Salary: $6,708.00 - $9,019.00 Monthly
Location : Pierce County - Lakewood, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: HCLA
Opening Date: 09/30/2026
Closing Date: 10/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

Description
DSHS HCLA WA Cares Fund Supervisor - Social Service Specialist 5
Location: This position reports to the Pierce County office in Lakewood.
In this role, you will be responsible for prioritizing, auditing, and reviewing assignments to a unit of Social Service Specialists. You will provide coaching, consultation and direction, supporting staff to ensure the best customer experience possible. While honoring an individual's choice while meeting program and quality needs.

We invite you to partner with us in this meaningful work. We're seeking someone who is a leader, collaborator, motivator, and skilled communicator who can build rapport, supervise, coach, and mentor others. In this role, you will foster strong relationships and partnerships with a wide range of providers, community-based organizations, and stakeholders, while enhancing the trust of those we serve through the delivery of vital government services.

Some of what you will do:

• Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate staff on performance and adherence to applicable laws, policies, and procedures.
• Set expectations for performance of unit staff and prepare written performance evaluations. Meet regularly with staff one-on-one.
• Assign, prioritize, audit, and review work assignments of Social Service Specialists, ensuring clients receive quality services that meet their needs and recognize their capabilities and choices through timely and responsive assessment, service delivery, reassessment, and case management.
• Evaluate training needs for staff and provides training and guidance to staff on program requirement and policy.
• Provide comprehensive training to the team on the proper use and application of GetCare assessment tools to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with WA Cares Standards.
• Ensure GetCare assessments are done accurately and timely.
• Conduct ongoing reviews of worker's case records ensuring complete and accurate assessments and service plans, as well as documentation of case activity.
• Prepare written oral reports, documentation, and forms as required for program areas supervised.
• Analyze available information and various reports needed to develop and track performance measures and outcomes in order to equitably distribute workload, correct errors, and identify trends.
• Prepare, appear and testify in judicial and administrative hearing proceedings as required or upon request.
• Collaborate with other organizations, agencies, and community stakeholders. Provides information, technical assistance and consultation to agencies and organizations on WA Cares Fund through public presentations and agency coordination meetings.

DSHS partners with people to access support, care, and resources.
Who should apply? Current DSHS employees that meet the following criteria:

Nine years of professional/practical social service experience** performing functions equivalent to a .
OR
A bachelor's degree in criminal justice, social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or an allied field, AND five years of paid social service experience** performing functions equivalent to a .
OR
A master's degree* in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or an allied field AND one year of paid social service experience** equivalent .
OR
One year of experience as a
OR
Two years as a
OR
Four years as a

*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.

NOTE: Employees must successfully complete the formal training course sponsored by their division within eighteen months of their appointment.
Interested? Please submit a current resume, contact information for three professional references, and a cover letter explaining how your knowledge, skills, and abilities qualify you for this role.
Questions? Please contact or call Talent Acquisition main line (360) 725-5810 and reference job number 07829.
Supplemental Information
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may 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 job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

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 for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

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