Family Services Worker I - Foster Care
Full-time
8 months ago
Employment Information
General Statement of Job
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. 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.
Special Duties & Responsibilities
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
- Performs case management, intervention, and/or counseling involving situations such as abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children, elderly citizens, disabled/incapacitated adults, or other individuals at risk
- Implements activities associated with other social service programs, such as assisting clients in achieving self-sufficiency and render advocacy.
- Investigates allegations of abuse or exploitation of elderly/disabled adults; conducts assessments of personal care facilities, nursing homes, adult care residences, and adult day care facilities; assesses client needs and makes provisions for services, which may include protective services, companion services, or long term services; recruits, interviews, and approves companion aides, and monitors companion aide cases; makes home visits to clients’ homes; reviews guardianship reports.
- 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 members, family members and/or other professionals.
- Participates in specialized work teams involving multiple County agencies or external entities.
- Prepares referrals for families requiring financial assistance or other assistance; collaborates or contracts with outside agencies or professionals as appropriate; maintains current listings of community resources, social service agencies, or other resources available for clients.
- Prepares and maintains confidential case records and files; documents all interactions with clients; prepares purchase of services orders and vendor invoices; enters data into computer system.
- Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, case records, purchase of services orders, invoices, applications, court orders, needs assessments, guardianship reports, adult protective services reports, sexual trauma reports, police/arrest reports, medical exemption forms, laws, policies, procedures, manuals, directories, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
- Communicates with supervisor, employees, other departments, clients, family members, companion aides, social service agencies, government agencies, counselors, medical providers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health agencies, probation officers, law enforcement personnel, court personnel, attorneys, community organizations, professional colleagues, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate, exchange information, or resolve problems.
- Maintains confidentiality of departmental issues and documentation.
- Maintains a working, current knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, policies, or other guidelines; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; attends workshops and training sessions regarding changing laws and policies.
- Participates in the staffing of local emergency shelter when this facility is opened by the County to meet community needs.
- Operates a motor vehicle to conduct work activities.
- Performs general/clerical tasks, which may include answering telephone calls, entering data into computer, typing documents, making copies, sending/receiving faxes, filing documentation, or processing incoming/outgoing mail.
- Provides assistance to other employees or departments as needed.
- 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 related duties as required.
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES (INTAKE):
- Conducts initial assessment of child abuse and neglect reports and provides crisis counseling for reporters.
- Provides information and referral resources and brief immediate crisis intervention to callers for referrals that do not warrant a Child Protective Services intervention.
- Applies child welfare knowledge and critical thinking skills to interpret state and local policies to determine validity of child abuse and neglect reports.
- Coordinates with the team to determine the validity, response time, and track assignment for reports of child abuse and neglect.
- Uses automated technology in multiple systems to support the decision-making process.
- Assigns the referral to CPS After Hours family services workers for investigation or family assessment and records the assignment on the Electronic Whiteboard.
- Provides CPS screening policy consultation to program staff and supervisors.
- Assists the unit supervisor with providing technical guidance and training to fellow team members.
- Provides support to the team. Duties include staffing cases and guiding specialists in responding to child abuse and neglect referrals, developing response plans, drafting court paperwork, communicating with managers/directors and community stakeholders about cases, and serving as a policy expert within the team. Perform on-call duties in rotation with the team to provide coverage and support during evenings, weekends, and holiday hours that may require immediate response into the field.
- Performs other duties as required to ensure child safety and improve outcomes within families.
CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES (INVESTIGATOR):
- Investigates allegations of child abuse and neglect, which includes interviewing children, parents, and other involved parties.
- Uses child welfare framework to perform comprehensive assessments of children and their families, including home visits to determine risk and safety.
- Responds to and provides emergency crisis intervention to maintain child safety and well-being.
- Designs and implements safety plans with children and families to enhance safety and reduce risk and further maltreatment.
- Documents assessments, investigations, safety plans, critical incident reports, detailed case contacts, progress notes, and service plans in a case management system.
- Prepares court petitions and provides testimony in court cases.
- Collaborates with various multi-disciplinary professionals and facilitates family engagement activities.
- Provides support to the team which may include, but not limited to, staffing case guiding specialists in responding to child abuse and neglect referrals, developing work plans, drafting court paperwork, and communicating with managers/directors and community stakeholders about cases.
- Perform on-call duties in rotation with the team to provide coverage and support during evenings, weekends, and holiday hours that may require immediate response into the field.
- Performs other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes in families and improve outcomes in families.
IN-HOME SERVICES:
- Informs clients of In-Home service program regulations and right to participate.
- Interprets laws, policies, and regulations as applied to specific areas of responsibility.
- Interviews and assesses clients through a trauma-informed lens to identify strengths, needs and other relevant factors such as safety concerns, risk factors, adverse childhood experiences, and support systems.
- Collaborates with private and community service providers and resources to ensure clients receive evidence-based services.
- Make sound judgements within the framework of existing laws, policies and regulations.
- Respond to client’s emotions in order to accomplish service objectives.
- Presents cases to FAPT to determine appropriate services as well as writing and implementing service plans.
- Provides case management services that includes completing service plans, safety assessments, risk reassessments, CANS, and reasonable candidacy assessments.
- Monitoring families to ensure compliance with regulations and guidelines of the program while constantly re-evaluating the needs of the client.
- Facilitates Child and Family Team Meetings.
- Tracks expenditures, prepares/submits budget estimates, and ensures payment for services within the In-Home Services program.
- Completes necessary federal, state, and local planning and reporting requirements.
- Performs other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes in families and improve outcomes in families.
- Perform on-call duties in rotation with the team to provide coverage and support during evenings, weekends, 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 assess situations relating to social problems such as child abuses or elderly abuse/neglect, and to provide or coordinate appropriate intervention.
- 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.
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