Senior Social Services Specialist (CSSP)

Job Summary - Why you’ll love this position

Responsibilities - What you’ll do

• Provide day-to-day leadership, supervision, and support to a team of Children’s Division professionals responsible for child welfare services.
• Coach, mentor, and develop staff through historical case reviews, case co nsultations, regular supervision, performance management, and professional development.
• Ensure quality practice by reviewing cases, monitoring compliance with state and federal policy, and promoting timely, well-documented casework.
• Provide guidance on complex child safety, risk, permanency, and family engagement decisions while supporting staff in critical case situations.
• Collaborate with courts, law enforcement, schools, medical providers, community partners, and internal stakeholders to ensure coordinated services for children and families.
• Monitor workload distribution, staffing needs, and operational priorities to ensure effective service delivery.
• Support staff during court proceedings, multidisciplinary meetings, and other case-related activities as needed.
• Foster a positive team culture that values accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and employee engagement.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission of the Children’s Division.

Qualifications - All you need for success

• High School Diploma or High School Equivalent and Nine or more years of professional experience with a public or private agency in the delivery of protective services, including casework/case management in: investigation of abuse or neglect; coordination of foster care, adoptions, and family centered services; treatment/rehabilitation; and/or providing in-home family crisis intervention services, and possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license. OR
• One or more years of experience as a Social Services Specialist (III) or Senior Social Services Specialist with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System. OR
• Three or more years of experience as an Associate Social Services Specialist and/or Social Services Specialist (II) with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System. OR
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferably a degree in Social Work or comparable human services field (Substitutions allowed); and, Five or more years of professional experience with a public or private agency in the delivery of protective services, including casework/case management in: investigation of abuse or neglect; coordination of foster care, adoptions, and family centered services; treatment/rehabilitation; and/or providing in-home family crisis intervention services, and possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license.
• (A combination of earned credit hours from an accredited college or university in the preferred fields such as social work, family and child development, special education, psychology, sociology, or related behavioral sciences and experience described may substitute for the stated qualifications. 30 credit hours are equivalent to 1 year of experience. Professional experience as described must be of a substantial period of time (over 50% of time)).
• (Lack of post-secondary education will not be used as the sole basis denying consideration to any applicant)
• Desired Skills:
• Ability to travel throughout the State of Missouri as needed
• Availability to be in the “on call” rotation one weekend a month.
• Preferred qualifications
• For supervisory positions it’s recommended to include Training, certification, and/or education in leadership and continuous process improvement programs (e.g. Lean Six Sigma) is preferred.
• Must be able to legally operate a motor vehicle in the performance of assigned duties upon the date of hire and throughout employment.

Job Details - More reasons to love this position

Contact Details - If you have questions or require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process please contact:

• CD-HR@dss.mo.gov
• The State of Missouri is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to developing and maintaining a talented workforce.