Social Worker- Child Foster Care
Minimum Qualifications of Education and Experience
$31.84 to $42.51 with progression to $53.18/Hourly
Bachelor's or Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
Regular and reliable attendance is a necessary component of job/position. Individuals required to use County vehicles and equipment must have a valid driver's license and be free of any major traffic violations for the last three (3) years.
Desirable Qualifications:
Two years of social service related experience.
Nature of Work
Under supervision, and within Federal, State and locally developed programs and policies, identifies individual and/or family needs and works toward meeting those needs through County and community support services. Provides case management and/or advocacy for customers. May provide education in community-based settings. Works within a multi-disciplinary team setting.
Examples of Work
- Collaborates with referral agencies to provide information and coordinated services
- Updates records and files for caseloads and prepares all necessary correspondence
- Develops recommendations for court cases as appropriate
- Advise clients of possible resources, rights and responsibilities under programs or services
- Coordinates services
- Provides advocacy
- Conducts interview and makes home visits to identify needs, challenges, and strengths of individuals or families and compiles data in compliance with State requirements
- Write social histories and case status reports for documentation of service provision for the department, court reviews and for other service providers
- Counsels individual clients in group, family counseling or individual counseling to explore, identify, resolve, prevent or control problems
- Works with natural supports and family group decision making
- Prepares correspondence reports and social histories and maintains case records in accordance with state, federal, and local guidelines
- Transports or arranges for transportation of clients to medical appointments, court hearings, placements and other service programs/facilities
- Consults and collaborates with departmental staff, other county departments and community service professionals to develop and provide appropriate and timely services
- Speaks to community groups to present information about programs
- Represents the unit/department in committee assignments and interactions with community groups for service provision and program planning
- Maintain accurate case records and complete forms for documentation of eligibility, reimbursements, service referrals, evaluation of client outcomes and general case management purposes.
- Evaluate families and their homes for approving licensure to provide foster care services and for adoptions
- (The work assigned to a position in this classification may not include all possible tasks in this work and does not limit the assignment of any additional tasks in this classification.
- Arranges orientation and ongoing training/support groups for foster care providers & adoptive families.
- Acts as liaison and support between placing workers and providers.
- Coordinates requests for out of home placements
- Assists in rate/payment provisions
- Maintains statistics of out of home placement activity
- Recruits potential foster care providers and adoptive families
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
- Knowledge of the social sciences
- Knowledge of the principles of social work
- Knowledge of community resources
- Knowledge of social and economic problems
- Knowledge of motivating factors of human behavior
- Knowledge of the dynamics of victimization and the root causes of violence
- Knowledge of trauma-informed practices
- Knowledge of the criminal justice system, including victim rights
- Knowledge of therapeutic and strength-based approaches
- Knowledge of and sensitivity to victim issues, victim needs
- Knowledge of agency policies
- Knowledge of data practices and confidentiality
- Skilled in verbal communication, public speaking, writing and recording of information and data
- Skill in the use of computers and technology
- Skills in individual and community advocacy
- Ability to understand individual and family needs with empathy and objectivity
- Ability to exercise good judgment in recommending possible solutions for individual and family needs and when utilizing conflict management and advocacy skills
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, public officials and citizens of the community
- Ability to organize efficiently and keep records systematically
- Ability to work independently and to recognize when supervision is needed
- Ability to work with diverse populations
- Ability to serve as a liaison to community resources
- Ability to drive an automobile
Persons with disabilities: the above is a general listing of job duties. Essential and non-essential functions may vary by individual position. Reasonable accommodations may be available for both essential and non-essential job duties.