Job Description
Chesapeake Department of Human Services - Social Services Division (In-Home Services Unit)
Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families? The City of Chesapeake is seeking a compassionate and dedicated Family Services Specialist III to join our In-Home Services Unit. This unit brings together Child Protective Services Ongoing and Prevention Services to focus on family preservation, safety, and well-being.
Our approach supports families across three key scenarios:
- Children residing in their own homes
- Children temporarily placed with kin
- Children in long-term kinship care with ongoing family connections
Using integrated, behavior-focused strategies, our team partners with families and community supports to ensure children are safe, families are engaged, and services are effective.
Position Summary:
As a Family Services Specialist III, you will provide advanced case management and may supervise staff in the delivery of critical human services. You'll support families through complex situations by providing assessments, planning, crisis intervention, and direct services. This role is ideal for professionals who are skilled in navigating challenging dynamics with empathy, accountability, and professionalism.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Provide after-hours on-call coverage and respond to emergencies involving child/adult protective services and foster care
- Conduct investigations, screen referrals for validity, and assess both immediate and long-term risks to children
- Develop service plans with clearly documented goals, objectives, and tailored interventions
- Transport children to and from placements, medical appointments, therapy sessions, court, and family visitation
- Prepare and testify in court, coordinate cases with attorneys, and accompany clients to court appearances
- Interview all involved parties, establish and maintain collateral contacts, and gather comprehensive information for case assessments
- Provide program oversight, caseload management, and support to families throughout the service process
- File petitions, prepare home studies, and conduct court-ordered home and custody assessments
- Collaborate with community partners, attend professional workshops, and maintain accurate case records and documentation
What You Bring:
- Experience in family services, child welfare, or human services programs
- Strong decision-making, crisis management, and communication skills
- Knowledge of social work principles, trauma-informed care, and legal processes
- Ability to work independently within a supportive team environment
- Flexibility to work after hours when needed to meet urgent service demands
Why Join Us?
- Be part of a purpose-driven team focused on preserving families and protecting children
- Work in a supportive environment that values collaboration, professional development, and well-being
- Make a difference-every day, every case, every child
Help us shape brighter futures by supporting families when they need it most.
The City of Chesapeake offers an exceptional range of benefits. Please browse our Benefits Brochure for a full list of benefits and employee perks.
Chesapeake Department of Human Services - Social Services Division (In-Home Services Unit)
Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families? The City of Chesapeake is seeking a compassionate and dedicated Family Services Specialist III to join our In-Home Services Unit. This unit brings together Child Protective Services Ongoing and Prevention Services to focus on family preservation, safety, and well-being.
Our approach supports families across three key scenarios:
- Children residing in their own homes
- Children temporarily placed with kin
- Children in long-term kinship care with ongoing family connections
Using integrated, behavior-focused strategies, our team partners with families and community supports to ensure children are safe, families are engaged, and services are effective.
Position Summary:
As a Family Services Specialist III, you will provide advanced case management and may supervise staff in the delivery of critical human services. You'll support families through complex situations by providing assessments, planning, crisis intervention, and direct services. This role is ideal for professionals who are skilled in navigating challenging dynamics with empathy, accountability, and professionalism.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Provide after-hours on-call coverage and respond to emergencies involving child/adult protective services and foster care
- Conduct investigations, screen referrals for validity, and assess both immediate and long-term risks to children
- Develop service plans with clearly documented goals, objectives, and tailored interventions
- Transport children to and from placements, medical appointments, therapy sessions, court, and family visitation
- Prepare and testify in court, coordinate cases with attorneys, and accompany clients to court appearances
- Interview all involved parties, establish and maintain collateral contacts, and gather comprehensive information for case assessments
- Provide program oversight, caseload management, and support to families throughout the service process
- File petitions, prepare home studies, and conduct court-ordered home and custody assessments
- Collaborate with community partners, attend professional workshops, and maintain accurate case records and documentation
What You Bring:
- Experience in family services, child welfare, or human services programs
- Strong decision-making, crisis management, and communication skills
- Knowledge of social work principles, trauma-informed care, and legal processes
- Ability to work independently within a supportive team environment
- Flexibility to work after hours when needed to meet urgent service demands
Why Join Us?
- Be part of a purpose-driven team focused on preserving families and protecting children
- Work in a supportive environment that values collaboration, professional development, and well-being
- Make a difference-every day, every case, every child
Help us shape brighter futures by supporting families when they need it most.
The City of Chesapeake offers an exceptional range of benefits. Please browse our Benefits Brochure for a full list of benefits and employee perks.
About City of Chesapeake
Chesapeake, Virginia is a vibrant community that enjoys the best of two worlds, one of urban variety, culture, and excitement, and another of rural landscapes and relaxed living.
Located 20 minutes from the oceanfront, 15 minutes from downtown Norfolk, and 45 minutes from Colonial Williamsburg and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Chesapeake is the perfect place in which to live, work, and raise a family.
Home to beautiful parks, lakes, and rivers, Chesapeake has more miles of deepwater canals (part of the Intracoastal Waterway) than any other city in the country!
The City of Chesapeake was formed through the merger of the City of South Norfolk and Norfolk County in 1963. It’s a community of communities, with each having its own distinctive history.
Over the last decade, many national and international companies have taken advantage of the City’s ports, atmosphere, and highly qualified labor market by relocating to Chesapeake.
Chesapeake’s neighborhoods offer a variety of comfortable housing alternatives, from apartments and town homes, to single-family residences and executive homes. The City is consistently ranked by the FBI as one of the safest U.S. cities (with populations over 150,000), which lends to the safe, community atmosphere that residents enjoy.
City of Chesapeake would like you to finish the application on their website.