INTERNAL ONLY CFWS/CPS Roving Unit Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3) - Seattle

Full Job Description

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy— thriving physically, emotionally, and academically, nurtured by family and community."

Attention:**INTERNAL ONLY: This position is open to current DCYF employees only.**

Job Title: INTERNAL ONLY - CFWS/CPS - Roving Unit, Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3).
Location: Seattle, WA – Region 4. (Region Map). These full-time, non-permanent positions require time in the field and the office. Travel is a requirement; these positions will travel within their assigned areas of work, and the incumbents may be required to travel with clients as cases require, as well as travel to attend training and meetings in other locations.
Closes: 03/22/2026
Salary: $5,666 - $7,622. 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. This is 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.


Click here to learn more about DCYF. The Opportunity:
These Social Service Specialist 3 – Roving Unit positions provide advanced-level specialized case management in high-profile and/or complex cases involving children. These positions are considered frontline department employees responsible for investigating and intervening with families where there are allegations of child abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment. The primary function of these positions is to determine if children are safe with their families and caregivers, intervene to protect unsafe children, and develop a case plan with the family and caregivers to remedy the situation so families can safely parent their children. These positions ensure timely permanency outcomes for children, including reunification, adoption, guardianship, and third-party custody plans.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Provide case-specific assessments; conduct investigations, interview children and families, develop and implement case plans, and make referrals.
• Provide ongoing assessment of safety, danger, and risk; complete safety and present danger assessments, and monitor safety plans.
• Complete health and safety visits.
• Assess resource needs of children, birth parents, and caregivers and provide stabilization supports.
• Determine resources available for placement of children.
• Permanency Planning
• Identify and develop appropriate permanent plans.
• Implement concurrent planning and refer cases for termination.
• Provide reasonable or active efforts to parents and ensure early and prompt referrals.
• Utilize SACWIS/CCWIS to document case activities and maintain case records per policy.
• Initiate payments within SACWIS/CCWIS for child placement and child/family services.
• Maintain case files.
• Prepare and file dependency petitions, guardianship petitions, and other legal documents related to implementation of permanent plans.
• Prepare written and informed reports to the court on dependency matters, making appropriate recommendations.
• Consult with attorneys and court-appointed personnel.
• Follow procedures to ensure notice of court hearings and a copy of the dependency petition is given to those described in the statute.
• Serve summons to parties for court hearings and explain the court process to parents and children.
• Attend all court hearings associated with the assigned caseload and provide testimony in court when necessary.
• Ensure expert testimony by a designated Indian expert is available for court hearings as appropriate.
• Produce discovery.

Required Qualifications:
Social Service Specialist 3:
Six (6) years of paid social service experience* AND you must have completed 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
OR
A Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a Master’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience*.
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*.
OR
One year as a Social Service Specialist 2 (SSS2).
AND

1. The ability to take action to learn and grow.
2. 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.

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

• Prior public child welfare experience.
• Case management experience with mandatory clients.
• A completed Master's Degree in Social Work.
• Previous case management experience working with children and families in Child Welfare Programs such as CPS, CFWS, Adoptions/Permanency, or Afterhours.
• Current knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on the delivery of child protective and child welfare services within Washington State.
• Experience implementing risk assessment in cases using the preferred risk assessment model and child safety framework.
• Experience researching, interpreting, and applying laws, rules, and policies and delivering services accordingly
• Knowledge of child development and/or family systems.
• Professional experience working with clients who have mental health problems, substance use disorder, developmental delays, or criminal behaviors.
• Experience using FamLink and maintaining Famlink documentation.
• Ability to fully utilize shared decision-making processes.
• Effective communication skills, both oral and in writing.

How do I apply?

In addition to completing the online application, please attach the following:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

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.

Must attend all mandatory DCYF training including Social Service Specialists Academy Training Institute and CHET specific training requirements, within twelve months of initial appointment.

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.

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

Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement. For more information on employee benefits eligibility, visit: Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB).

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.

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.

2026-01745