Social Services Specialist Jobs
Social Services Specialist jobs are open across government agencies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, and community advocacy groups, from entry-level case aide roles to senior program specialists and clinical coordinators, with specializations in child welfare, housing assistance, and mental health services. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 46+ Social Services Specialist jobs
$58,043.44 - $101,575.97 Annually
SOUTH COUNTY HUMAN SVCS CENTER, 8350 RICHMOND HIGHWAY, ALEXANDRIA (MM03), VA
FT Hourly W BN
26-01664
Family Services
10/31/2026
11/13/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
S20
Open to General Public
Job Announcement
Are you passionate about empowering families and helping children thrive? Do you enjoy connecting families with resources, building meaningful relationships, and celebrating their successes?
The Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) is seeking a Family Resource Specialist to assist Health Families Fairfax with intake activities and outreach. 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.
This position works as a member of the Healthy Families Fairfax (HFF) unit under the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Services Program. HFF is a prevention program that offers support and guidance to vulnerable, at-risk pregnant women or parent(s) of a newborn across all regions of Fairfax County. Work hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., however, evening and/or weekend work is required.
Learn more about DFS and our Mission, Vision, and Values, please click here.
Illustrative duties
- Interviews the client and family members to gather data on their social, health, emotional and economic problems;
- Works with clients to develop a plan of service to meet social, health, emotional and economic needs;
- With the clients, formulates objectives and identifies actions to resolve the clients' problems;
- Ensures delivery of the HFF program in accordance with Healthy Families America (HFA) Best Practice Standards and relevant Fairfax County policies and procedures
- Conducts assessments of families to determine strengths and needed referrals to community services, including ongoing home visiting services with Healthy Families or other programs
- Uses the Family Resilience & Opportunity for Grow tool to gather comprehensive information from parents related to their strengths and needs
- Provides short-term support and ongoing case-management to families to connect them with resources within the community
- Represents and promotes the Healthy Families program in the community and provides administrative assistance to the program as needed
- Completes required documentation and maintains client files in accordance with program requirements and HFF and HFA guidelines
- Participates on various outreach teams and leads outreach activities to increase public awareness of home visiting resources and services
- Serves as a team lead for special community projects
- Participates on a multi-disciplinary team that includes public health nurses employed by the Health Department, and home visitors and supervisors employed by DFS and HFF partners from non-profit organizations
- Performs other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes for families
- Participates in all Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) initiatives to support positive outcomes for children and families
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of human services and early childhood home visiting;
- Knowledge of infant and child development
- Knowledge of current social service problems and methods/approaches and case management to address issues;
- Ability to analyze families’ protective and risk factors and to make appropriate recommendations to meet the families’ needs;
- Ability to establish trusting relationships and display acceptance of individual differences
- Ability to show humility and to work with culturally diverse families
- Knowledge of and willingness to engage in building reflective capacity (e.g., capacity for introspection, communicating awareness of self in relation to others, recognizing value of supervision, etc.) Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
- Ability to use automated technology to establish and maintain documentation;
- 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;
Illustrative Duties
Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum of a bachelor's degree in a human services field OR minimum of a bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a human services area (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia).
In order to be evaluated for positions in the Family Services Occupational Group, individuals who do not meet the degree requirement at the time of application for employment must be in their last semester of a degree program that will meet the requirements listed above.
Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) or experience prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications and preferred qualifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license.
Positions within this class are required to complete the state mandated training in the functional area within a specified time period.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, driving record check, and a Child Protective Services check.
This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience in child welfare and/ or case management.
- Experience with home visiting services.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Experience working collaboratively with school professionals, community stakeholders and other service providers.
- Infant Mental Health endorsement preferred.
- Experience working with a diverse multicultural population.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Sufficiently mobile to conduct assessments, attend meetings and community outreach events outside of office, sufficiently mobile to drive to the regional offices and families' homes. Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to travel to various locations throughout Fairfax County to provide coverage, attend meetings and trainings All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodation.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include practical exercise.
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for 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.#LI-NW1
$58,043.44 - $101,575.97 Annually
SOUTH COUNTY HUMAN SVCS CENTER, 8350 RICHMOND HIGHWAY, ALEXANDRIA (MM03), VA
FT Hourly W BN
26-01664
Family Services
10/31/2026
11/13/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
S20
Open to General Public
Job Announcement
Are you passionate about empowering families and helping children thrive? Do you enjoy connecting families with resources, building meaningful relationships, and celebrating their successes?
The Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) is seeking a Family Resource Specialist to assist Health Families Fairfax with intake activities and outreach. 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.
This position works as a member of the Healthy Families Fairfax (HFF) unit under the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Services Program. HFF is a prevention program that offers support and guidance to vulnerable, at-risk pregnant women or parent(s) of a newborn across all regions of Fairfax County. Work hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., however, evening and/or weekend work is required.
Learn more about DFS and our Mission, Vision, and Values, please click here.
