Child Welfare Placement Worker

About the role

These positions perform Home Finding services in the area of child welfare services. They recruit, locate, and evaluate prospective foster care homes; train new and active home providers; conduct periodic reviews of providers and initiate corrective action plans when needed. They interact with various professional practitioners in the fields of social work, mental health, court, and the legal system, and are responsible for written documentation of casework and related activities. Work involves frequent travel using a personal vehicle and may require after-hours and weekend emergencies.

Responsibilities

• Attend ongoing training to develop comprehensive knowledge of State and Federal social welfare laws, rules, regulations, and evolving protocols regarding child abuse and neglect.
• Conduct interviews to identify safe placement options for victims of abuse or neglect by talking with and visually observing prospective providers, their homes, or facilities.
• Assess prospective placement candidates using established guidelines to determine if the needs of the children can be met under the current requirements.
• Complete reviews of care providers to determine dynamics and problems that may have arisen since placement.
• Develop effective communication with new foster home providers that address safety, well-being, and permanency of children.
• Attend court hearings, testify before the court, and make appropriate placements of children, including but not limited to staying with relatives, in foster homes, residential treatment facilities.
• Evaluate the progress of families or living environments towards meeting objectives of safety/service/treatment plans, the need to modify plans, and the eventual disposition of cases.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Valid West Virginia driver’s license.
• Reliable transportation.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain detailed case records and extensive documentation.
• Successful completion of a background check.

About the Organization

The Bureau for Social Services champions the security, permanence, and welfare of children and vulnerable adults, empowering individuals and strengthening families. Operating under the West Virginia Department of Human Services, the Bureau serves children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults facing abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. Workers are equipped with extensive training to handle delicate situations with compassion and dignity, facilitating access to crucial healthcare, essential social services and benefits, and fostering safe, supportive, and healthy environments.