SW I/A&T – Foster Care

Description of Job Duties: The primary purpose of this position is to coordinate and deliver services to children for whom the agency has legal responsibility.  The Foster Care social worker works to achieve timely permanence for each child in the legal custody of the agency.  In order to do this, services must be delivered to families in an effort to reunite the family or seek other alternative permanent arrangements.  The permanent plan must be in the best interest of the child and based upon the parents’ adherence to the case plan developed to alleviate the safety issues. Prior to the delivery of Foster Care services, the social worker must assess the needs of the child and family.  The assessment process continues throughout the life of the case.  The social worker will educate the family about the purpose and process of a Child and Family Team Meeting.  The Social Worker will assist the family in identifying supportive relationships that can assist them through the foster care process.  During the Child and Family Team Meeting, an effective and obtainable case plan is developed by the team.  This case plan becomes the guiding factor in the case. The social worker will work with the child, removal caregiver (parents), placement providers and other relevant parties to ensure the continued safety of the child, while assisting the removal caregiver in alleviating the safety barriers. The social worker along with the family will also develop a visitation plan for the child and family. The social worker, Child and Family Team, and the Permanency Planning Action Team will continue to assess the appropriateness of the permanent plan.  The social worker will keep the Court informed regarding the progress or lack thereof with thorough accurate and informative court reports. The social worker will strive to achieve permanence for the child in a timely manner. General working hours for this position are 8:00am to 5:00pm.  However, the position is required to work flexible hours each week as pre-determined by Supervisor or Program Director in order to fully accommodate families and meet agency work requirements. Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities:  Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their applications to complex casework, treatment, and investigation of abuse or neglect of children; thorough knowledge of policies and procedures as evidenced by the ability to cite the authority of federal and state law; thorough knowledge of individual and group behavior, family dynamics, and medical, behavioral and/or psychosocial problems and their treatment theory. Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community. Ability to interact and motivate a resistant involuntary client population and the public who may not agree with the laws, rules or policies of the process or the programs; ability to prepare documentation such as written investigative reports for the court, case records and treatment plans; ability to testify as an expert witness; ability to employ advanced case management interview techniques to establish a supportive relationship and involve families in the initial assessment for the need of services; ability to quickly assess the risks and safety of the client environment during daylight hours, after dark and in high crime areas; ability to employ expert negotiation skills in the most complex cases; ability to analyze and assess child development safety issues in relation to risk factors; ability to analyze tense family situations and make decisions about removing children when the decision has to be made with limited direct information and limited access to consultation; ability to communicate effectively and establish supportive client relationships. Ability to perform manual work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.