Foster Care Social Worker

Arlington County VA•Arlington, WA

18h•Hybrid

About The Position

Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The Child and Family Services Division of the Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Foster Care Social Worker. This is a professional position on an integrated team, providing the full range of services to youth in the foster care system with a goal of adoption. This position serves in a leadership role as case manager to plan, organize, and coordinate service delivery. The Foster Care Social Worker collaborates with mental health, education, legal, medical, and other human services professionals to ensure coordination and effectiveness of comprehensive services to children and families needing foster care and adoption services. Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs. Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.

Requirements

Master's Degree in Human Services, Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Child Development, Family Therapy or other directly related clinical discipline, all of which required a clinical practicum involving diagnostic, treatment, and case management services (for Trainee Level)
Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or other directly related clinical discipline, all of which required a clinical practicum involving diagnostic, treatment, and case management services (for Full Performance Level)
Two years of post-Master's Degree experience providing professional clinical social work services, which included the application of diagnostic, treatment, and case management services in a child welfare setting (foster care, adoption, child protective services) (for Full Performance Level)
Applicant must possess or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence or the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite.
The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain, or the applicant must provide, a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record.
A background check is required and may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit check and may require signing a release authorizing the County to obtain this information.
A pre-hire background check and State of Virginia Child Welfare and Neglect Central Registry will be required.

Nice To Haves

Principles of child welfare practice including foster care and adoption
Analytical Thinking
Effective Written and Verbal Communication
Adaptability and Learning Agility
Masters degree in related field
Experience in providing direct services to children and families involved with child welfare
Licensure as an LCSW, LPC, LCPC or LSW
Supporting and promoting an inclusive and diverse environment

Responsibilities

Supports adoption permanency goal for children to include conducting relative, kin, and resource family searches to identify resources for adoptive placement
Collaborates with and champions the work of foster and adoptive parents as part of a professional team
Secures and supervise placements for children, supporting resource for families to maintain placements and help children work toward permanency
Screens and evaluates potential foster/adoptive foster homes to determine best fit for a child; and provides post-placement supervision
Assesses cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children and families to develop and implement psychosocial case plans which integrate systemic, medical, and social-ecological treatment approaches
Ensures provision of services including medical, psychological, education and social supports to include referrals to appropriate community resources
Complies with all mandates for service delivery including court reviews, record documentation (OASIS), and administrative requirements throughout the foster care and adoption process