Foster Care/Adoption Worker

County Of Albemarle•Charlottesville, VA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Foster Care/Adoption Worker (Family Services Specialist II) position within the Department of Social Services is a full-time, 12-month, non-exempt role that is eligible for VRS and benefits. This position involves interpreting laws and policies, assessing the functioning of children and families, and developing and implementing psychosocial case plans. The worker provides direct counseling using family-systems treatment models to strengthen families and prevent dissolution. They also serve as a case manager, coordinating services with professionals from various disciplines, including mental health, education, legal, and medical fields. A key responsibility includes acting as a legal guardian for agency foster children, which involves consenting to medical treatment and ensuring the child's well-being. The role requires crisis intervention, making placements in alternative care settings, and participating in court interventions to protect children and achieve permanency. Supportive services are provided to promote self-sufficiency and prevent child abuse/neglect. The worker is responsible for completing comprehensive psychosocial assessments and service plans, as well as providing on-call coverage after hours and on weekends for emergencies. Additionally, they must complete necessary planning and reporting requirements, and assess and secure financial resources for eligible children, while also following funding authorization and service payment procedures for foster children. Related duties as assigned are also part of the role.

Requirements

A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in the Human Services field; or a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field, accompanied by a minimum of two (2) years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Service related area.
Experience in assigned program area and completion of required training programs or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Working knowledge of social work principles and practices; current social, economic and health problems; institutions and the methods of the helping process; individual and group behavior.
Skill in using personal computer with associated software.
Ability to identify social problems and client strengths and needs and to assess the ability to individual and families to utilize services in problem solving.
Ability to recognize and accept the rights, responsibilities and differences of others.
Ability to work effectively with individuals and families in helping them attain success.
Ability to plan and organize work.
Ability to understand and interpret laws, policies and regulations.
Ability to communicate and establish effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, other professional and technical staff, social agencies and the general public.
Ability to prepare reports and maintain records.
Possession of a valid appropriate driver's permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Workers in this position are required to drive and they must meet eligibility requirements of the County’s safe driver policy.
Must be willing to travel occasionally overnight.
All County staff must maintain residence within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Nice To Haves

Possession of a BSW degree, MSW degree, and/or a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Work license desirable.
Masters preferred.

Responsibilities

Interprets laws, policies and regulations as applied to specific area of responsibility.
Assesses cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children and their families, and develops and implements sophisticated psychosocial case plans which integrate psychodynamic, systemic, medical, and social-ecological treatment approaches, and incorporates concurrent planning.
Provides direct counseling, applying family-systems treatment models to complex, family situations, in such a way as to strengthen families and prevent family dissolution.
Serves in a leadership role as case manager in planning, organizing, and coordinating service delivery by professionals representing a variety of disciplines.
Works collaboratively with mental health, education, legal, medical, and other human services professionals in a team approach to service delivery, with responsibility for assuring coordination and effectiveness of comprehensive services to families.
Functions as legal guardian for agency foster children (e.g., responsible for child's well-being, consents for medical treatment, etc.).
Performs crisis intervention.
Makes placements of children and adolescents into alternative care, including foster homes, group homes, and residential treatment facilities.
Plans, oversees and participates directly in court intervention to protect children and to achieve goals of permanency for children.
Provides supportive services to promote self-sufficiency and to prevent child abuse/neglect and placement of children out of their homes.
Writes comprehensive psychosocial assessments and service plans.
Provides coverage after hours and on weekends, on an on-call basis, for emergencies involving abuse or neglect of children and adolescents, and for situations requiring immediate attention regarding children in the legal custody of the Department of Social Services.
Completes necessary federal, state and local planning and reporting requirements.
Assesses, secures, and monitors financial resources for which the child is eligible (e.g. social security, child support, etc.).
Follows the requirements for funding authorization and service payments for services and maintenance costs for foster children.
Performs related duties as assigned.