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.
 
We’re looking for CPS-Investigations, CPS-FAR, CFWS to join our Puyallup office to 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.”
 
If you are passionate about caring for children and providing them the support they desperately need and ensuring they are being provided the tools and comfort to thrive within placement, this Social Service Specialist 3 position may be perfect for you! This position requires critical thinking in all aspects of the job, from daily decision-making to case planning/management. Although this position can be highly stressful, it is a noble and rewarding career.
 
The Opportunity: These positions may be hired as an “in-training” Social Service Specialists 1, 2, or 3; with the Goal Class being the Social Service Specialist 3 level.
 
We are recruiting for multiple Social Service Specialists who will have the opportunity to work in one of the following programs:
 
Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigations- CPS Specialists investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect and provide the appropriate recommendations and services for families.
 
Family Assessment Response (CPS -FAR)– is an alternative CPS pathway for families with low and moderate allegations of child abuse or neglect. Families who qualify for FAR may choose the FAR or Investigative pathway. In FAR, there is no investigation and no finding of whether the alleged abuse or neglect occurred. Social workers work with the family to keep children safe and build on their strengths to establish the community supports the family needs to be successful in the long term.
 
Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS): CFWS Specialists provide a variety of strategies to achieve permanency for children. Permanency planning involves decisive, time-limited, and goal-oriented activities to maintain children within their families of origin or place them with other permanent families. Permanence plans include the goal for permanency, the tasks required to achieve the goal, and the roles and responsibilities of all involved.
This recruitment will be used to fill multiple vacancies on an as-needed basis. Applications may be kept on file for future vacancies.
   
Some of what you will do:
Conduct investigations into allegations of abandonment, abuse, or child neglect.  

• Lead assessments and interventions on assigned intakes to determine child safety and take protective action as needed.
• Complete psychosocial and other assessments to determine the need, extent, and direction of intervention.
• Interview children, families, and collateral sources to assess risks to children, ascertain facts, gather social history, and determine family needs.
• Assess the need for out-of-home placement, preparing and counseling families through the process.
• Create referrals to appropriate law enforcement agencies, medical evaluations, and forensic interviews.
• Prepare and counsel families for the need for out-of-home placements.
• Develop and monitor safety plans for children and complete health and safety visits.
• Work with diverse family groups, including military and Native American families.
• Provide support services such as counseling, problem resolution, guidance, and referrals to advocacy and mediation.
• Provide short-term voluntary placement of children with licensed foster care or relative resources, working with families to resolve abuse or neglect.
• Provide court documents for judiciary review and decisions regarding the welfare of the children.

Salary Ranges
Social Services Specialist 1 – $4,013 – $5,399
Social Services Specialist 2 – $4,656 – $6,260
Social Services Specialist 3 – $4,892 – $6,575

Who Should Apply?
Although the goal class is a Social Service Specialist 3, we will consider candidates at the Social Service Specialist 1 and 2 levels, with a training plan to advance to a Social Service Specialist 3. The Hiring Manager will evaluate the education and experience of each candidate for one of the following levels:

**Degree must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. 

**Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S. Incomplete applications may be screened out of the recruitment process.
 

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following: 

• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply current applicable laws, rules, and policies on the delivery of child protective and child welfare services within Washington State and deliver services accordingly.
• Ability to partner effectively with community partners and professionals to develop and maintain resource teams to support children and families.
• Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with a child’s caregiver (parents, foster parents, relatives, kin, or facility staff).
• 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 preferred risk and safety assessment tools.

How do I apply? 
Complete your applicant profile and attach the following documents:  

• College transcripts
• Resume

 
To take advantage of the Veteran’s preference please attach your DD-214, member 4 long-form, or your NGB-22.  Please black out your social security number prior to attaching.
 
Supplemental Information:
Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1 state employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Please note that any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing verification of your vaccine status, having an approved medical accommodation, or having an approved religious accommodation. No start date will be approved until you have either verified your vaccine status or have an approved accommodation.
 
Work duties will be performed in an office environment, teleworking is not an option.
 
Employees reporting to an office building are required to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines and protocols.
 
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 covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
 
This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
 
The initial screening will be based on the content and completeness of your application and the materials submitted. All information may be verified and documentation may be required. Applications with comments such as “see attachments” or “N/A” in the supplemental question responses will be considered incomplete.
 
DCYF is an equal opportunity employer and supports equity, diversity, inclusion, and respect.
 
Need accommodation throughout the application/interview process? Unable to apply online? Contact the Recruitment team at dcyf.jobs@dcyf.wa.gov or (360) 701-4928 or the
 
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf at 800-833-6388
 
Experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application? Call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.
 
General suggestions for creating a good application packet: 

• Read the job posting very carefully. Find out as much as you can about the position. 
• Make sure you are very diligent in following all the application instructions.  Include all requested documentation. 
• Make sure your application and supplemental question responses address how you meet each of the required and desired qualifications. 
• Carefully read each of the supplemental questions and respond completely to each one.  Pay careful attention to each component of the question, providing examples, and thoroughly describing when and where you achieved the proficiency level, and detail the types of work you performed, the work products, etc., to demonstrate ‘how’. 
• Specifically include all of your work experiences doing the same or similar work, especially if you reference work in these jobs in describing when/where you gained proficiency level skills.
• Make sure your application reflects your best writing

 
   
 2023-00029