Minimum Qualifications

We know you: you're flexible, adaptable, and well-organized; compassionate, understanding, and assertive. You're committed to children, senior adults and adults with disabilities who need a voice. And you know what? You might be exactly who we're looking for.

What You Do and How You Do it:
The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services is looking for a Family Services Specialist who will be responsible for responding to phone calls and walk-ins during regular business hours from individuals who wish to make a report of suspected abuse or neglect of children, senior adults, or adults with disabilities in Chesterfield and Colonial Heights.

You will communicate with law enforcement, the Commonwealth's Attorney, Virginia State licensing, school personnel, services providers, and many others during the day. You will ensure that the case management systems, Dynamics, Peer Place and OASIS, are updated appropriately. You will be responsible for interviewing and providing resource information to individuals who contact social services regarding concerns related to adults or children (phone or walk-in). You will ensure coverage for the phone and walk-ins during business hours and educate the staff and the community about APS and CPS intake and mandated reporting requirements.
You may be called upon to provide support to the agency in other ways as well.

The Intake worker will also receive long-term care screening (Uniform Assessment Instrument - UAI) requests for adults and enter the screening information in the case management systems, Dynamics, Peer Place and Pre-admission Screening. Perform other work as required. This position is a part of an approved Career Development Plan (CDP) and offers career progression opportunities and salary incentives, as funding permits, based on performance, qualifications, and experience.

Here's What You Need:
A bachelor's degree in social work or a bachelor's degree in the human services field is required and one year of social work experience or human services experience is preferred; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience in Adult Protective Services and/or Child Protective Services preferred.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills to include the ability to interact with a diverse population
• Outstanding public speaking and presentation skills
• Strong engagement, assessment, and interviewing skills
• Assertive and confident - especially when being challenged
• Strong organization, time management and computer skills
• Ability to deal effectively with conflict
• Good personal boundaries
• Strong team player
• A real commitment to the safety of adults and children and to the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services

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 the applicant and presented at time of interview. Record 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.

Real Talk
We'll be honest-this is intense. Most of your contact with the public will be through telephone calls or walk-ins at social services. Some people may not be pleased about the decisions you make. You may be impacted by some of the information you hear. It's a stressful job with critical outcomes. You must be flexible while prioritizing your daily activities. No day is the same, but you have the power to create positive change and have a direct impact on the life of an adult or child and their family that lasts a lifetime. If you are committed to making a real difference in the lives of others, we want you on our team.

Shift

Monday - Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Work Location

Social Services