Job Specifications

Senior Family Services Worker

Job Code: 500000

Pay Plan: Classified

Pay Grade: 25

Occupational Category: Human Services

Effective Date: 01/07/2018

Class Definition:

Casework and supervisory work at a professional level for the Department for Children and Families (DCF) of the Agency of Human Services (AHS) involving the provision of social and protective services to clients and their families. Clients are children alleged to be in need of care and supervision based on abuse, neglect or unmanageability and juvenile delinquents. Duties are performed in an assigned district under the supervision of a District Director, but with significant opportunity for individual discretion, judgment, and interaction with professionals in the education, medical, and legal field. Supervision is exercised over Family Services Worker positions or other family services staff. All employees of the AHS perform their respective functions adhering to four key practices: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships and results orientation. Duties are performed under the general supervision of a Family Services Supervisor or District Director.

Examples of Work:

Supervises, trains, and develops assigned Family Services Workers and other Family Services staff. Interprets policies, directives, and regulations through individual conferences and staff meetings. Reviews recommendations and approves or modifies case plans as necessary. Familiarizes subordinate staff with state and community resources. Observes and analyzes work activities and assigns caseloads. Confers with staff members of other departments and agencies on particular cases and/or social work problems and practices. Participates in staff meetings. Maintains cooperative working relationships with other supervisors in order to achieve a coordinated district program. Interprets programs to communities by talks; makes special studies and surveys as assigned. Will carry a caseload of child and/or juvenile cases. In the absence of the District Director and Family Services Supervisor, may assume responsibility for the administration of the district office. Performs related duties as required.

Environmental Factors:

Duties are performed largely in an office setting although some field travel will be necessary, for which private means of transportation must be available. Occasional court appearance relative to program client needs/status may be required. Although duties normally occur within a regular weekday schedule, some evening and weekend duty may be necessary to provide necessary service and/or emergency coverage.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Considerable knowledge of social casework principles and practices.

Considerable knowledge of social, economic, cultural and physical factors in terms of impact upon social service program and clients.

Considerable knowledge of social casework delivery systems.

Considerable knowledge of social casework records systems.

Working knowledge of other service disciplines which typically interact with social service programs and clients.

Awareness of supervisory principles and techniques.

Ability to prepare and maintain appropriate records and reports of unit activities.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to provide leadership and accountability within the framework of the four key practices of the AHS: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships and results orientation.

Ability to interpret program philosophies to a variety of publics.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in Social Work AND one (1) year of casework services with a child protective or juvenile services caseload.

OR

Bachelor's degree or higher AND three (3) years of casework services with a child protective or juvenile services caseload.

OR

Completion of a Family Services Worker Traineeship in the Department for Children and Families AND three (3) years of casework services with a child protective or juvenile services caseload.

Special Note: Casework services means client intake, assessment, plan development, and follow-through in a social services delivery system.

Preferred Qualifications:

Special Requirements:

Candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position. In accordance with AHS Policy 4.02, Hiring Standards, Vermont and/or national criminal record checks, as well as DMV and adult and child abuse registry checks, as appropriate to the position under recruitment, will be conducted on candidates, with the exception of those who are current classified state employees seeking transfer, promotion or demotion into an AHS classified position or are persons exercising re-employment (RIF) rights.