Family Services Worker I - Foster Care

Social Services Case Manager

Spotsylvania County is committed to maintaining a drug free workplace. Employees are prohibited from manufacturing, distributing, possessing or using controlled substances such as marijuana. A positive drug test result, confirmed use or impairment can be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination in accordance with our personnel policies. A positive pre-employment drug test will also disqualify a candidate for hire.

Under direct supervision, performs social work and case management in the provision of social services for individuals in need of assistance. Employee is responsible for investigating allegations of abuse or exploitation of elderly/disabled adults, adult abuse/neglect with lead role responsibilities in cases involving criminal abuse/neglect or sexual abuse, investigating cases of suspected child abuse/neglect, assisting clients in achieving self-sufficiency, or implementing activities associated with other social services. Work involves performing case management, providing crisis intervention and/or counseling, assessing client needs, coordinating provision of needed services, and maintaining case records. Work may regularly involve two or more program areas.

This position is essential. Personnel occupying this position may be scheduled to work regardless of weather conditions and/or when general County offices are closed. Applicants must be available to work Sunday through Saturday as needed. Employee must be willing to work in the community emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster or emergency. If chosen for this position, the employee will be required to be part of an on-call rotation that includes evenings, weekends, overnight visits, and holiday hours that may require immediate response into the field.

Foster Care Services:

• Participates in face-to-face contact and attends home visits to ensure children in foster care and adoption home settings are safe and ensuing that the child's/children's physical, emotional, and educational needs are being met.
• Conducts comprehensive assessments to include but not limited to the following areas: safety, permanency, and wellbeing; educational, social, and independent living skills; substance abuse, and developmental concerns; family relationships such as parent-child conflict and domestic violence; assessing the family (i.e., parenting capacity, family relationships, social supports, physical health challenges and disabilities, and basic needs such as shelter, food, and clothing).
• Collaborates with the parents, prior custodians, foster parents, and children when appropriate, to develop a family-centered solution focused service plan ensuring the safety, permanency, and wellbeing of the children in foster care.
• Coordinates and collaborates with foster families and others to deliver services (i.e., home-based family and individual counseling, health insurance and medical care, parenting support, and domestic violence interventions) to children and parents/family members.
• Coordinates or participates in meetings relating to area of assignment, such as Family Partnership Meetings, Treatment Team meetings, Individual Education Plan meetings, adult prescription team meetings or team meetings between staff, family members and/or other professionals.
• Responds and intervenes during an emergency crisis around placement of children in foster home, congregate care facilities, and trial home placements with parent or relative caregivers.
• Perform court-related services to include writing and submitting service plans to court, consulting with county attorney, writing affidavits, filing petitions, and providing testimony in court.
• Documents assessments, critical incident reports, detailed case contacts, progress notes, and service plans in a timely manner in accordance with local and state policy in a case management system.
• Transports children in care of the agency to and from appointments, visitations, and placements; the latter possibly requiring extended driving or travel events.
• Participates in required trainings and meetings and serves as a representative on workgroups while contributing to the development of written policies and procedures.
• Coordinates and attends intra-agency and inter-agency meetings.
• May be required to be part of an on-call rotation that includes evening, overnight shifts, weekend, and holiday hours which may require immediate response into the field.
• Performs other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes in families.

Minimum Training & Experience:

Bachelor's Degree Social Services, Sociology, Human Services, Psychology or closely related field accompanied by a minimum of one (1) to two (2) years' experience in a human services related area or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position. Must possess and maintain a valid Commonwealth of Virginia driver's license.

Special Requirements:

• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the County and of departmental practices as they pertain to the performance of duties relating to the position of Family Services Worker.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and methods associated with social services work, with particular knowledge of services and resources relating to area of assignment.
• Has the ability to assess situations relating to social problems such as child abuse or elderly abuse/neglect, and to provide or coordinate appropriate intervention.
• Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and methods utilized within the department.
• Knowledge of the laws, ordinances, standards, and regulations pertaining to the essential duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Knowledge of social, economic and health problems; general knowledge of social institutions and the methods of assistance.
• Ability to assess safety, risk and protective capacity.
• Possess critical thinking skills, ability to apply critical thinking, knowledge, and research to multiple scenarios in the field, as well as an office setting.
• Ability to meet deadlines and maintain case documentation within a case management system.
• Ability to work collaboratively with families to identify solutions to specific issues and/or challenges such as parenting, behavior management, childcare, financial stability, housing mental health, substance abuse, etc.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information.
• Ability to keep abreast of any changes in policy, methods, computer operations, equipment needs, policies, etc., as they pertain to departmental operations and activities.
• Ability to conduct effective client interviews and to exercise considerable tact, courtesy, and discretion in contact with clients and family members.
• Ability to effectively communicate and interact with clients, court personnel, supervisors, and members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the department.
• Ability to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear and effective manner.
• Ability to use independent judgment and work with indirect supervision as situations warrant.
• Ability to exhibit mathematical ability to handle required calculations.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and proficiency with computers and related software programs.
• Ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.
• Ability to inform and guide others by applying principles of professional counseling in addressing specific situations.
• Ability to read a variety of informational documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures.
• Ability to write reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech.
• Ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.
• Ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.
• Ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.
• Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.
• Ability to communicate respectfully and professionally.
• Must be adaptable to performing under moderate stress when confronted with an emergency.