Foster Care/Adoption Worker
About The Position
The Foster Care/Adoption Worker (Family Services Specialist II) position within the Department of Social Services is a 12-month, full-time, non-exempt role. This position is VRS-Eligible and Benefits-Eligible. The primary function is to interpret laws, policies, and regulations, and to assess and develop psychosocial case plans for children and their families. The role involves direct counseling, case management, and collaboration with various professionals to ensure comprehensive service delivery. The worker will also serve as a legal guardian for agency foster children, perform crisis intervention, make placements in alternative care, and participate in court proceedings to ensure child protection and permanency. Additionally, the position requires providing supportive services, completing assessments and service plans, performing on-call duties for after-hours emergencies, and managing financial resources for foster children. The role also includes completing necessary reporting requirements and performing related duties as assigned.
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.
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.
Benefits
- 12 paid holidays
- paid vacation and sick leave
- health insurance options with employer contribution
- employer-paid life insurance
- VRS retirement
- continuing education/training opportunities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
