal care in the home;
Performs monthly assigned intake duties for call-in and walk-in referrals for the Division on Aging services (Meals on Wheels, liquid nutrition, companion aide, bathing program, personal care/EDCD screenings);
Provides collaboration and consultation with hospitals, nursing homes, detox unit, and emergency shelters to develop safe discharge planning for seniors and disabled adults;
Collaborates with local housing resources, property managers, landlords, shelters, hotels and boarding houses to address emergency housing needs of Adult Protective Service clients;
Coordinates with mental health team regarding requests for capacity evaluations;
Collaborates with mental health team regarding crisis situations that require legal intervention (Temporary Detention Order (TDO) or Emergency Custody Order (ECO);
Maintains database and annual reporting oversight of the guardianship/conservatorship program;
Assists client with applying for federal benefits such as: Medicaid, SNAP, Medicare, Social Security/Social Security Disability Insurance, Auxiliary Grant, Elderly and Disabled Consumer Directed Waiver;
Advocates for clients with internal and external agencies and community programs to obtain the resources needed and assistance;
Documents investigations, clinical assessments and treatment plans and share this information with clients, the Court, collaterals as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications:

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 (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia). Considerable experience in assigned program area and completion of required training programs or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Considerable knowledge of social work principles and practices; Considerable knowledge of human behavior and motivational theory; Considerable knowledge of investigating and interviewing techniques; Considerable knowledge of social, economic, and health problems. Skill in operating a personal computer and the associated software and the operation of a motor vehicle. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; Demonstrated ability to interview, assess needs, counsel and refer clients to other resources as needed; Demonstrated ability to investigate high risk cases; Demonstrated ability to develop and implement service plans in order to insure the delivery of appropriate services to the client; Demonstrated ability to work in stressful situations and maintain diplomacy; Demonstrated ability to plan and manage own work activities including service delivery preparing reports, and correspondence, record keeping responsibilities and related activities; Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree in a human services field. Some relevant experience. A Master’s degree in social work. Some Social Work experience. Some experience working with vulnerable disabled adults and seniors in their homes, hospital settings, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation programs, residential group homes, vocational programs, etc.

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