Summary

This job is for a lead social worker in child welfare services, where you'll guide and train a team of specialists handling tough cases involving child abuse and neglect, while also managing your own complex cases.

You'll work in the field visiting homes and offices, traveling as needed, and supporting families from diverse backgrounds like military or Native American communities.

It's a great fit for someone with strong experience in child welfare who enjoys mentoring others and is passionate about protecting vulnerable kids.

Key Requirements

Experience in Child Family Welfare Services (CFWS) or child welfare
Knowledge of child welfare laws, rules, policies, and practice principles
Skills in mentoring, coaching, and providing on-the-job training to staff
Ability to lead teams, assign work, conduct case reviews, and act as supervisor when needed
Experience handling complex cases involving abuse/neglect investigations in unregulated environments
Cultural competency in working with diverse populations, including military and Native American families
Willingness to travel within assigned areas, with clients, and for training/meetings

Full Job Description

Job Title: CFWS Lead Worker - Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4).

Location: Kent, WA – Region 4. (Region Map). This position is full-time and permanent, requiring 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 in other locations.

Closes: 02/04/2026

Salary: $6,107 - $8,210. King County Premium: The salary listed does not include the additional 5% premium granted to all King County employees.

Assignment Pay: This position will also receive 10% assignment pay, 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.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking a Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4) to lead Social Service Specialists in Region 4 - Kent.

Our Kent/King SW Office is searching for a Social Service Specialist with experience in CFWS, preferred.

The ideal candidate is experienced and knowledgeable in Child Welfare and is ready to take on a supportive, mentorship role to Social Service Specialists.

If you have the necessary skills and are passionate about training staff and helping children and families, apply today.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:

This position functions as a Lead Worker over Social Service Specialists who provide professional-level social services to clients involved with (CFWS) Child Family Welfare Services.

This position provides advanced specialized case management, coaching, mentoring, on-the-job training, and assistance in transitioning staff from a formal training program to fieldwork.

This position assigns work, conducts case reviews, establishes and maintains procedures for efficient workflow, and acts as Unit Supervisor (SSS5) in their absence, including attendance at meetings, facilitation of meetings, case staffing, and decision making.

This position has the responsibility to apply child welfare practice principles, laws, rules, and policy in leading employees within its unit, as well as assessing and intervening on assigned workload only on the most complex cases.

The SSS4 works with a diverse population, which may include military and/or Native American families, follows Indian Child Welfare policies, follows protocols signed with military organizations and local law enforcement agencies, and works closely with the Military Family Advocacy and/or tribal personnel.

This position must implement culturally-relevant, ADA-sensitive, and individualized service plans with clients, which are goal-directed, have specific behavioral objectives, and are time-limited.

Some of what you'll get to do:

Serves as the lead worker assigned to the most complex cases, determined by the supervisor or Area Administrator.
Provides on-the-job training, mentoring, feedback, coaching, and consultation to staff in multiple Field Operations program areas.
Serves as the lead position over Social Service Specialists and Social Service Support Specialists (SSSS, SSS1, SSS2, and SSS3 levels).
In conjunction with the supervisor, assigns work, reviews work for efficacy, uses data to identify trends, and reviews case actions for accuracy.
Provides feedback and reporting to the supervisor on employees’ performance and training needs.
Provides coverage of assigned caseloads in the absence of a Social Service Specialist.
In the supervisor’s absence, attends meetings and provides supervisory coverage.
Prepares and provides testimony at administrative hearings, court proceedings, and criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings.
Refers, coordinates, and monitors delivery of services.
Provides goal-directed, task-centered, and time-limited crisis intervention to children and families.
Utilizes shared planning activities to obtain input from others to develop and coordinate collaborative case plans.
Trains, coaches, and supports Social Service Specialists in preparing court reports, court testimony, hearings, and proceedings.
Provides staff with guidance and training on caseload and time management, case actions, appropriate assessment, and intervention techniques.
Provides staff with guidance and training on applying the Safety Framework and Structured Decision-Making process to assess risk and safety through the life of a case.
Places dependent children in foster or other approved placements (if necessary, for the most complex cases).
Permanency Planning.
Utilizes FamLink to document case activities and maintain case records/files.
Prepares and files dependency petitions, guardianship petitions, and other legal documents related to the implementation of permanent plans.
Prepares court reports, serves summons, attends court hearings, and provides testimony in court.
Produces Discovery.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Seven (7) years of paid social service experience* AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.
OR
A Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or Bachelor’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND three (3) years of paid social service experience*.
OR

A Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or Master’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND two (2) years of paid social service experience*.

(A two-year Master's degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum may be substituted for one year of paid social service experience).

OR
One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3.
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 year of assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

Child welfare experience in program areas: Child Protective Services (CPS), Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS), Family Voluntary Services (FVS), Family Reconciliation Services (FRS), Family Assessment Response (FAR), and Adoptions/Permanency.
Master's in Social Work and completed practicum.
Case management experience with mandatory clients.
Knowledge of child development and/or family systems.
Professional experience working with clients who have mental health or substance use disorders, developmental delays, or criminal behaviors.
Experience researching, interpreting, and applying Child Welfare laws, rules, and policies, and delivering services accordingly.
Experience with the agency's software program, FamLink.

How do I apply?

Complete your application profile and attach the following:

Transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application purposes)
Current resume detailing experience and education.
Cover Letter

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 mission 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.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies. 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 requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.

Employees must successfully complete the formal training course sponsored by their division within one year of their appointment.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

If you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, 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 support@neogov.com.

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.

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.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214 or NGB Form 22, or other verification of military service.

Please black out (redact) the Social Security Number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veterans' Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

2026-00520

✓ Fresh Listing

CFWS Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4) - Kent/King SW

SES Pay Grade

Job Description

Summary

Key Requirements

Full Job Description

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