Social Worker I, Foster Care and Adoption

Social Worker I, Foster Care and Adoption

Martinez Office - Martinez, CA 94553

Overview

Salary Range $31.00 - $32.00 Hourly Level Experienced Position Type Full Time Job Shift Day/AM Education Level 4 Year Degree Travel Percentage Up to 50% Category Nonprofit - Social Services

Description

At Wayfinder Family Services, we understand the unique challenges facing some of our state's most vulnerable children, youth and adults. Those with disabilities, those without a home of their own, those who have been abused and many, many more. We answer the call for them. We believe in the amazing potential in, and for, each and every one of them. And, together, we find a way to turn that potential into reality. Program and Role Summary: Our statewide Foster Care and Adoption programs match children and youth who have been displaced from their homes due to abuse or neglect with families that can provide safe, caring homes. Wayfinder recruits, trains and certifies resource (foster) families, some of whom ultimately adopt the children they foster. We emphasize a child achieving permanency, which can be reunification with birth parents, living with relatives, adoption or guardianship. The primary focus of the Social Worker I is to be responsible for conducting resource family assessments for relative and non-relative families, completing reports approving or denying the family, or providing case management services to the family and youth until the case closes to reunification, guardianship, or adoption. Social workers may work in both roles simultaneously as needed. In case management, social workers will also develop, coordinate, and supervise treatment plans for children in kinship and unmatched family homes. The social worker monitors the cases for safety, well-being, and progress on the case plan.

Primary Responsibilities

• Facilitates the placement of children with resource families by coordinating with county/state placing agency staff.
• Provides ongoing assessment of family needs and make appropriate referrals to services such as counseling, support groups and other applicable services and coordinate with county worker and/or other community agencies to identify assistance funding services.
• Maintains accurate and thorough records of all services provided and document all assessments, meetings, decisions and reports.
• Maintains regular therapeutic contact with the foster child or children receiving services.
• Provides therapeutic interventions on an ongoing basis and during crises.
• Provides ongoing support for families for the duration of their case.
• Facilitates support and advisory groups for resource parents or youth.
• Supervises and coordinates the scheduling of the visitation service providers in the RFA program.
• Other duties as outlined in the position description.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited or state-approved graduate school in social work or social welfare, marriage, family and child counseling, child psychology, child development, counseling psychology, or social psychology is required.
• 6 months' full time equivalent experience in a public or private social service agency setting.
• Familiarity with the laws, rules, and regulations governing the operations of public social services agencies, Foster Family Agency homes (FFA), Resource Family Approval (RFA), and adoptions is highly desirable.
• Bilingual (Spanish), required.
• Valid CA Driver License with a minimum of three (3) years good driving history and must be approved by the agency's insurance carrier to drive agency vehicles.

Benefits: Wayfinder is committed to providing our employees with a benefits program that is both comprehensive and competitive which includes:

• Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, 11 paid holidays, plus five winter holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match up to 4%
• Employee referral program: Encourage your colleagues to join us
• Education tuition assistance program: Invest in your career development
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible
• Flexible spending account (FSA) plans
• Eligibility and other benefits are outlined in plan documents

Wayfinder Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We support a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment background and drug screenings.