Social Service Specialist 1-3 In-Training (SSS3) - Region 5/Pierce & Kitsap Coun
State of Washington, Olympia, WA, United States
Overview
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.
DCYF is seeking Social Service Specialists at the SSS1, SSS2, or SSS3 level to join us in Region 5 (Pierce and Kitsap Counties) to fill vacancies as they occur in multiple offices, programs, and units for Child Protective Services (CPS), Family Assessment Response (FAR), and Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS). This recruitment will be used to create a candidate pool for 2026 openings in Bremerton & Parkland, among others. Travel is a requirement of this position, including travel with clients and to trainings and meetings in other locations.
Position Details
Job Title:
Social Service Specialist 1-3 (SSS1, SSS2, SSS3). Units: CPS, CPS/FAR, and CFWS.
Locations:
Region 5 - Pierce and Kitsap Counties. Offices are located in Puyallup, Tacoma, Parkland, Lakewood, and Bremerton.
Travel within assigned areas is required.
Job Type:
Full-time, Permanent.
Salary:
$4,771 - $7,622. Assignment Pay: 10% when advancing to Social Service Specialist 3. This assignment pay is in addition to base salary for duties including conducting investigations in unregulated environments.
Responsibilities
Some of what you will do:
Determine if children are safe with their families through respectful investigation and/or assessments.
Intervene to protect unsafe children and develop a case plan with the family to remedy the situation so families can safely parent their children.
Follow child welfare laws, policies, and procedures.
Conduct ongoing comprehensive assessments of risk and safety, develop case plans, and authorize services for children, youth, birth parents, and caregivers.
Implement culturally appropriate, ADA-sensitive, and individualized service plans with families that are goal-directed, behavior-specific, and time-limited.
Refer, coordinate, and monitor the delivery of services.
Utilize shared planning meetings to plan, develop, and coordinate with parents, relatives, attorneys, and other relevant professionals.
Conduct health and safety visits to ensure the child’s health, safety, and well-being needs are met.
Develop and implement timely permanent plans that are responsive to the child’s permanency needs.
Provide reasonable and active efforts to parents to prevent removal and ensure early and prompt referrals for court-ordered services.
Identify primary and concurrent permanent plans within legal and mandated time frames.
Consult with the agency attorney and prepare required legal documents for court, placement, and service delivery.
Assist in placing children in approved placements and prepare the child for visitation with parents and siblings.
Transport children to placement, appointments, or family time/sibling visits.
Schedule and supervise/monitor visitations.
Document case notes/case activity in the State computer database, FAMLINK.
Write court reports and prepare legal documents, and attend court to provide expert testimony.
Salary Details
The goal class is Social Service Specialist 3. We will also consider candidates at the Social Service Specialist 1-2 level, with a training plan to advance to the goal class. Education and experience will be evaluated to determine the appropriate level:
Social Service Specialist 1: $4,771 - $6,414
Social Service Specialist 2: $5,398 - $7,254
Social Service Specialist 3: $5,666 - $7,622
Required Qualifications
Social Service Specialist 1:
A completed Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, or behavioral sciences; OR a completed Bachelor’s degree including 30 semester credits or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline (if not, credits must be obtained within 18 months of employment); OR four years of paid work experience in care/counseling/education plus 30 semester credits/45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline (or credits obtained within 18 months).
The following must be demonstrated for all levels: 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 years of paid social service experience AND 30 semester/45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline; OR a Master’s degree in social services, human services, or behavioral sciences (or a Master’s with 30 credits in a Social Services discipline) AND a practicum; OR a Bachelor’s degree in Social Services with one year of paid experience or one year as a Social Service Specialist 1; AND for all paths, 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 years of paid social service experience with 30 credits in a Social Services discipline; OR a Master’s degree with 30 credits and one year of paid experience; OR a Bachelor’s degree with 30 credits and two years of paid experience; OR one year 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 year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered services.
Preferred/Desired Qualifications
Demonstrated knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on child protective and child welfare services.
