Caregiver Specialist (Social Services Specialist III)
Fairfax County
- USA
- Permanent
- Full-time
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 about DFS and its Mission, Vision, and Values, please clickABOUT THIS POSITION:
Under the direction of the Caregiver and Support Services Supervisor, this position independently performs tasks to ensure resources, advocacy, safety and well-being of older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers are met. Many of the duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
- Assists in efforts to build innovative, supportive, and collaborative programming.
- Administers the Senior Cool Care program, Barbara Antley gift fund purchases, and the Caregiver Discretionary Fund.
- Assists with caregiver programming, and other support services programming under the Caregiver and Support Services Unit.
- Ensures program compliance for the service standards, policy, and procedure and will under the guidance of the supervisor, help build appropriate policy/procedure and business process where appropriate.
- Provides clinical and non-clinical resources for clients/caregivers.
- Manages all tasks related to contracted vendors and partnerships for supportive services and caregiver programs and resources.
- Advocates and helps resolve client/caregiver issues.
- Collects and monitors metrics data regarding persons served and budgetary tracking and oversight.
- Compiles monthly data reports to be shared with Quality Analytics, Budget, and leadership teams.
- Develops and maintains a good working knowledge of the Department of Family Services, County, State and Federal programs and policies.
- Designs and administers educational information in a variety of ways that utilize that knowledge for the benefit of the community.
- Creates partnerships with community organizations and develops community-appropriate programs to expand services for clients and caregivers.
- Identifies and assesses best-practices in the growing field of caregiver support to include providing evidence-based trainings.
- Performs other duties as assigned to support the needs, mission, vision and values of the Adult & Aging Division and the Department of Family Services, as well as the countywide strategic plan.
Manages service contracts and provides and directs other contract-related functions;
Assists the supervisor in planning and carrying out training for new staff, providing guidance to staff. May directly supervise staff, and covers for the supervisor in their absence;
Serves as a policy expert in an area of social work specialization;
Coordinates or oversees the daily activities of a program or project to include staff supervision, oversight of administrative functions/requirements associated with the program or project, evaluation of the program or project for its impact/effectiveness, and making recommendations for changes or improvements;
Makes assessment of risks posed to clients in accordance with state and local policies, and works to ensure risks are eliminated or minimized;
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 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;
Manages and maintains program data and outcomes.(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)Thorough knowledge of current social service problems and methods/approaches to address issues;
Thorough 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;
Ability to provide guidance, direction, supervision and coaching to less-experienced staff;
Ability to provide management and oversight of a program or project.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree, plus three years of professional social work experience. A master's degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience.CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license.NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, a driving record check, and a Child Protective Services check.PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Knowledge of adult protective services, adult services, and Older American Act services regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Extensive Knowledge of the needs and resources for older adults and their caregivers.
- Experience with managing programs including, conducting assessments, and collaborating with clients, and internal/external partners to coordinate services.
- Experience with analyzing, tracking, and reporting data.
- Master's Degree: Social Work or other related degree.
Ability to use automated technology to enter, retrieve information in various programs.
Employee may be required to lift or carry up to 25 lbs. occasionally.
Generally, works in an office environment yet may occasionally be required to perform job duties outside of the typical office setting.
Job requires walking, standing, sitting (for long periods of time), kneeling, reaching, bending, climbing stairs; uses hands to grasp, handle, or feel.
Position frequently communicates and must be able to exchange accurate information with others verbally and in writing.
Sufficiently mobile to attend community events, meetings, and various sites outside the office and throughout Fairfax County.
Visual acuity is required to read data on a computer monitor; ability to operate keyboard driven equipment and computer.
Work requires performing administrative tasks to support the general work of advocacy, well-being and protection for older adults and adults with disabilities.
Work requires performing tasks to support the general work of advocacy, well-being and protection of older adults and adults with disabilities.
All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview, may include practical exercise.The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home ( ) 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. EEO/AA/TTY.
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