Social Services Assistant - Children's Services

Social Services Assistant (Family Support Worker)

The role of Social Services Assistant (Family Support Worker) is to support and assist the Social Worker in the delivery of short-term, intensive, clinical and concrete services to families referred to the program. The Social Services Assistant, in conjunction with the program's Social Worker, works to provide intensive in-home intervention services to a varied caseload of families in which children are at immediate risk of out-of-home placement.

Job Function and Other Assigned Duties

• Assists in family interviews and gathering of pertinent background information, family history, assessing the strengths and risks of the family for completion of the MFRA.
• Identifies all family members and community resources (name, address, and phone numbers) and record in contact notes.
• Assists the family in identifying and linking to community resources and other activities needed to carry out the service plan as well as to advocate
• Meets regularly with the Social Worker and other treatment team members to share important information regarding the service plan. The service plan includes strategies for achieving short- and long-term goals and taking the necessary steps to reduce the risk.
• Responds in a timely way to any emergencies or crisis situation, especially when there is a safety concern.
• Provides intensive in-home services to families and children at risk. Work with family on short- and long-term goals identified in the service plan to ensure the safety and well-being of the children and to improve family functioning.
• Serves as a liaison in connection with families to community services such as mental health providers, behavioral aides, financial assistance, hospitals, and public utilities to assure families are receiving the maximum benefits from all services. Provide information to families and encourage them to use community and emergency services.
• Serves as a role model by advocating, teaching, coaching, and modeling life skills, such as parenting, budgeting, household management, childhood development, anger management
• Provides transportation as needed.
• Assesses the need for and arranges for emergencies such as CAN, food banks, shelters, and mental health providers
• Attends and testifies in court, as needed.
• Completes all required paperwork for each family, including but not limited to: flex funds, faxes, T-2 forms, safety plans, service plans, correspondence release of information. Documents contact notes with family and professionals.
• Maintains the order and confidentiality of all client records.
• Attends all relevant trainings.
• Reports all suspected incidents of child abuse, neglect, or sex abuse to the IFP supervisor immediately upon learning of them, as well as document in the contact notes
• Responds to requests for information from administration.
• Follows directions and assignments identified by supervisor

Frequency and Purpose of Contacts:

• Maintains regularly scheduled contact with the IFP Social Worker to share information, coordinate services, and determine case direction.
• Contacts IFP Supervisor regularly to share information and recommendations regarding case direction.
• Contacts other community providers and FIP to gather information and consult on case to assess family
• Contacts other community agencies in order to coordinate accessible services.

Decisions and Recommendations:

• Along with the IFP Social Worker, makes referrals to other community providers and resources.
• Determines whether concrete services should be provided in accordance with service plan in order to reduce risk to children (flex funds, bus tokes, medications, etc.)
• Along with the IFP Social Worker, creates initial and updates service plans with families.
• Along with the IFP Social Worker and supervisor, assesses the need for out-of-home placement of children.

Performance Standards:

• Assesses risk and safety of children and informs IFP Social Worker and/or supervisor immediately of any situation that requires action to reduce risk.
• Demonstrates the skill in therapeutic relationship building with children and families.
• Demonstrates the skill in teaching, coaching and modeling parenting, home management, and budgeting skills when working with children and families.
• Demonstrates the ability to assist families in accessing community services that is available to them.
• Utilizes therapeutic recreational activities with children and families to achieve the goals outlined on the service plan.
• Meets and has regular phone contact with the IFP Social Worker and supervisor to share and coordinate services.
• Attends and participates in regular supervision, unit meetings, team meetings, and other necessary and mandatory meetings and trainings.
• Completes accurately and on time the necessary paperwork such as contact notes, timesheets, monthly statistics, and other reports as needed.
• Plans leave appropriately and sets workload priorities in order to make efficient use of time.

Qualifications:

High School Diploma and experience working in the field of human services. Licenses and Certificates Possession of a valid license equivalent to a noncommercial, class C Maryland driver's license is required at the time of appointment. Proof of Licenses, Certifications and Education Applicants are required to submit proof of licenses, certifications and education beyond high school to meet the required and preferred qualifications of the position. Diplomas or transcripts must show the applicant's major field of study. Copies and unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Failure to submit proof of Licenses, Certifications and Education will result in your application not being considered. Proof of licenses, certifications, and/or education must be submitted with each application.

Conditions of Employment:

Applicants selected for employment with Baltimore County must successfully complete a physical examination, drug screening and employment investigation, including, but not limited to criminal background, education certification and fingerprinting checks.