Social Worker III - Permanency Planning/Adoption

This position is open until filled.
The Human Resources Office is unable to provide status updates by telephone.
The salary range is listed above. Starting salary will depend on qualifications and experience.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide foster care service for children, ages 0-29 years of age. When a parent or caretaker can no longer provide basic needs for their children, it is the responsibility of the State to become involved with the family and provide necessary services to prevent removal of the children from the home. If these intervention strategies are not successful, placement outside of the family unit may be necessary to protect the child. This employee will provide case services as needed for the protection of identified children working toward reunification while at the same time establishing an alternative permanency plan which includes, but is not exclusive to, relative or non-relative placement or guardianship. This may involve court action to terminate parental rights of biological parents in order to place the child in a permanent adoptive home. The clients (defined as child and the family unit) that are served be this positon are from all segments of the population, all races and socio-economic levels, and persons with mental and/or physical disorders, developmentally delayed, emotional problems, psychopathologies, etc. This position serves a diverse make-up of parental families, families who have drug or alcohol related problems and families who are having difficulty in coping with everyday stresses. The targeted population are children 0-18 years of age who are victims of abuse, neglect or dependency, but may serve children up to age 21 if they remain in school or are employed. The majority of clients have limited knowledge of child development, poor parenting skills, low self-esteem and, in some cases, no extended family network that can provide a support system. This position will be responsible for any and all court reviews, agency foster care reviews, risk assessments and family and/or individual case plans which occur while the social worker is the case manager of said case. 

Normal work hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  After-hours work will regularly occur due to the nature of this position. Position may require after-hours and weekend on-call coverage.   Position may be required to assist with foster children being cared for in the DSS office when appropriate placement is not available.  Flexing of work schedule must be done in consultation with Unit Supervisor and Program Administrator.    *Quickly ascertain facts in cases to determine what if any actions are necessary to address the abuse, neglect or dependency issue in the case. Said steps include the completion of necessary case plans for every case do as to define measurable progress, or lack of progress toward the goals desired be said case plans and assessment by working with parents/caretaker on case goals as a means to achieve permanence.   
*Possess interviewing skills for children of all ages, ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
* Have the ability to provide intensive in-home and out-of-home guidance and counseling to all foster children, foster and prospective adoptive families and the child’s biological families that may be pertinent to the achievement of the goal of achieving permanence for foster child.  
Worker must: 
*Be able to provide clinical and technical guidance to professionals, agencies, and/or groups within the community as well as within the Department of Social Services.   
*Capable and prepared to represent the agency as an expert witness in the area of abuse, neglect, dependency, custody, or termination or parental right hearings. 
*Have and maintain a knowledge of family dynamics, social work assessments techniques, consultation and teaching techniques, and ability to perform the position in an appropriate manner within the parameter of case management as defined be Children’s Services practice and standards.
Worker must:
*Be able to represent the agency and/or Foster Care /Adoption Unit at all agency foster case reviews; juvenile court reviews; team and Unit staffing as appropriate for each case maintained in the social worker’s caseload.
*Be prepared to take steps as needed to remove a child from the care and custody of his /her parent/caretaker when they are unable to provide a safe, appropriate and permanent minimal standard of care or seeking out another plan of care for the children when the parent is unable or unwilling to address their abuse, neglect behaviors/actions.
Worker must: 
*Obtain and maintain a knowledge of community and state wide resources which may be accessed as necessary to fulfill client needs. The social Worker must, in turn, co-ordinate and implement intervention plans to access said juveniles on an individual case basis. 
Worker must:
*Perform other duties as assigned by the Agency Director to include emergency duty and assisting with displaced children and adults. 
*Participate in the intake and screening of CPS reports as necessary.Minimum Training and Experience Requirements- 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 a human services field and one year of directly related experience; 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.Work Conditions - Employees work in settings which range from human services agencies, clinics, hospitals, or offices, but often involve visits to client’s home or contacts in institutions or correctional facilities.
Hazards - Includes contacts with clients and/or family members who may be hostile, resistant, and violent.

Please Note:
 If offered a position, official transcripts/verification of education must be submitted directly to the Human Resources Office from the educational institution(s) listed on application. Positions requiring a minimum education/certification must also have official documents submitted to the Human Resources Office. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted by the candidate with the application for consideration of meeting minimum job requirements.