Salary: $80,496.00 - $108,228.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Tumwater, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number:
Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families
Division: CW Field Operations - Region 6
Opening Date: 09/02/2026
Closing Date: 9/9/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Our vision is to ensure that "All Washington's children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community".

Job Title: CPSSocial Service Supervisor 5 (SSS5)
Location: Tumwater, WA (Hybrid- work will include a mixture of in-person, telework, and field work.)
Closes: 9/8/26
Salary: $80,496 - $108,228 Annually. 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.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is seeking a Child Protective Services (CPS) Social Service Supervisor 5 (SSS5) to join our dynamic team in Tumwater. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to grow their leadership and supervisory skills while continuing to make a meaningful impact in child protective services and with the families we serve.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:
In this role, you will use your strong assessment and engagement skills to supervise staff. As a front-line supervisor, you will help guide staff, strengthen team success, and support positive outcomes for children and families. We are looking for candidates with strong CPS experience, a commitment to best practices, and a passion for leading and supporting others.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Supervise and mentor a unit of CPS Social Service Specialists and complete child welfare casework.
• Manage and support Social Service Specialists in formal training plans who are transitioning to field work.
• Perform quality assurance on staff documentation, assessments, reports, case management, and payment initiation.
• Ensure Social Service Specialists document case activities and information gathered within the case file and FAMLINK electronic record.
• Provide mentoring, coaching, counseling, consultation, on-the-job training, and feedback.
• Prepare written staff performance evaluations utilizing the Performance Evaluation system.
• Consult with administrators and human resources regarding corrective or disciplinary action.
• Train new and existing staff to gather accurate and complete information, organize information, and make case decisions.
• Keep staff informed of policies, rules, and regulations affecting their jobs and the children and families they serve.
• Provide consultation and oversight to ensure accurate application of the child safety framework.
• Review and revise service referrals, letters, court reports, and assessments.
• Review activities with parents and relatives to establish case goals and identify services for the family.
• Initiate payments within FAMLINK for child placement and child/family services.
• Coordinate with other supervisors to ensure appropriate coverage for the office.
• Participate in supervisory, administrative, and individual meetings and conferences.
• Attend and testify in Superior Court.

Required Qualifications:
Eight (8) years of paid social service experience* AND30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
OR
A Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or any Master's degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Three (3) years 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 any Bachelor's degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Four (4) 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 4 (SSS4).
OR
Two (2) years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3).
AND

1. The ability to take action to learn and grow.
2. The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

NOTE: A two-year Master's degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum may be substituted for one (1) year of paid social service experience.

*Paid social service experience must include at least one (1) 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:

• Prior public child welfare experience.
• A completed Master's Degree in Social Work.
• Previous case management experience working with children and families.
• 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 using FAMLINK and maintaining FAMLINK documentation.

How do I apply?
In addition to completing the online application, please attach the following:

• College/University Transcripts -an unofficial copy is acceptable for application purposes.
• Cover Letter
• Resume

07339
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required