Illustrative duties
- Interviews the client and family members to gather data on their social, health, emotional and economic problems;
- Works with clients to develop a plan of service to meet social, health, emotional and economic needs;
- With the clients, formulates objectives and identifies actions to resolve the clients' problems;
- Ensures delivery of the HFF program in accordance with Healthy Families America (HFA) Best Practice Standards and relevant Fairfax County policies and procedures
- Conducts assessments of families to determine strengths and needed referrals to community services, including ongoing home visiting services with Healthy Families or other programs
- Uses the Family Resilience & Opportunity for Grow tool to gather comprehensive information from parents related to their strengths and needs
- Provides short-term support and ongoing case-management to families to connect them with resources within the community
- Represents and promotes the Healthy Families program in the community and provides administrative assistance to the program as needed
- Completes required documentation and maintains client files in accordance with program requirements and HFF and HFA guidelines
- Participates on various outreach teams and leads outreach activities to increase public awareness of home visiting resources and services
- Serves as a team lead for special community projects
- Participates on a multi-disciplinary team that includes public health nurses employed by the Health Department, and home visitors and supervisors employed by DFS and HFF partners from non-profit organizations
- Performs other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes for families
- Participates in all Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) initiatives to support positive outcomes for children and families
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of human services and early childhood home visiting;
- Knowledge of infant and child development
- Knowledge of current social service problems and methods/approaches and case management to address issues;
- Ability to analyze families’ protective and risk factors and to make appropriate recommendations to meet the families’ needs;
- Ability to establish trusting relationships and display acceptance of individual differences
- Ability to show humility and to work with culturally diverse families
- Knowledge of and willingness to engage in building reflective capacity (e.g., capacity for introspection, communicating awareness of self in relation to others, recognizing value of supervision, etc.) Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
- Ability to use automated technology to establish and maintain documentation;
- 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;
Illustrative Duties
Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum of a bachelor's degree in a human services field OR minimum of a bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a human services area (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia).
In order to be evaluated for positions in the Family Services Occupational Group, individuals who do not meet the degree requirement at the time of application for employment must be in their last semester of a degree program that will meet the requirements listed above.
Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) or experience prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications and preferred qualifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license.
Positions within this class are required to complete the state mandated training in the functional area within a specified time period.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, driving record check, and a Child Protective Services check.
This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience in child welfare and/ or case management.
- Experience with home visiting services.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Experience working collaboratively with school professionals, community stakeholders and other service providers.
- Infant Mental Health endorsement preferred.
- Experience working with a diverse multicultural population.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Sufficiently mobile to conduct assessments, attend meetings and community outreach events outside of office, sufficiently mobile to drive to the regional offices and families' homes. Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to travel to various locations throughout Fairfax County to provide coverage, attend meetings and trainings All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodation.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include practical exercise.
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for 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.#LI-NW1
Social Services Specialist Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsSocial Services Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Government & Public Sector
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in social services specialist jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, human services, or a closely related field
- Active state licensure such as LSW or LCSW depending on the role level
- Experience conducting client assessments and developing individualized service plans
- Proficiency with case management software and electronic health record systems
- Knowledge of local community resources, eligibility criteria, and referral procedures
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for home visits or field assignments
Tips for Your Social Services Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume to each population
Social services employers hire for specific client populations, so a resume that highlights your child welfare experience won't land a housing stability role without adjustment. Reframe your case management language to match the population named in the posting.
List your licensure and certifications upfront
Hiring managers screen for licensure before reading anything else. Put your LSW, LCSW, or any state-issued certification in the header or a dedicated credentials line, not buried in a qualifications section where it's easy to miss.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists social services specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Search by funding source, not just job title
Roles funded by Title IV, TANF, or HUD grants have distinct eligibility and documentation requirements. Filtering by agency type or program name often surfaces openings that generic title searches miss entirely.
Prepare a caseload management example for interviews
Interviewers almost always ask how you prioritize competing client needs under a heavy caseload. Arrive with a specific example that names the number of active cases, the competing demands, and the outcome you produced.
Negotiate start date around mandatory training
Many government and nonprofit employers require multi-week onboarding academies before you touch a caseload. Ask during the offer stage whether training is paid, when the next cohort starts, and whether a delayed start is possible if the timing conflicts.
Social Services Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most social services specialists?
State of Missouri, BayCare Health System, and State of Arkansas are hiring the most social services specialists right now, with openings concentrated in Florida, Oregon, and Missouri, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. County government agencies and large nonprofit networks tend to post the highest volumes year-round.
How many social services specialist jobs are remote?
About 25% of social services specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though field-based and home-visit roles remain predominantly in-person. Sub-areas with the most remote availability include benefits eligibility determination, care coordination for telehealth programs, and administrative case management roles that don't require direct client contact.
How do you become a social services specialist?
Start by earning a bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, or a related field, since most entry-level positions require it. Pursue internship or practicum hours during your degree to build direct client experience. Apply for state licensure once you meet the supervised-hours requirement in your state. Many specialists then pursue a master's in social work to qualify for clinical licensure and higher-level positions.
Can you get hired as a social services specialist with little or no experience?
Yes, entry-level social services specialist roles exist specifically for candidates who are new to the field, though you'll compete more effectively if you highlight internships, volunteer work at community organizations, or any experience working with vulnerable populations. County agencies and large nonprofits often hire recent graduates into structured cohort programs that include paid training, giving you a clear path in without prior paid experience.
What does the social services specialist interview process look like?
Most employers run a phone screen with a recruiter or HR contact, followed by a panel interview with a supervisor and one or two team members. Panel questions are typically scenario-based, asking how you'd handle a client in crisis, manage competing case priorities, or navigate a mandatory reporting situation. Some agencies add a written assessment or require you to complete a sample case note before the final offer stage.
Where can I find and apply to social services specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to social services specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your experience, licensure level, and preferred population, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background and goals.
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