Salary: $74,748.00 - $100,488.00 Annually
Location : Benton County - Richland, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number:Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families
Division: CW Field Operations - Region 2
Opening Date: 08/28/2026
Closing Date: 9/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step
DescriptionJob Title: Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4)
Location: Richland, WA (Hybrid - This position includes a hybrid schedule which involves in-person office work, telework from home, fieldwork, home visits, and in-person staff trainings and meetings.)
Closes: 9/4/26
Salary: $74,748 - $100,488 Annually
We are looking for a Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4) to serve at our Richland office as the lead worker for Intake, Placement, Child Health and Education Tracking (CHET), Foster Care Rate Assessment, and Missing From Care. Our office is focused on child safety, staff retention, and creating a safe environment for our staff as they learn and develop their skills in child welfare practice. If this sounds like a team you want to be a part of, apply today!
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The Opportunity:In this role, you will provide mentorship, on-the-job training, and assistance in the transition of staff from formal training to fieldwork. This position assigns work, conducts case reviews, and establishes procedures for efficient workflow. In the absence of the unit supervisor, this position will facilitate meetings and make decisions regarding case staffing.
Some of what you'll do:- Provide on-the-job training, mentoring, feedback, coaching, and consultation to the staff.
- Conduct on-the-job training and assistance with staff in formal training plans who are transitioning to fieldwork.
- Assign work, review work for efficiency, use data to identify trends, and review case actions for accuracy and compliance with policy.
- Serve as Lead Specialist assigned to the most complex cases.
- Report on the strengths and weaknesses of employees to their direct supervisor.
- Provide feedback for annual performance evaluations and identify training needs.
- Provide coverage of assigned caseloads.
- Attend court hearings and provide testimony in court when necessary
- Fill in as supervisor in the supervisor's absence.
What we're looking for (Required Qualifications)
:Seven years of paid social service experience. Paid Social Service experience must include at least one-year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services
AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
OROne year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3.
ORA Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Master's degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND two (2) years of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs. 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.
ORA 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 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.
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 (1) year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.
Preferred/Desired Qualifications:- Prior public child welfare experience
- Previously demonstrated case management experience.
- Previously demonstrated knowledge of child development and/or family systems.
- Previously demonstrated ability to engage children and families under difficult circumstances, to gather information to make accurate and precise decisions.
- Previously demonstrated experience researching, interpreting, and applying laws, rules, and policies, and delivering services accordingly.
- Previously demonstrated familiarity with the agency's software programs, which include Outlook and FAMLINK.
How do I apply?Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:
- Transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application purposes)
- Resume
- Cover letter
