Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community.”
Job Title: Social Service Specialist 1-3 In Training (SSS3)
Location: Stevenson, WA - This full-time, permanent position requires time in the field and the office. Travel is a requirement of this position. This position will travel within its assigned areas of work, travel with clients as cases require, and travel to attend training and meetings. This position provides support to both the Stevenson and Columbia offices. Work assignments will be determined based on business needs, and the official workstation will be either the Stevenson or Columbia office.
Closes: 7/28/26
Salary: $58,392- $93,288 Annually This position will receive 10% assignment pay when the incumbent reaches the goal class of Social Service Specialist 3. This, in addition to the regular base salary, the required duties include performing visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to conduct investigations for allegations of abuse and/or neglect to assess the safety of vulnerable children.
This recruitment has been reposted for additional applications. If you have already applied there is no need to reapply— your application status remains unchanged.
Make a difference where it matters most—help protect children, strengthen families, and support communities to thrive.
We're looking for a Social Service Specialist to join our Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS) team in the Stevenson office! We are recruiting for either a Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3) or a Social Service Specialist 1-2 In-Training, with the goal class of progressing to a Social Service Specialist 3.
At the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), our mission is to protect children and strengthen families, so they flourish. Our Stevenson office is known for its strong teamwork, collaboration, and cross-program support. If you are passionate about child safety, family well-being, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of children, youth, and families, we encourage you to apply. This position is based in the Stevenson office and serves families throughout both the Stevenson and Columbia service areas.
Click here to learn more about DCYF.
The Opportunity:
This frontline position provides advanced-level specialized case management in high-profile and/or complex cases involving children through Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS), including Child Protective Services (CPS)/Family Assessment Response (FAR), Child Protective Services (CPS)/Investigations, Family Reconciliation Services (FRS), and Family Voluntary Services (FVS). The primary function of this position is to determine if children are safe with their families and caregivers, intervene to protect unsafe children, and develop case plans with families and caregivers to remedy safety concerns so families can safely parent their children. In this role, you will assess complex family situations, interview children and parents, evaluate child safety, develop plans to protect children in their homes, and offer services to children and families.
This position ensures timely permanency outcomes for children on the caseload, including reunification, adoption, guardianship, and third-party custody plans. The incumbent applies child welfare practice principles, laws, rules, and policies in assessing and intervening on assigned workloads and works with a diverse population, which may include military and Native American families, following Indian Child Welfare policies, protocols signed with military organizations, and local law enforcement agencies. The position implements culturally relevant, ADA-sensitive, and individualized service plans that are goal-directed, have specific behavioral objectives, and are time-limited. Field work includes conducting visits in unregulated environments, such as private residences, to investigate allegations of abuse and/or neglect and assess the safety of vulnerable children.
Some of what you'll do:
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Conduct investigations into allegations of child abandonment, abuse, and neglect to assess child safety and determine family service needs.
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Interview children, family members, caregivers, and collateral contacts to gather information necessary to assess safety, evaluate risk, and identify appropriate interventions.
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Develop, implement, and monitor case plans collaboratively with families and partners to protect children from harm and support safe parenting practices.
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Complete safety assessments, present danger assessments, safety plans, and Structured Decision-Making Risk Assessments (SDM-RA) consistent with policy, the child safety framework, and infant safety policy.
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Conduct health and safety visits with children and assess caregiver functioning, protective capacities, and the degree of risk to children.
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Assess the need for out-of-home placement, prepare families for placement decisions, and coordinate placements in the least restrictive setting, including licensed foster care, relative placements, and suitable others.
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Identify, develop, and connect families to community supports and resources that respond to the identity, cultural, and psycho-emotional needs of children and families.
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Assess parents' or caregivers' barriers to stabilization and safely parenting children and provide referrals for assessments, treatment, and supportive services.
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Coordinate, monitor, and evaluate services such as substance use treatment, mental health counseling, parenting education, anger management, school programs, and contracted agency services.
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Provide goal-directed, task-centered, and time-limited crisis intervention services to children and families and evaluate progress toward identified goals.
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Utilize shared planning activities to develop collaborative case plans and gather input from therapists, counselors, schools, caregivers, family members, and other significant individuals.
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Research relative placement options, coordinate and monitor visitation, prepare children and families for placement changes, and continue working toward resolving the safety concerns that necessitated placement.
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Implement concurrent planning, identify permanent homes for children, pursue early permanency planning, and refer cases for termination of parental rights within ASFA guidelines.