Knowledge of addiction, treatment, relapse prevention, and recovery principles and experience with substance use disorder.
Ability to collaborate effectively with families, partners, and professionals on sensitive topics.
Experience assessing risk and safety concerning child abuse and neglect or developing safety or service plans with families.
Ability to organize information to meet documentation requirements.
Worker Core Training (WCT)
All Social Service Specialists must complete a mandatory 9.5-week Worker Core Training (WCT) covering foundations such as assessing risk and safety, supporting child well-being, gathering information, and case/permanency planning. Training includes four weeks at Seattle and covers classroom activities, simulations, and debriefs. Travel and accommodations are covered for eligible participants.
Understand the child welfare system
Familiarity with RCW related to child welfare
Policies, procedures, and best practices
Assessing child safety through interviews and observations
Collecting records and collaborating with partners
Completing assessments and documenting case notes
Writing petitions and court reports
Preparing for and testifying in court
How to Apply
Complete your applicant profile with your full work history and education details, and complete supplemental questions. Attach a copy of college transcripts (unofficial accepted for application). Official transcripts required at hire. Incomplete applications may be screened out.
College Transcripts (unofficial acceptable for application)
Cover Letter
Current 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 encourage diversity and equity and welcome applications from candidates whose education and experience may not align perfectly with every qualification.
The DCYF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, veteran status, or disability. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
Background checks including criminal history will be conducted prior to a new hire and will be considered in determining suitability.
This position requires a minimum of two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.
Degrees must be from accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or CHEA; foreign degrees require NACES verification and must be attached to the application where applicable.
This position is in the WFSE bargaining unit. For more information visit the WFSE site.
Benefits eligibility may differ from the benefits tab; contact Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB) for details.
If you need accommodation during the application/interview process, contact DCYF Recruiter or NEOGOV support. For TDD accommodations, call 360-664-1960.
Applicants who meet minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran’s Preference must attach a copy of their DD214 or NGB Form 22.
Job Reference: 2026-00547
#J-18808-Ljbffr
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.
DCYF is seeking Social Service Specialists at the SSS1, SSS2, or SSS3 level to join us in Region 5 (Pierce and Kitsap Counties) to fill vacancies as they occur in multiple offices, programs, and units for Child Protective Services (CPS), Family Assessment Response (FAR), and Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS). This recruitment will be used to create a candidate pool for 2026 openings in Bremerton & Parkland, among others. Travel is a requirement of this position, including travel with clients and to trainings and meetings in other locations.
Position Details
Job Title:
Social Service Specialist 1-3 (SSS1, SSS2, SSS3). Units: CPS, CPS/FAR, and CFWS.
Locations:
Region 5 - Pierce and Kitsap Counties. Offices are located in Puyallup, Tacoma, Parkland, Lakewood, and Bremerton.
Travel within assigned areas is required.
Job Type:
Full-time, Permanent.
Salary:
$4,771 - $7,622. Assignment Pay: 10% when advancing to Social Service Specialist 3. This assignment pay is in addition to base salary for duties including conducting investigations in unregulated environments.
Responsibilities
Some of what you will do:
Determine if children are safe with their families through respectful investigation and/or assessments.
Intervene to protect unsafe children and develop a case plan with the family to remedy the situation so families can safely parent their children.
Follow child welfare laws, policies, and procedures.
Conduct ongoing comprehensive assessments of risk and safety, develop case plans, and authorize services for children, youth, birth parents, and caregivers.
Implement culturally appropriate, ADA-sensitive, and individualized service plans with families that are goal-directed, behavior-specific, and time-limited.
Refer, coordinate, and monitor the delivery of services.
Utilize shared planning meetings to plan, develop, and coordinate with parents, relatives, attorneys, and other relevant professionals.
Conduct health and safety visits to ensure the child’s health, safety, and well-being needs are met.
Develop and implement timely permanent plans that are responsive to the child’s permanency needs.
