Master Family Service Specialist (#MDDQ03)
$45,798.00 Yearly Min / $57,248.00 Yearly Mid / $68,698.00 Yearly Max

An incumbent in this class performs at the expert level directly providing, coordinating and monitoring the delivery of professional social services to children, youth and families; or adult special populations and families; to resolve problems involving client abuse, neglect, dependency, anti-social behavior, exploitation and family dysfunction, which may include economically disadvantaged clients.

A class incumbent serves as in-house consultant providing technical expertise to other staff as well as directly providing case coordination and counseling to children, youth and families; or adult special populations and families. An incumbent reports to either a technical or administrative superior. Incumbents work in program support, child protective, child mental health, youth rehabilitation or adult protective agencies. Employees are responsible for the development of service plans for the most unusual and complex cases and for serving in an advisory capacity to other staff in the development of plans. Incumbents interact with treatment facility staff, courts, community based organizations and private agencies regarding clients' problems and progress. An incumbent obtains case histories, prepares social assessments and determines eligibility for and availability of community resources encompassing multi-faceted needs of the clients. Incumbents are required to review service and/or treatment plans periodically, assessing progress and making the necessary adjustments to accomplish goals. An incumbent may specialize in a particular area of service or have responsibility for a small program area not involving supervisory responsibility. Employees may be required to assist the supervisor by overseeing the implementation of treatment plans by other staff. Securing client cooperation and developing effective interpersonal relationships and intervening in crisis situations are of major significance in this work.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Provides services to advocate for health, safety and welfare or rights of clients and their families and assists them in obtaining needed services.
   
• Interviews clients and family members and/or professionals to gather personal, social and background information; works closely with the client and family to formulate a clear description of the client and family’s problems; identify the key forces which maintain the problems; discover resources and strengths available to the client and family to resolve the problems; and identify the blocks, if any, that prevent the client and family from resolving the problems without the intervention of the State agency.
   
• Determines eligibility for various social service programs offered by the agency or available in the community.
   
• In collaboration with the client and family, develops and implements service/treatment plans, outlining the goals and objectives to be accomplished, methods and techniques to be used, and anticipated results; helps the client and family to obtain community, social and/or therapeutic services and resources needed to accomplish plans and objectives.
   
• Conducts individual and group counseling sessions with clients and members of the family to aid in achieving satisfactory social development and adjustment to specific problems and situations.
   
• Assesses progress toward goals and makes recommendations on plans such as reclassification, discharge, aftercare, emergency protective placement in emergency or crisis situations, guardianship, petitions or options counseling.
   
• Prepares social histories, client progress reports, evaluation and discharge summaries, court reports or petitions; prepares and maintains a variety of records and files pertaining to clients assigned to caseload.
   
• Enforces court orders and conditions of community supervision as required. Attends court hearings and other judicial proceedings to answer questions, make recommendations and present progress reports regarding clients.
   
• May be called upon to intervene in crisis situations such as potential suicides, assault and battery against clients, and sexual abuse cases. May coordinate with law enforcement and other emergency staff if needed.  May be required to isolate and/or physically restrain clients who are acting out.
     
• May be required to perform emergency duty which requires being on call for an assigned time period.

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA’s listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class.

• Knowledge of human behavior, behavior deviations and impaired family functioning.
• Knowledge of social, economic, psychological and health factors and the manner in which they may affect the social behavior of individuals and families.
• Knowledge of the principles, theories, methods and techniques of individual, group and family counseling.
• Knowledge of casework principles and practices used in the preparation of service/treatment plans and management of a varied caseload.
• Knowledge of agencies, services and resources available in the community.
• Skill in conducting interviews and investigations of a sensitive nature.
• Skill in applying the pertinent laws, regulations and policies.
• Skill in development of service/treatment plan.
• Skill in family counseling.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, their families, associates, social service representatives and the public.
• Ability to recognize the symptoms of maladjusted behavior. 
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records.
• Ability to provide guidance and direction regarding case management.

2. One year of experience in health or human services focusing on the safety and welfare of families such as identifying issues, barriers and goals; determining eligibility for and availability of community resources; assisting clients and their families in obtaining needed services; family conflict and crisis resolution and assessing progress towards goals.
3. Two years' experience in case management such as assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual's human service needs.