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Provide reasonable or active efforts to parents and ensure timely referrals to services and supports.
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Utilize SACWIS/CCWIS to document case activities, maintain case records, and initiate payments for child placement and child and family services in accordance with policy.
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Prepare and file dependency petitions, guardianship petitions, and other legal documents; prepare written reports to the court; consult with attorneys and court-appointed personnel; attend court hearings; provide testimony when necessary; and produce discovery consistent with legal and policy requirements.
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Explain department policies, RCWs, and WACs to families, individuals, and community members, and consult with law enforcement and community partners as appropriate.
What we are looking for (Required Qualifications):
The goal class is a Social Service Specialist 3; however, we will also consider candidates at the Social Service Specialist 1 and 2 levels, with a training plan to advance to the goal class. The Hiring Manager will evaluate the education and experience of each candidate for one of the levels mentioned below.
Salary Ranges:
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Social Service Specialist 1: Range 51 ($58,392- $78,504)
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Social Service Specialist 2: Range 56 ($66,072– $88,788)
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Social Service Specialist 3: Range 58 ($69,348- $93,288)
Social Service Specialist 1:
A bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, or behavioral sciences.
OR
A bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline. Credits can be obtained within the first 18 months of employment.
OR
Four (4) years of paid work experience in one of the following: caring for children, counseling youth, educating youth
AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline. Credits can be obtained within the first 18 months of employment.
AND
The ability to take action to learn and grow.
The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
Social Service Specialist 2:
Five (5) years of paid social service experience** AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
OR
A master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND a completed practicum.
OR
A bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience**.
OR
One (1) year of experience** as a Social Service Specialist 1.
AND
The ability to take action to learn and grow.
The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
Social Service Specialist 3:
Six (6) years of paid social service experience* AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
OR
A master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.
OR
A bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Two (2) years of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.
OR
One (1) year of experience* as a Social Service Specialist 2.
AND
The ability to take action to learn and grow.
The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
**Paid social service
experience must include at least one (1) year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.
Preferred/Desired Qualifications:
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Case management experience with mandatory clients.
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Experience working in fast-paced, high stress environments.
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Knowledge of child development and/or family systems.
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Professional experience working with clients who have mental health problems, substance use disorder,
developmental delays, or criminal behavior. -
Ability to successfully manage competing priorities.
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Strong skills in time management and organization and the ability to develop independent systems to manage
large workload. -
Ability to make critical decisions, based on integration of information from multiple sources that may be
discrepant, in high-stress situations. -
Ability to engage children and families under difficult circumstances, to gather information to make accurate and
precise decisions. -
Effective communication skills, both orally and in writing.
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Experience researching, interpreting, and applying laws, rules, and policies and delivering services accordingly.
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Able to partner effectively with clients, caregivers, colleagues, and other professionals.
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Ability to evaluate, analyze and assess risk and safety.
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Ability to fully utilize shared decision-making processes.
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Familiarity with agency's software programs, which include Outlook and SACWIS/CCWIS.
How do I apply?
In addition to completing the online application, applicants must attach the following documents to their profile to be considered for this position:
Worker Core Training (WCT):
As a Social Service Specialist, you are required to successfully complete a mandatory 9.5-week Worker Core Training (WCT). This training provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed to perform core job functions, including assessing risk and safety, supporting child well-being, gathering information, and conducting case and permanency planning. During the training, you will have opportunities to practice these skills through classroom activities, simulation exercises, and debriefs. Upon hire, you will be assigned to the nearest available training cohort. The training includes four (4) weeks at our Seattle training site (scheduled for Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8). For those eligible for travel from their assigned duty location, DCYF covers hotel accommodations and per diem costs.
The WCT curriculum is designed to prepare Social Service Specialists for the responsibilities of the role, including:
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Understanding the child welfare system
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Familiarity with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) related to child welfare
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Policies, procedures, and best practices
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Assessing child safety through environmental observation, interviews with children and caregivers, and collateral contacts
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Collecting records and collaborating with community partners, including medical providers, law enforcement, and chemical dependency services
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Completing assessments and documenting case notes
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Writing dependency petitions and court reports
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Preparing for and testifying in court
Supplemental Information:Supplemental Information:
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.
The incumbent must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of their appointment.
Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.
For more information about this position or if you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, please contact DCYF recruiter. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email [email protected]. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22 or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD form 214, NGB form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact)the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.
DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.
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