Fairfax County Government

This position includes a signing bonus of $2,500 (full-time) for new county hires. Are you a champion for kinship placements? Have you been told you have excellent engagement and assessment skills? Do you enjoy a bit of detective work? The Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) of the Department of Family Services (DFS) is seeking a Kinship Navigator (Social Services Specialist III) to connect and work directly with kinship caregivers of children at risk of separation or who have already entered the child welfare system.   Learn more   about the culture of DFS, meet our director and some of our employees, watch videos about our programs, and check out the great health benefits offered by Fairfax County. Grow your career with Fairfax County! With more than 16,000 employees, Fairfax County is a diverse workforce offering employees stimulating and challenging opportunities across a broad scope of career opportunities. As a Fairfax County employee, you impact the well-being of our community every day. This is an exciting time to join Fairfax County Government as we shape racial and social equity policies in the county through the One Fairfax Policy. Using this framework, we intentionally consider equity when making policies or delivering programs and services. To learn more, we highly encourage you to watch the Becoming One Fairfax—An Introduction to Key Concepts video and visit the One Fairfax webpage   here . The Department of Family Services (DFS) is committed to strengthening the well-being of its diverse community by protecting and improving the lives of all children, adults, and families through assistance, partnership, advocacy, outreach, and quality services. To learn more about DFS and its Mission, Vision, and Values, please click   here . The Kinship Navigator is a member of the Permanency Unit under the Foster Care and Adoption (FC&A) Resource and Support Program. Under general supervision of the Social Services Supervisor, performs tasks independently to protect children and build family resilience as articulated by local, state, and federal policies and laws. Working hour is Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., however, evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours will be required. Duties and responsibilities include the following: Connects with Spanish speaking potential kinship caregivers by phone or in person early in the family finding process Engages with kinship caregivers identified through Family Finding to explore placement options Provides information to kinship caregivers considering becoming certified as resource parents Supports the kinship caregivers with the emergency foster home approval process to include completion of the mutual family assessment Visits kinship caregivers in their homes Uses automated technology in multiple systems to maintain client data, case records, and correspondence Assesses and evaluates the potential kinship caregivers and provides information and resources Collaborates with social services specialists within the Division of CYF to provide services to kinship caregivers and their families Participates in kinship practice improvement teams within CYF and within the community Provides support and resources to Fairfax County residents through responding to calls on the Kinship Resource Line Works collaboratively with CYF Quality Assurance staff to evaluate kinship services and promote positive outcomes for kinship families Provides supervisory support to staff during the absence of the unit supervisor Perform other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes in families and improve outcomes in families Illustrative Duties (The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.) Contributes to the development of protocols, policies, procedures, grants and contracts for a social services program, department, and other entities; Assists the supervisor in planning and carrying out training for new staff, providing guidance to staff. May directly supervise staff, and covers for the supervisor in their absence; Serves as a policy expert in an area of social work specialization; Conducts comprehensive clinical assessments and prepares and implements service plans; Works with clients to develop a plan of service to meet social, health, emotional and economic needs. With the client, formulates objectives and identifies actions to resolve the clients' problems; Conducts home visits to families for the purpose of monitoring, counseling and supervision; Provides crisis intervention on a timely basis to clients or families whose well being is seriously and immediately threatened, to include Child Protective Services after-hours; Conducts mediation services to families in conflict; Investigates allegations of abuse and neglect of children, elderly persons and incapacitated adults who live in the community and institutional facilities; Makes assessment of risks posed to clients in accordance with state and local policies, and works to ensure risks are eliminated or minimized; Evaluates child's readiness for placement and recommends placement, ensuring compliance with legal provisions; Evaluates and trains foster and adoptive parents; Works with the community to identify families, children and individuals needing services and to coordinate these services using a wrap-around approach; Advocates and assists families and individuals in obtaining services (e.g., mental health, intellectual disability, alcohol and drug, housing referrals, home based services, training and medical services); Communicates and works with colleagues, clients and the community in a manner that supports the agency and program goals and objectives; Participates as a contributing member on interagency, multi-disciplinary teams, community groups and professional organizations; Collaborates and contributes to child specific teams on non-agency cases as assigned to assist in identifying community resources and services for families; Assesses eligibility for foster care protect/prevent funds; Participates, collaborates and contributes to Comprehensive Services Act activities for families on caseload; Provides training and education on a variety of social work topics; Uses automated technology and hard copy files to maintain and update case data, notes, documents, records, contacts and summaries of information; Manages and maintains program data and outcomes. Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities (The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.) Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of social work; Thorough knowledge of current social service problems and methods/approaches to address issues; Thorough knowledge of regulations and guidelines relating to the assigned area of social service specialization; Knowledge of casework supervision practices and procedures; Ability to analyze case information and to reach sound decisions on the basis of such information; Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; Ability to use automated technology to establish and maintain case records; Ability to maintain professional ethics and confidentiality of client information; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.; Ability to schedule and manage workload sufficiently to meet deadlines; Ability to provide guidance, direction, supervision and coaching to less-experienced staff; Ability to provide management and oversight of a program or project. Employment Standards EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree, plus three years of professional social work experience. A master's degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience. Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement . CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED: Valid driver's license. NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background, a driving record check, and a Child Protective Services check to the satisfaction of the employer. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Master's degree in social work (MSW) or a related human services degree Knowledge of kinship practices and experience working with kinship families At least four (4) years of work experience in Child Welfare Experience working with individuals and families from diverse multi-cultural populations and facilitating community outreach. Spanish Speaking PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Sufficiently mobile to attend home visits, court, meetings, and community events outside the office. Ability to use automated technology. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Work requires performing tasks with risks of secondary traumatic stress (STS). Ability to navigate through and make decisions in stressful and crisis situations. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations. SELECTION PROCEDURE: Panel interview and may include a practical exercise. The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home ( Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others ) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity. Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314.  DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov  EEO/AA/TTY.

