Social Worker II - Department of Family and Children Services; DFCS

Job Description

Under general supervision, assess client needs and develop treatment plans in a variety of social service functions. Social Worker II positions in the Social Services Agency, Department of Family and Children's Services work in assignments related to child safety, well‑being, and permanency. These duties include:

• Receiving and making reports of alleged child abuse and/or neglect
• Assessing and investigating allegations of abuse and/or neglect
• Developing appropriate interventions
• Providing referrals for services and monitoring services for children and parents
• Removing children from unsafe environments
• Providing case management services
• Preparing documentation, case plans, safety plans, court reports and other legal documents
• Providing testimony in court
• Assessing and evaluating potential caregivers
• Placing children into appropriate homes
• Conducting home visits with children, caregivers, and parents
• Addressing issues specific to the child’s and families’ circumstances (substance abuse, intimate partner violence, mental health issues, sexual abuse, parenting, developmental issues, immigration, psycho‑social‑emotional‑behavioral issues)

• Receives assignments to caseloads in any Department program, including Adult Protective Services (APS), Cal Works Employment Services, SSI Advocacy, In‑Home Supportive Services (IHSS), DFCS, and CCS
• Investigates allegations of abuse and neglect of dependent and elder adults (APS) or minors (DFCS)
• Evaluates client problems, develops treatment plans, and follows each case through to solution
• Consults, refers cases, and works actively with other agencies and community groups, legal and medical professionals
• Establishes and maintains effective case‑work relationships
• Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing
• Manages a caseload accountably
• Prepares case records, documents, reports, and correspondence in a timely manner
• Interprets rules, regulations, policies and programs to clients and the public
• Identifies and assists clients in utilizing community resources
• Develops case plans, court reports and associated legal documents
• Evaluates compliance with court orders and testifies in court
• Conducts field visits and evaluates compliance with court orders
• Recruits applicants for foster care and adoption
• Evaluates suitability of adoptive and foster placements and finalizes adoptions
• Transports clients locally, statewide, and internationally when necessary
• May be required to testify in administrative hearings
• Assists in developing community resources and uses them appropriately
• Might be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required
• Performs related work as required

• Evaluates and assesses yearly service needs based on Medicare, SSI eligibility
• Conducts field visits for yearly reevaluations of client service needs
• Assesses and authorises new applicants
• Consults, refers cases and works actively with other agencies, community groups, and fair hearing officers
• Conducts field visits to hospitals, nursing homes, community care facilities as needed

• Determines degree of danger and risk of future abuse and neglect, and evaluates child and family needs for services
• Recruits applicants for foster care and adoption
• Evaluates suitability of adoptive and foster placements and finalizes adoptions

• Possession of a Master’s degree in Social Work, Behavioral Science, Counseling, Education Counseling, Gerontology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Nursing, Psychology, Social Psychology, Vocational Rehabilitation, or an equivalent title from an accredited college, plus two (2) years of social work experience
• OR possession of a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Behavioral Science, Counseling, Education Counseling, Gerontology, Nursing, Psychology, Social Psychology, Vocational Rehabilitation or equivalent title from an accredited college, plus four (4) years of social work experience
• Graduate training in an approved school of social work or related field may be substituted for experience on a year‑for‑year basis. The practicum experience obtained in the above related fields qualifies as experience.
• Master’s degree in Social Work may be…