Social Services Specialist II - Adult and Aging

Salary : $64,190.88 - $106,984.59 Annually

Location : FAIRFAX (EJ27), VA

Job Type: FT Hourly W BN

Job Number: 25-00003

Department: Family Services

Opening Date: 12/28/2024

Closing Date: 1/10/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

Pay Grade: S23

Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement

This 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

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.

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.

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; (have to keep)
• 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 Standards

MINIMUM 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.

This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with older adults and their caregivers within the long-term care system.
• Experience working in a call-center environment.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Job is sedentary in nature. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Visual acuity is required to read data on a computer monitor; ability to operate keyboard driven equipment and computer. 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. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

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 () 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.

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Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Commuter Benefit Program
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

For additional details please visit the

Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Psychology
• Social work
• Education
• Counseling
• Public administration
• Other (related)
• Other (non-related)
• None of the above

03

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list the discipline of your degree. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable."

04

How many years of full-time equivalent professional social work experience do you have?Note: "Social Work" is defined as an academic discipline and profession that concerns itself with individuals, families, groups and communities in an effort to enhance social functioning and overall well-being.

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

05

Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have at least two years of full-time equivalent professional social services or human services experience in any of the following areas? Check all that apply.

• Adult protective services
• Alcohol and drug services
• Child protective services
• Children and families
• Domestic violence
• Case management
• Foster care
• Intellectual disabilities
• Mental health
• Older adults
• Physical disabilities
• Homeless shelters
• Sexual assault
• None of the above

07

How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience do you have working with older adults and their caregivers within the long-term care system?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

08

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have working in a call-center environment?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

Required Question