Family Service Specialist/ Senior Family Service Specialist

Juvenile Probation Officer

Recruitment #121724-UDDQ21-370500

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Summary Statement

A Family Service Specialist/Juvenile Probation Officer provides intensive supervision and case management to youth involved in the juvenile justice system, many who have complicated needs involving mental health, dependency, truancy, and trauma. The incumbent in this position attends court hearings, collaborates with other professionals, and engages with families. The incumbent will supervise youth with a focus on public safety and the delivery of services based on assessed risk and need.

Essential Functions

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, and with consultation from a technical superior, 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 family 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; makes recommendations and prepare 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.

Job Requirement Series

Paraprofessional health or human service work may include but is not limited to interviewing clients and identifying personal, health, social or financial needs to align with program requirements, or coordinating with community resources to obtain client services.

Professional health or human service work may include but is not limited to determining eligibility for and availability of community resources; assisting and connecting clients and their families to needed services; addressing family conflict and engaging crisis resolution; and evaluating progress towards goals.

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Family Service Specialist
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:
1. One year of experience in professional health or human service work.

OR

Two years' experience in paraprofessional health or human service work. An Associates degree may substitute for one year of paraprofessional experience.

OR

 Possession of a Bachelor's degree or higher or have an anticipated graduation date within 3 months, with coursework in Behavioral Science, Psychology, Sociology, Human Services or related field.

Job Requirements
Professional health or human service work may include but is not limited to determining eligibility for and availability of community resources; assisting and connecting clients and their families to needed services; addressing family conflict and engaging crisis resolution; and evaluating progress towards goals. 

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Senior Family Service Specialist
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

1. Applicants must possess at least one of the following:

Two years' experience in professional health or human service work.

OR

Possession of an Associate's degree AND one year of experience in professional health or human service work.

OR

Possession of a Bachelor's degree or higher.

In addition to the above requirement, applicants must meet all of the job requirements below:

2. Six months' 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. One year of experience in case management such as assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual's human service needs.  


Additional Posting Information

The State of Delaware recognizes the value of telework and flexible working schedules. This position is eligible for Telework and Alternative Work Schedules according to the State of Delaware’s Alternative Work Arrangement Policy. More information will be shared at the time of interview. 

Conditions of Hire

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The State of Delaware Executive Branch participates in the Federal E-Verify system where the State will provide the federal government with each new hires Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For more information refer to our job seeker resources.

Pre-employment Drug Testing:  Upon a conditional offer, you must undergo pre-employment drug testing as part of the hiring process.

A satisfactory criminal background check is required as a condition of hire.  The recruiting agency may require the applicant to pay for the criminal background check as part of the conditional offer of hire.

This position is a classification organized under an exclusive bargaining representative (labor organization) that has been elected by employees as their representative for collective bargaining and other applicable terms and conditions of employment, in accordance with Title 29, Chapter 59 and Title 19, Chapter 13 and 16.  This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement based on its individual terms.

Benefits

To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/

Selection Process

The application and supplemental questionnaire are evaluated based upon a rating of your education, training and experience as they relate to the job requirements of the position.  It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application and the supplemental questionnaire to include dates of employment, job title and job duties.  For education and training, list name of educational provider, training course titles and summary of course content.   Narrative information supplied in response to the questions must be supported by the information supplied on the application including your employment, education and training history as it relates to the job requirements.

Once you have submitted your application on-line, all future correspondence related to your application will be sent via email.  Please keep your contact information current.  You may also view all correspondence sent to you by the State of Delaware in the “My Applications” tab at StateJobs.Delaware.gov.

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process.  To request an auxiliary aid or service please call (302) 739-5458. TDD users should call the Delaware Relay Service Number 1-800-232-5460 for assistance.

The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. 


Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet.
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Contact us via conventional means. For further assistance, you may contact us by phone at (302) 739-5458, or e-mail at jobs@delaware.gov.