Social Worker III - Foster Care

Foster Care Social Worker

Sign On Bonus And Retention Bonus: A $2000, $3000, $4000 sign on bonus is available depending on the position and qualifications of the individual selected. The foster care social worker provides specific services to children, their parent/guardians/caretakers when the children are removed due to substantiated abuse, neglect, or dependency. The worker provides counseling and case management services and assists the family with accessing specific services to help family members learn more appropriate behaviors, find safer housing, and make better decisions regarding the child's care and discipline. The goal is to establish a safe, permanent home for children who have been maltreated. On-Call duties are a part of this position. Employee provides counseling and case management services and assists families with accessing specific services to help family members learn more appropriate behaviors, find safer housing, make better decisions regarding the child's care and discipline. The goal is to establish a safe, permanent home for children who have been maltreated. Employee provides direct social work services to children and their families once the children have been removed from their home due to serious abuse or neglect or dependency. The worker also provides services to children and families when the child is recommended for voluntary out of home care. Occasionally children are placed in the agency's custody by a juvenile court judge as the result of a juvenile criminal matter or civil custody dispute. Employee analyzes situations and determines appropriate courses of action immediately following the removal of the child from their home. The employee assists the family in identifying and accessing community-based support to assist the family in coping with difficult situations and resolve family problems. The employee provides a comprehensive evaluation of the family's strengths and needs. The employee ensures that everyone (service providers and the family) is working toward a permanent plan for the child. Concurrent planning is also required in all cases.

Employee must have the ability to identify an appropriate alternative permanent plan for the child in cases where the permanent plan is something other than reunification with the parent. In cases where adoption is the permanent plan the employee must be familiar with the adoptions process, this will require preparation of the child for the termination of parental rights process (TPR).

Employee must create thorough documentation in accordance with current policy including but not limited to; all contacts with children, parents, placement providers and collaterals (extended family members, neighbors, school personnel, medical personnel, mental health professionals, etc.). Other assessments, visitation, and case planning tools must be completed as required by current policy (strengths and needs, risk reassessments, out of home case plans, well-being needs, PPAT reviews, monthly caseworker visits, etc.). Maintains and compiles data and prepares statistical reports in accordance with established policy and guidance. All types of documentation, reports, tools, and data must be clear, concise, professional, and current in accordance with established policy. Employee exercises considerable judgment in determining services for children and families where abuse or neglect or dependency has occurred. The selection of appropriate services for the child and his/her family requires significant understanding of their needs based on previous CPS assessments and continual ongoing assessments by the Child Placement worker. Employee provides vital information and recommendations to the court, both verbally and in writing, regarding the child and family's needs in accordance with the child's permanent plan through court reports and sworn testimony. Safety considerations for the child must be considered when making decisions and recommendations. The employee must apply Child Placement policy and time frames to meet state and federal guidelines to ensure that a permanent plan for the child is established within one year of entering placement and that court reviews are conducted timely throughout the life of the case. Employees represent the agency in termination of parental rights hearings and may be called to testify in delinquency and commitment hearings. Professional demeanor is required at all times. Employee must understand social work theory, techniques and practices, individual and group behavior, social problems, medical and mental illness, family dynamics, coping behavior, crisis intervention, and treatment of various medical and mental diseases and social issues. Employee is a member of the Permanency Planning Action Team (PPAT) as mandated by PL 96-272-1980 to formulate a case plan for each child in care. The team meets on a monthly basis. Being a member of this team requires the ability to assess child and family situations and make recommendations such as services for the families, identifying and/or recommending changes to permanent plans. The employee may, when assigned by the supervisor, complete home studies when requested by another state/county on a family for placement purposes. The worker completes the study using his/her assessment/evaluation skills and conducts background checks including criminal records, Responsible Individuals List (RIL) and agency records. When requested, the worker makes a recommendation based on information gathered for the study and his/her judgment of the individual's/couple's ability to parent a particular child. If placement is approved, monitoring of that placement may be required. Testimony in court may also be required.

Minimum Education and Experience

Transcripts need to be submitted with application.

Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work; Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and completion of the Child Welfare Collaborative (Child Welfare positions only); Bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work and one year directly related experience; Master's degree in counseling in a human services field and one year of social work or counseling; Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years directly related experience; Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of directly related experience.

*Directly related experience is defined as human services experience in the areas of case management, assessment and referral, supportive counseling, intervention, psycho-social therapy and treatment planning.