After Hours Social Service Specialists (Sss3) - Lakewood And Tacoma

Salary: $5,214.00 - $7,016.00 Monthly
Location : Pierce County - Lakewood, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2023-11957
Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families
Division: Field Operations - Region 5
Opening Date: 11/02/2023
Closing Date: Continuous
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step
Description
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: After-Hours Social Service Specialist (SSS3)
Location: Lakewood, WA - This is a full-time position - Flexible/Hybrid
Closes: Open Continuous
Salary: $5214-$7016
We're looking for an After-Hours Social Service Specialist (SSS3) to join our Lakewood and Tacoma location and help protect children from harm, working toward the common goal of eliminating child and youth outcome disparities based on race and ethnicity. Our vision is that "All Washington's children and youth grow up safe and healthy-thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community."
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The Opportunity:
In Region 5, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, performs an advanced level of specialized case management in the Afterhours Unit. This position often works independently and the incumbent exercises independent judgment in devising their own work methods to provide an advanced level of specialized, culturally competent, and solution-focused case management. This position requires frequent regional travel, occasional in-state travel, and rarely out-of-state travel. This position will utilize cultural competency to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with clients, caregivers, community partners, and other individuals across cultures focusing on understanding and respecting the strengths of the clients including their heritage, cultural beliefs and values, communication, and learning styles.
After-hours staff respond to reports of abuse and neglect in a timely and efficient manner during the times that the local Department of Children, Youth, and Families offices are closed. Local offices are closed from 5 pm to 8 am each day, on weekends, and all holidays, although the need to assist children still exists. This is a full-time position that accumulated 40 hours a week to include standby time and possible over time when it meets the business needs. You must have a willingness to work evenings, including overnight, weekends, and holidays.
Some of what you will get to do:

• Achieve and perform all duties within cultural competency;
• Achieve a full understanding and application of the Child Safety Framework and risk assessment in the performance of all duties and responsibilities assigned;
• Develop effective partnerships with the family, service providers, and others to address primary safety risks and concerns through cultural competency and strength-based communication.
• Take additional action when needed to meet the needs of child safety, permanency, and well-being.
• Meeting timeframes as directed.
• The use of FAM LINK to ensure all documentation and payment initiation requirements are met; in addition to ensuring accurate data for the quality assurance processes.
• Conduct investigations into allegations of abandonment, abuse, or child neglect.
• Conduct 24-hour emergent face-to-face contacts for CPS Investigation cases, 72-hour non-emergent face-to-face contacts for CPS/FAR cases, and monthly Health and Safety visits on CFWS and FVS cases.
• Gather and document sufficient information to assess for present danger and take protective action if present danger is identified. If present danger is identified the Afterhours Worker must report to their supervisor that present danger was identified and what protective actions were taken to manage the present danger.
• Observe and document the physical condition and behaviors of the child
• Follow Agency Policy for Photograph Documentation when photographing a child's physical condition or environment to document child abuse or neglect.
• Follow DCYF Policy pertaining to Interviewing a Victim or Identified Child when conducting a comprehensive interview.
• Observe and document the child's living environment if possible.
• Gather and document demographic information for all adults and parents/caregivers in the home.
• Interview the Out-of-home caregiver and identify any support or training needs for the caregiver.
• Obtain and document sufficient gathering question information to determine the protective capacity of the parent/caregiver in the home.
• Consult with Afterhours supervisor as needed.
• Partner with law enforcement, when needed.
• Obtain sufficient information from the child, parents/caregivers, and relatives to complete the Child Information and Placement Referral.
• Conduct an NCIC emergent CODE X background check on a possible relative or suitable another placement option.
• Conduct home walk-throughs of the relative or suitable other if they passed the NCIC emergent CODE X background check and place children in the home if no concerns about the physical condition of the home.
• Provide the relative, suitable other, or licensed foster home with required placement forms.
• Transport children/youth, as arranged by the assigned Day Shift Social Worker, to/from school, CRC, BRS placement, foster placements, respite, detention, relative placement, etc. and provide the placement with the requisite placement forms.

What we are looking for:
Possible CombinationsEducationExperience
Social Service Specialist 3A Bachelor's degree in Social Services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice, or an allied field
One year as a Social Service Specialist 2.Master's Degree in Social Services, Human Services, Behavioral Sciences, or an allied field.
Two years of paid Social Service experience must include assessing the risk and safety of children and providing direct family-centered practice services.
A Bachelor's degree in Social Services, human services, behavioral sciences, criminal law/justice, or an allied field
Three years of paid Social Service experience must include assessing the risk and safety of children and providing direct family-centered practice services.
Qualifying Degrees: Anthropology, Child Development, Counseling, Criminal Justice, Education, Family Studies, Human Development, Human Service, Law and Justice, Psychology, Pastoral Counseling, Social Work, Sociology, Therapeutic Fields, Therapeutic Recreation. If your degree is not listed above, you may still qualify as long as you have 30 semesters or 45 credit hours of relevant coursework.
In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• 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.
• Previous demonstrated work experience displaying the ability to comprehend, interpret and apply applicable laws, rules, and policies on the delivery of child protective and child welfare services within Washington State and deliver services accordingly.
• Previous demonstrated work experience displaying the ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with the child's caregiver (foster parents, relatives, kin, or facility staff).
• Previous demonstrated work experience displaying the ability to evaluate, analyze and assess risk and safety in all cases as defined by law and best practice and implement appropriate procedures using the agency's preferred risk and safety assessment tools
• Ability to use and knowledge of FAM LINK standards and requirements
• Effectively communicate and comprehend with management, peers, clients, community colleagues, and the public as required to carry out the assigned duties of the position.
• All positions at this level require critical thinking, use of shared decision-making strategies, and use of highly skilled interviewing techniques.
• Employees are responsible for exercising independent judgment and devising their own work methods as well as collaborating with other workers and keeping their supervisor apprised of important case developments.
• Maintain current knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on the delivery of child protective and child welfare services within Washington State and deliver services accordingly.
• Partner effectively with other professionals involved in the preparation of child and family prospective permanency families for transition and permanency outcomes.
• Maintain good working relationships with the child's caregiver (foster parents, relatives, kin, or facility staff).
• Include caregivers in the case planning process and provide support for meeting the child's unique needs.
• Ability to implement risk assessment in all cases as defined by law and best practice using the agency preferred risk assessment model.
• Ability to fully utilize shared decision-making processes for making case plans, including Family Team Decision Meetings, dependency case conferences, permanency planning staffing, Child Protective Teams, Local Indian Child Welfare Advisory Committee, adoption teaming staffing, Behavior Rehabilitation Services team meetings.

How do I apply?
In addition to completing the online application, applicants must attach the following documents to their profile in order to be considered for this position:

• College Transcripts (unofficial copy acceptable)

Supplemental Information:
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) was created to be a comprehensive agency exclusively dedicated to the social, emotional, and physical well-being of children, youth, and families regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other socioeconomic factors. We believe our workforce should reflect the communities we serve and are actively searching for candidates that reflect that diversity.
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
This position is included in the supervisory bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information:
If you need accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact the Recruitment team at If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email
2023-11957
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
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