Foster Care Social Worker (Bilingual) (Trainee Eligible)

Arlington County VA•Arlington, WA

15h•Hybrid

About The Position

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 in an integrated team, providing the full range of services in foster care to a culturally and ethnically diverse population. 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.

Requirements

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
Bilingual (English/Spanish)
Two years of post-Master’s degree experience providing professional clinical social work services, one year of which should include experience in a child welfare setting (foster care, adoption, child protective services)
Possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record.
Ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite.

Nice To Haves

Providing direct services to children and families involved with child welfare
Supporting and promoting an inclusive and diverse environment

Responsibilities

Serving in a lead case management role to plan, coordinate, and oversee service delivery for children and families involved in foster care and adoption services in collaboration with mental health, education, legal, medical, and other human services professionals
Supporting permanency planning goals, including reunification, relative placement, and adoption, by conducting relative, kin, and resource family searches and coordinating placement resources
Securing, supervising, and supporting foster and adoptive placements, including assessing prospective foster and adoptive homes, providing post-placement supervision, and supporting resource families to maintain stable placements
Assessing the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children and families and developing and implementing psychosocial case plans that incorporate systemic, medical, social-ecological, and concurrent planning approaches
Ensuring provision and coordination of medical, psychological, educational, and social support services through referrals and collaboration with community resources and multidisciplinary teams
Facilitating connections between children, birth families, and relatives through visitation, ongoing contact, family team meetings, and other supportive services
Completing monthly visits with children, providing crisis intervention services, and participating in after-hours and weekend on-call coverage for emergencies involving abuse, neglect, or children in the legal custody of the Department of Human Services
Maintaining compliance with court reviews, OASIS documentation requirements, and other administrative and regulatory mandates throughout the foster care and adoption process
Participating in community outreach, presentations, consultations, and educational efforts to support resource families and increase awareness of the needs of children awaiting placement