Social Worker III - Foster Care

Overview

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.

The 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.

• Provide direct social work services to children and their families after removal due to abuse/neglect or dependency, including counseling and case management.
• Assist families in identifying and accessing community-based supports to cope with difficult situations and resolve family problems.
• Develop and implement comprehensive evaluations of family strengths and needs; ensure everyone is working toward a permanent plan for the child; pursue concurrent planning as required.
• Identify appropriate alternative permanent plans when the permanent plan is not reunification; for adoptions, prepare the child for termination of parental rights (TPR).
• Maintain thorough documentation per policy, including all contacts and case notes with children, parents, placement providers, and collaterals.
• Complete assessments, visitation and case planning tools as required (strengths and needs, risk reassessments, out-of-home case plans, well-being needs, PPAT reviews, monthly caseworker visits, etc.).
• Maintain data and prepare statistical reports in accordance with policy; ensure documents are clear, concise, professional, and current.
• Provide information and recommendations to the court, verbally and in writing, regarding the child and family needs within the permanent plan; participate in court hearings and testimony as required; ensure safety considerations are integrated into decisions and recommendations.
• Apply Child Placement policy and time frames to meet state and federal guidelines for permanency; monitor court reviews; represent the agency in termination of parental rights hearings when required.
• Maintain professional demeanor and apply social work theory, techniques, and knowledge of individual and group behavior, family dynamics, crisis intervention, and related fields.
• Participate in the Permanency Planning Action Team (PPAT) monthly meetings; assess situations and provide recommendations for services and permanent plan changes.
• When assigned, complete home studies for placements requested by other state/counties; conduct background checks and prepare placement recommendations; monitor placements as needed; testify in court when required.

• Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work; or Bachelor's degree in social work with related qualifications as defined in the description (Child Welfare Collaborative or related experience as specified).
• One year directly related experience for certain degree combinations, or two to three years for other combinations as outlined (as per original description).
• Directly related experience is defined as human services experience in case management, assessment and referral, supportive counseling, intervention, psycho-social therapy and treatment planning. TRANSCRIPTS need to be attached to application.

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