Get your Career Rolling with Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services Solid Waste Management Program. Operates commercial vehicles and light motorized equipment in a variety of solid waste activities. Assure compliance to all applicable Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and Department of Transportation (DOT) laws and regulations. Report for duty promptly in proper uniform and physical condition and be ready to work any assigned task. Follow instructions from supervisory personnel and communicate any problems to a supervisor. Complete daily vehicle pre/post trip inspections. Assure cleanliness of vehicles. Prepare and complete all required logs and reports including reports on traffic incidents. Utilize the communication systems (cell phones, radios, etc.) in accordance with County policies. Operate a two-way radio system in accordance with the regulations of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). Lead work crews engaged in a variety of solid waste activities. Maintain good customer/employee/supervisor relations. Provide information to customers in a helpful, courteous, efficient manner. Ensures a safe work environment for county staff and complex customers. Engages in safe working practices and complies with the Solid Waste Management Program safety programs and guidelines. Complies with the DPWES Safety Competencies. Maintains the standards of the County, including but not limited to the Drug & Alcohol, safety, and personnel policies and procedures. Adhere to the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) guiding principles. Maintain a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Perform other duties as assigned. For more information on a career with the  Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services Solid Waste Management  program click  here .   Employment Standards MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to completion of the tenth grade; and two years of experience in the operation of medium/light motorized equipment. CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED: Valid driver's license.   Commercial driver's license (CDL) Class "B". NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a pre-employment physical examination, alcohol/drug test,   driving record check, and   commercial driver's license screening   to the satisfaction of the employer. Required to report to work during extreme inclement weather or other emergencies, including after-hours and weekend work during emergency incidents to fulfill emergency service duties. All newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks after the last required dose) as a condition of employment or obtain approval of a medical or religious exemption   prior to their start date . Proof of an exemption or vaccination status will be required during the pre-employment onboarding process. New employees who obtain an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs will still be subject to the weekly testing requirement. Vaccinated employees and employees with a medical or religious exemption will complete the attestation online on their first day of employment or shortly thereafter. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Experience in Solid Waste driving Solid Waste Equipment.   Previous experience operating construction-type equipment. Exceptional safety and driving record. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to walk, run, and bend the knees frequently. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds. Ability to stand for long periods of time. Ability to handle strenuous activities and repetitive motions. Ability to perform duties in any type of weather conditions. May be exposed to Household Hazardous Waste (HHW).   All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.   SELECTION PROCEDURE: Panel interview and may include exercise. NOTE:   This position is listed as "Open Continuous". Interested applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed and qualified applicants referred on a continuous basis. Interviews will be conducted on a regular basis throughout the recruitment with candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. If your application is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be reviewed or considered. The application process will close when the position(s) have been filled or when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.   Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.

Only applications submitted through the Fairfax County Government website will be accepted. Please use the link to apply.  Plans, coordinates, and supervises the work of crews in the operation of heavy equipment engaged in refuse disposal, collection, and transportation of solid waste. Evaluates staff workloads and assigns personnel and equipment to designated tasks. Creates and adjusts route schedules and assignments. Conducts employee performance evaluations. Implements employee disciplinary actions. Provides coaching and training to staff. Acts as a mentor to staff. Responsible for staff payroll. Participates on interview panels. Responds appropriately to a variety of situations to include vehicle incidents, customer service complaints, on the job injuries, safety violations, and employee relations issues. Coordinates preventive and corrective maintenance on vehicles and equipment. Maintains computerized operational records. Oversees maintenance of the grounds and facilities. Actively participates on various teams, working groups, and committees. Provides customer service to include information or assistance to co-workers, supervisors, the general public or other users of the complex. Ensures a safe work environment for county staff and complex customers. Provides employee safety coaching/retraining as needed. Supports disaster and emergency response and recovery activities as needed. Performs other duties as required.   Employment Standards MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to high school diploma or a GED issued by a state department of education or the equivalent, and four years of experience operating heavy motorized construction equipment and/or semi-tractor trailers. CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED: Valid driver's license.  Class "B" commercial driver's license (CDL). DOT Medical Card. NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:  The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a pre-employment physical examination,  driving record check, and commercial driver's license screening to the satisfaction of the employer.   Required to report to work during extreme inclement weather or other emergencies, including after-hours and weekend work during emergency incidents to fulfill emergency service duties. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Five or more years supervising collection routes specializing in residential and commercial collection operations. Exceptional safety and driving record, with at least five years accident-free driving. Three or more years of Solid Waste experience. Proven team-building, problem-solving, customer service, and communication skills. Experience working with routing software and proficient in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel. Bilingual in Spanish at the intermediate level. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to effectively communicate in English both orally and in writing. Ability to lift 50 pounds with or without accommodation. Ability to pass a standard Fairfax County medical examination. Ability to walk, climb, bend, and stand for extended periods of time. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.   SELECTION PROCEDURE: Panel interview and may include exercise. Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or status as a veteran in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.    Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.