Social Worker III - Foster Care

Description

SIGN ON BONUS AND RETENTION BONUS: A $2000, $3000, or $4000 sign on bonus is available depending on the position and qualifications of the individual selected.

About the role

The foster care social worker provides specific services to children, their parent/guardians/caretakers when the children are removed due to substantiated abuse, neglect, or dependency. The worker provides counseling and case management services and assists the family with accessing specific services to help family members learn more appropriate behaviors, find safer housing, and make better decisions regarding the child's care and discipline. The goal is to establish a safe, permanent home for children who have been maltreated.

Responsibilities

• On-Call duties are a part of this position.
• Provides counseling and case management services and assists families with accessing specific services to help family members learn more appropriate behaviors, find safer housing, make better decisions regarding the child's care and discipline.
• Provides direct social work services to children and their families once the children have been removed from their home due to serious abuse or neglect or dependency.
• Provides services to children and families when the child is recommended for voluntary out of home care.
• Analyzes situations and determines appropriate courses of action immediately following the removal of the child from their home.
• Aids the family in identifying and accessing community-based support to assist the family in coping with difficult situations and resolving family problems.
• Ensures that everyone (service providers and the family) is working toward a permanent plan for the child.
• Maintains and compiles data and prepares statistical reports in accordance with established policy and guidance.
• Creates thorough documentation in accordance with current policy including but not limited to; all contacts with children, parents, placement providers and collaterals (extended family members, neighbors, school personnel, medical personnel, mental health professionals, etc.).
• Completes other assessments, visitations, and case planning tools as required by current policy (strengths and needs, risk reassessments, out of home case plans, well-being needs, PPAT reviews, monthly caseworker visits, etc.).
• Applies Child Placement policy and time frames to meet state and federal guidelines to ensure that a permanent plan for the child is established within one year of entering placement and that court reviews are conducted timely throughout the life of the case.
• Represents the agency in termination of parental rights hearings and may be called to testify in delinquency and commitment hearings.
• Exercises considerable judgment in determining services for children and families where abuse or neglect or dependency has occurred.
• Provides vital information and recommendations to the court, both verbally and in writing, regarding the child and family’s needs in accordance with the child’s permanent plan through court reports and sworn testimony.
• Applies safety considerations for the child when making decisions and recommendations.
• Understands social work theory, techniques and practices, individual and group behavior, social problems, medical and mental illness, family dynamics, coping behavior, crisis intervention, and treatment of various medical and mental diseases and social issues.
• Is a member of the Permanency Planning Action Team (PPAT) as mandated by PL 96-272-1980 to formulate a case plan for each child in care.
• Completes home studies when requested by another state/county on a family for placement purposes.
• Conducts background checks including criminal records, Responsible Individuals List (RIL), and agency records.
• Based on information gathered for the study and his/her judgment of the individual’s/couple’s ability to parent a particular child, makes a recommendation based on placement approval.
• If placement is approved, monitors that placement and may be required to testify in court.

Requirements

• Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work; Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only); Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience; Master's degree in counseling in a human services field and one year of social work or counseling; Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience; Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience.
• Directly related experience is defined as human services experience in the areas of case management, assessment and referral, supportive counseling, intervention, psycho-social therapy and treatment planning.
• Transcripts must be attached with the application.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education: Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work; Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only); Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience; Master's degree in counseling in a human services field and one year of social work or counseling; Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience; Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience.
• Experience: Directly related experience is defined as human services experience in the areas of case management, assessment and referral, supportive counseling, intervention, psycho-social therapy and treatment planning.

Skills

• Understanding of social work theory, techniques and practices, individual and group behavior, social problems, medical and mental illness, family dynamics, coping behavior, crisis intervention, and treatment of various medical and mental diseases and social issues.

Benefits

To See Our Benefits Please Click Here https://www.randolphcountync.gov/200/Employee-Benefits