Family Services Specialist I

The City of Alexandria is bordered by Washington D.C. and the Potomac River, Arlington and Fairfax counties, and Maryland. The small city has a cosmopolitan feel with 150,000 people living within its 15.75 square miles. At the Department of Community and Human Services, we provide essential safety net services to help city residents enjoy a sense of well-being, safety and self-sufficiency. Our behavioral health programs provide compassionate services that support self-determination and recovery. The beauty of our diverse and resilient people and our commitment to race and social equity, coupled with a historic district dating to 1749, charming waterfront, vibrant arts community and unique places for foodies and shopping, make the City of Alexandria a uniquely wonderful place to live, work and play. We invite all qualified candidates to learn more and apply for our Family Services Specialist I position.

This is the full performance level in the occupational group for Family Services. Employees are responsible for developing and implementing individualized service plans involving the application of casework methods in Employment Services and Child Care, and basic service level caseloads of Adult/Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Foster Care, Adoptions. Employees may provide services in all program areas or specialize in one or several program areas. Typically employees perform all tasks independently and only seek supervisory advice on unusual situations or when policies and procedures require supervisory review or involvement. The Family Services Specialist II is distinguished from the Family Services Specialist III by the latter's functioning at the advanced level, and becoming more specialized in program areas and assuming more complex duties (such as: interviewing/investigating in cases involving suspected child/adult abuse/neglect, out-of-home placements, guardianships, emergency protective orders, and adoptions).

A Family Services Specialist I in the Family Childcare Home Unit monitors practices in family child care programs to ensure the safety and well-being of children. The incumbent uses guided inspections to monitor whether family child care programs meet regulations. These inspections may include full compliance monitoring, where all regulations are monitored on a set schedule, or differential monitoring, where the depth and frequency of inspections vary based on a program's history of compliance with licensing regulations. As an FCC monitor, your role involves both logistic organization and oversight, as well as the less tangible but equally important responsibilities of creating and sustaining a working environment and relationship that is welcoming and supportive. It is also your responsibility to ensure that providers are aware of and adhere to program policies and procedures, including inspection requirements. This means that your job is to create and sustain both the organizational systems and the culture of the FCC programs you support. While you may support families and children in both direct and indirect ways, you will also help ensure that FCC providers have the support they need to be successful business owners and provide a healthy and safe environment for children to play and learn. The level of support you offer will vary from home to home and should be individualized for each provider.

Examples of Duties:

Recruit new providers and offer assistance as they begin their business.
Provide educational support including curriculum planning, environmental design, and family engagement opportunities.
Ensure that health and safety protocols for family child care homes are followed.
Conduct inspections, evaluate and document any program violations.
Create a network of providers, community resources, and support for providers and families.
Offer support around practices related to running an FCC business.
Provide feedback and coaching support.
Provide professional development and trainings specific to FCC programming.
Plan activities to connect providers and families.
Conduct classroom observations and conduct feedback sessions using the Virginia Quality Birth to 5 requirements (e.g. CLASS).
Support family day home providers in screening and referring children for social and emotional developmental disabilities (ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE).
Maintain appropriate documentation according to federal, state and departmental requirements.
Maintain confidentiality of family child care files and information.
Resolve concerns between families and providers.
Maintain records, files, and documents and write reports for statistical purposes.
Conduct community presentations related to family childcare programs.
Perform other assigned tasks as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field or minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia). Experience in assigned program area and completion of required training programs or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Working knowledge of laws, policies, and regulations relating to human services program areas; Skill in operating a motor vehicle and personal computer with associated software. Demonstrated ability to make sound judgments within the framework of existing laws, policies, and regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in a human services field and some relevant experience.