Foster Care Social Worker (Bilingual) (Trainee Eligible)

Job Description

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Child and Family Services Division of the Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Foster Care Social Worker . This is a professional position in an integrated team, providing the full range of services in foster care to a culturally and ethnically diverse population.

Responsibilities

Major Job Duties:

• Serving in a lead case management role to plan, coordinate, and oversee service delivery for children and families involved in foster care and adoption services in collaboration with mental health, education, legal, medical, and other human services professionals;
• Supporting permanency planning goals, including reunification, relative placement, and adoption, by conducting relative, kin, and resource family searches and coordinating placement resources;
• Securing, supervising, and supporting foster and adoptive placements, including assessing prospective foster and adoptive homes, providing post-placement supervision, and supporting resource families to maintain stable placements;
• Assessing the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children and families and developing and implementing psychosocial case plans that incorporate systemic, medical, social-ecological, and concurrent planning approaches;
• Ensuring provision and coordination of medical, psychological, educational, and social support services through referrals and collaboration with community resources and multidisciplinary teams;
• Facilitating connections between children, birth families, and relatives through visitation, ongoing contact, family team meetings, and other supportive services;
• Completing monthly visits with children, providing crisis intervention services, and participating in after-hours and weekend on-call coverage for emergencies involving abuse, neglect, or children in the legal custody of the Department of Human Services;
• Maintaining compliance with court reviews, OASIS documentation requirements, and other administrative and regulatory mandates throughout the foster care and adoption process; and
• Participating in community outreach, presentations, consultations, and educational efforts to support resource families and increase awareness of the needs of children awaiting placement.

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Trainee:

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or other directly related clinical discipline, all of which required a clinical practicum involving diagnostic, treatment, and case management services; and
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).

Full Performance:

• Master's Degree as above;
• Two years of post-Master's degree experience providing professional clinical social work services, one year of which should include experience in a child welfare setting (foster care, adoption, child protective services); and
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).

Substitution(s): Directly related higher level clinical degrees may substitute for the Master's Degree education requirement and 1 year of experience.

Desirable Qualifications: Preference may be given to applicants with experience in one or more of the following:

• Providing direct services to children and families involved with child welfare; and/or
• Supporting and promoting an inclusive and diverse environment.

Special Requirements

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It will include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You will be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

Driver's License: Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver's license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicant's driving record. Alternatively, the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite.

Trainee Level: If an employee is hired at the trainee level, a training period will be established to last no longer than the equivalent of 24 months. At or before the end of the training period, the employee must meet experience, training, and proficiency requirements for the Full Performance position. Once the candidate qualifies, they will be appointed to the position.

Please complete each section of the application including the supplemental questions. Your responses to the supplemental questions are required because they provide us with specific information necessary to evaluate your qualifications for this position. These responses are considered part of the selection process. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please do not write "see resume" as a response to the questions.

Additional Information

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Work Schedule: 2 days required in the community or office, and up to 3 days a week telework, which is subject to change based on business needs. The work may extend beyond normal business hours at times (occasional evenings and weekends).

Location: The office is located at 2100 Washington Blvd. (Sequoia Plaza). 50% of work is performed at locations within Arlington County and the surrounding jurisdictions.

The official title of this position is: Human Services Clinician II.

Starting salary is commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate selected. The pay range listed above is effective July 1, 2026.

This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.

For more information on Arlington County's generous benefits and retirement plan, click here.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.

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