Social Services Specialist II - Adult and Aging

Social Services Specialist II - Adult and Aging Print (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/fairfaxcounty/jobs/newprint/4505291) Apply  Social Services Specialist II - Adult and Aging Salary $62,932.27 - $104,886.91 AnnuallyLocation FAIRFAX (EJ27), VAJob TypeFT Hourly W BNJob Number24-01270DepartmentFamily ServicesOpening Date05/18/2024Closing Date5/31/2024 11:59 PM EasternPay GradeS23Posting TypeOpen to General Public

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Job AnnouncementThis position includes a signing bonus of $2,500 (full-time) for new county hires.This is an exciting time to join Fairfax County Government as we shape racial and social equity policies in the county through the One Fairfax Policy. Using this framework, we intentionally consider equity when making policies or delivering programs and services. To learn more, we highly encourage you to watch the Becoming One Fairfax—An Introduction to Key Concepts video by clicking here and visit the One Fairfax webpage here. (https://www.ebmcdn.net/fairfax/fairfax-cable-viewer-cc.php?w=768&h=432&viewnode=OneFairfaxBACs2cc) Opportunity to work as part of the Adult and Aging Division’s Aging, Disabilities and Caregiver Resource (ADCR) unit, in the Pennino Building, Fairfax, Virginia. Serves primarily as the first point of contact for accessing long-term care for older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers. Provides short-term telephone services, conducting initial assessments and assignments, telephone crisis intervention, and information and referral. This position also staffs the county’s Adult Protective Services (APS) Hotline and determines validity of APS reports before assigning to social services investigators.While primarily working in call-center environment, periodic community education and outreach responsibilities as well as occasional face-to-face in office consultations are expected. Uses automated technology in multiple systems for documentation of work. Works as part of a highly collaborative, seven-person team in a must-answer call center environment operational from 8:00 am to 4:30 p.m.The primary purpose of the Adult and Aging Division is to ensure resources, advocacy, safety and well-being of older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers are met. To ensure that the division can carry out its purpose and meet the agency’s responsibilities related to advocacy, protection, and wellbeing, the A&A division director may move or reassign this position’s related work duties and responsibilities within the job class.Illustrative duties:

Works primarily over the phone, with clients and their caregivers to guide callers in developing a plan of service to meet social, health, emotional and economic needs.

Advocates for and assists families and individuals in obtaining services (e.g., mental health, intellectual disability, alcohol and drug, housing referrals, financial assistance for basic needs, home based services, training and medical services);

Communicates and works with colleagues, clients and the community in a manner that supports the agency and program goals and objectives;

Participates as a contributing member on interagency, multi-disciplinary teams, community groups and professional organizations;

Provides training and community education on a variety of social work topics;

Uses automated technology and hard copy files to maintain and update case data, notes, documents, records, contacts and summaries of information. Maintains case notes, documents and records, enters and updates case load data, contacts and summaries of information;

Addresses, and if necessary diffuses, initial crisis situation with clients, assesses safety issues and refers clients to emergency services as needed (e.g., mental health services, child protective services, adult protective services, women's shelter, homeless shelter);

Negotiates, facilitates, and coordinates the creative use of limited community-based service alternatives and assists staff from other county human service agencies in understanding the Division of Aging’s resources creative use of community resources.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of the principles and practices of social work;

Knowledge of current social service problems and methods/approaches to address issues;

Knowledge of regulations and guidelines relating to the assigned area of social service specialization;

Ability to analyze case information and to reach sound decisions on the basis of such information;

Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;

Ability to use automated technology to establish and maintain case records;

Ability to maintain professional ethics and confidentiality of client information;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals;

Ability to schedule and manage workload sufficiently to meet deadlines.

Employment StandardsMINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree, plus two years of professional social work experience. A master's degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience.Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement.CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:Valid driver's license.NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background, a driving record check, and a Child Protective Services check to the satisfaction of the employer.PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Master’s degree in social work (MSW).

Experience working with older adults and their caregivers within the long-term care system.

Experience working in a call-center environment.

Certification as Virginia Adult Protective Services/Adult Services worker.

Strong oral and written communication skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer.Ability to travel to various locations throughout Fairfax County to provide coverage, attend meetings and trainings.Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.Job is sedentary in natureVisual acuity is required to read data on a computer monitor; ability to operate keyboard driven equipment and computerWork requires performing administrative tasks to support the general work of advocacy, well-being and protection for older adults and adults with disabilities.All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.SELECTION PROCEDURE:Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/demographics/fairfax-county-general-overview) ) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY. #LI-RS1