INTERNAL ONLY Placement Coordinator (SSS3) - Tacoma

Our vision is to ensure that "Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally, and academically, nurtured by family and community."

Attention: **INTERNAL ONLY: This position is open to current DCYF employees only.**

This full-time position is Monday through Friday (12:00 PM - 9:00 PM).

Job Title: Placement Coordinator -Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3).

Location: Tacoma, WA. Region 5 - Region Map. This full-time position is a mix of telework and in-office attendance, Monday through Friday (12:00 PM - 9:00 PM). Staff must be able to travel to the office as required.Mandatory monthly in-person unit meetings, in-person training, and staff meetings will occur.

Salary: $5,666 - $7,622 Monthly.

Closes: 10/08/2025

Our DCYF Tacoma Regional Office is searching for a Placement Coordinator/Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3) to join our dynamic Child Welfare Field Operations team in Region 5. Do you have excellent customer service skills and have an interest in engaging with staff and foster parents alike? If so, then perhaps being a placement coordinator is the position for you. We are seeking a dedicated and engaging individual to enhance our team working Monday through Friday (12:00 PM - 9:00 PM), as they will also assist our after-hours team with placements that might be needed in the evening. This position is a hybrid role, allowing for a mix of telework and in-office attendance. If you are interested in working in a fast-paced, important position in Child Welfare and want to make a difference in a child's life, then apply today!

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:
This position performs advanced levels of specialized case management and ensures timely licensed care placement for all children in out-of-home foster care. In this role, you will provide placement services for all Child Welfare Field Operations program areas (such as CFWS, CPS, FAR, FVS) and may also assist tribal agencies within DCYF Region 5. This position provides continuous assessment of risk and safety and ensures timely permanency outcomes for all children on their caseload including reunification, adoption, guardianship, and other custody plans. While this position does work independently, it is part of a larger team that works collaboratively with each other, regional partners, foster parents, and social service specialists.

Some of what you'll do:

• Apply child welfare practice, principles, law, rules, and policy in assessing and placing children, as well as other social work duties.
• Maintain thorough knowledge and excellent working relationships with foster parents, placement agencies, other placement coordinators, and office staff.
• Maintain and update the placement list for office distribution.
• Prepare required documents for placement and respite.
• Keep track of placements and respite through approved electronic documents.
• Communicate and coordinate with Fiduciaries.
• Enter child placement using the Child Location Tool in FAMLINK.
• Provide ongoing assessment of risk.
• Assist in the development of strength-based and client-involved plans to address areas of need.
• Assist with the evaluation of the progress of children via communication with foster care placements.
• Relay information to social service specialists for action.
• Document case activities and maintain case records, initiate payments within FAMLINK for child placement and child/family services.
• Always consider culturally relevant, ADA-sensitive, and individualized placement and services with clients.
• Determine resources available for child placements, consider relative options, assist with planning and coordinating appropriate placement in the least restrictive setting.
• Assist with preparing the child and family for any changes in placement.

What we are looking for (Required Qualifications):

Social Service Specialist 3:
Six (6) years of paid social service experience* AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.

OR
A Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a Master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.

OR
A Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a Bachelor’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.

OR
One (1) year of experience* as a Social Service Specialist 2.

AND
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful workplace principles.

*Paid social service experience must include at least one (1) year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Completed a Master's Degree in Social Work.
• Case management experience with mandatory clients.
• Experience working in fast-paced, high-stress environments.
• Ability to successfully manage competing priorities.
• Professional experience working with clients who have mental health problems, substance use disorder, developmental delays, or criminal behavior.
• Effective communication skills, both orally and in writing.
• Strong skills in time management and organization, and the ability to develop independent systems to manage a large workload.
• Ability to make critical decisions, based on integration of information from multiple sources that may be discrepant, in high-stress situations.
• Experience researching, interpreting, and applying laws, rules, and policies, and delivering services accordingly.
• Previous experience working with children/youth in Child Welfare.
• Experience assessing risk and safety.
• Knowledge and familiarity with the local community and resources.
• Knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on child protective and child welfare services.
• Knowledge of child development and/or family systems.
• Experience with FamLink and documentation requirements.
• Experience using agency software programs, which include Outlook and SACWIS/CCWIS.

How do I apply?

Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:

• Transcripts (Unofficial copies of transcripts are acceptable for application submission)
• Cover Letter
• Current resume detailing experience and education

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history, will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.

The incumbent must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of their appointment.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement. For more information on employee benefits eligibility visit- Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB).

If you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact DCYF Recruiter. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214 or NGB Form 22, or other verification of military service. Please black out (redact) the Social Security Number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veterans' Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

2025-06856

Salary

• $5,666 - $7,622/month

Benefits

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 07-21-2025