Provide reasonable and active efforts to parents to prevent removal and ensure early and prompt referrals for court-ordered services.
Identify primary and concurrent permanent plans within legal and mandated time frames.
Consult with the agency attorney and prepare required legal documents for court, placement, and service delivery.
Assist in placing children in approved placements and prepare the child for visitation with parents and siblings.
Transport children to placement, appointments, or family time/sibling visits.
Schedule and supervise/monitor visitations.
Document case notes/case activity in the State computer database, FAMLINK.
Write court reports and prepare legal documents, and attend court to provide expert testimony.
Salary Details
The goal class is Social Service Specialist 3. We will also consider candidates at the Social Service Specialist 1-2 level, with a training plan to advance to the goal class. Education and experience will be evaluated to determine the appropriate level:
Social Service Specialist 1: $4,771 - $6,414
Social Service Specialist 2: $5,398 - $7,254
Social Service Specialist 3: $5,666 - $7,622
Required Qualifications
Social Service Specialist 1:
A completed Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, or behavioral sciences; OR a completed Bachelor’s degree including 30 semester credits or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline (if not, credits must be obtained within 18 months of employment); OR four years of paid work experience in care/counseling/education plus 30 semester credits/45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline (or credits obtained within 18 months).
The following must be demonstrated for all levels: 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 years of paid social service experience AND 30 semester/45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline; OR a Master’s degree in social services, human services, or behavioral sciences (or a Master’s with 30 credits in a Social Services discipline) AND a practicum; OR a Bachelor’s degree in Social Services with one year of paid experience or one year as a Social Service Specialist 1; AND for all paths, 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 years of paid social service experience with 30 credits in a Social Services discipline; OR a Master’s degree with 30 credits and one year of paid experience; OR a Bachelor’s degree with 30 credits and two years of paid experience; OR one year 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 year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered services.
Preferred/Desired Qualifications
Demonstrated knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on child protective and child welfare services.
Knowledge of addiction, treatment, relapse prevention, and recovery principles and experience with substance use disorder.
Ability to collaborate effectively with families, partners, and professionals on sensitive topics.
Experience assessing risk and safety concerning child abuse and neglect or developing safety or service plans with families.
Ability to organize information to meet documentation requirements.
Worker Core Training (WCT)
All Social Service Specialists must complete a mandatory 9.5-week Worker Core Training (WCT) covering foundations such as assessing risk and safety, supporting child well-being, gathering information, and case/permanency planning. Training includes four weeks at Seattle and covers classroom activities, simulations, and debriefs. Travel and accommodations are covered for eligible participants.
Understand the child welfare system
Familiarity with RCW related to child welfare
Policies, procedures, and best practices
Assessing child safety through interviews and observations
Collecting records and collaborating with partners
Completing assessments and documenting case notes
Writing petitions and court reports
Preparing for and testifying in court
How to Apply
Complete your applicant profile with your full work history and education details, and complete supplemental questions. Attach a copy of college transcripts (unofficial accepted for application). Official transcripts required at hire. Incomplete applications may be screened out.
College Transcripts (unofficial acceptable for application)
Cover Letter
Current 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 encourage diversity and equity and welcome applications from candidates whose education and experience may not align perfectly with every qualification.
The DCYF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, veteran status, or disability. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
Background checks including criminal history will be conducted prior to a new hire and will be considered in determining suitability.
This position requires a minimum of two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.
Degrees must be from accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or CHEA; foreign degrees require NACES verification and must be attached to the application where applicable.
This position is in the WFSE bargaining unit. For more information visit the WFSE site.
Benefits eligibility may differ from the benefits tab; contact Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB) for details.
If you need accommodation during the application/interview process, contact DCYF Recruiter or NEOGOV support. For TDD accommodations, call 360-664-1960.
Applicants who meet minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran’s Preference must attach a copy of their DD214 or NGB Form 22.
Job Reference: 2026-00547
#J-18808-Ljbffr