Social Service Worker-Foster Care - Family Adoption Consultants, Inc Michigan (Livingston) - Full-Time

Description

Social Service Worker-Foster Care 

Family Adoption Consultants, Inc Michigan (Livingston) 

Full Time, 40 Hours/Week

Salary: $41,600 - $45,760

SUMMARY: Performs independently a full range of assignments, using the methods and techniques required to complete the processes of services to birth families, foster families, and adoptive families.

SUPERVISOR: Program Manager

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Duties and responsibilities shall be completed promptly and expeditiously within the time frames outlined in the Family and Community Services agency policy, BCAL, MDHHS and ISEP.

• Considerable contact with agency staff/personnel, clients, DHHS staff, court staff, referral sources, etc.

• Work directly with children, biological families, foster families, adoptive families and other relevant individuals.

• Comply with agency policies and procedures, COA regulations, federal and state requirements, and educational/certification/registry requirements.

• Obtain and maintain appropriate training hours as required.

• Utilize agency form letters, documents, informational materials, and other agency resources to facilitate organizational service.

• Maintain accurate and confidential case records and information.

• Provide recruitment and retention to foster families as needed.

• Provide crisis intervention services, including being available on-call as needed.

• Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Responsibilities: Must report any suspected child abuse or neglect as required by state child protection statutes. Is knowledgeable about the statute and directs any questions about the statute to the appropriate protective services unit. Further understands that such suspected child abuse or neglect involving any FCS client or immediate family member must also be reported to FCS supervision.

• Participate in phone calls, home visits, court hearings, and/or any other appointment/meeting pertaining to FCS clients as needed to ensure that services are being rendered to children and families appropriately.

• Provide support, training and education with regards to foster care policy and procedure as required.

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of individuals/families as needed and provide/secure appropriate services to address these needs.

• Develop, implement and monitor case plans and services being rendered to clients.

• Prepare and maintain clear and concise reports and documents according to agency/state licensing policies and procedures including but not limited to: service plans, legal documents, forms, and petitions.

• Attend all court hearings as required and provides accurate testimony and recommendations regarding case progress and services rendered to children and families based upon assessments completed.

• Provide transportation assistance to clients as appropriate.

• Complete investigations in accordance with state or agency regulations, as required.

• Perform all other tasks as needed and/or assigned.

The Duties and Responsibilities above represent the most significant duties of this position, but do not exclude other assignments that would be within the qualification and responsibility levels of this position.  

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Possession of a Bachelor's or Master's degree with a major in one of the following human services areas: social work, sociology, psychology, family ecology, consumer/community services, family studies, family and/or child development, guidance/school counseling, counseling psychology, criminal justice, human services, interdisciplinary studies in social science, education, law enforcement, forensic psychology, behavioral science, gerontology, special education, education of the emotionally disturbed or education of the gifted.

• One year experience as a social service worker and completion of CWTI in foster care or adoption preferred.

• Successfully complete all initial and ongoing training requirements.

• Knowledge of agency policy, procedures and overall operations preferred.

• Knowledge of State and Federal social welfare laws and policies including DHHS policy, BCAL ISEP, the Child Protection Law and all relevant court requirements and procedures preferred.

• Ability to maintain records, prepare reports, conduct correspondence, communicate verbally with a range of clients and professionals, and maintain favorable public relations.

• Knowledge of social work theory methods, principles, practices, techniques, and language for casework, group work, and community organization.

• High level of communication skills, decision making skills and problem solving techniques.

• Ability to navigate computer systems comfortably.

• Ability to work independently.

• Be of good moral character and demonstrate emotional stability, and professionalism.

• Develop and maintain the ability, knowledge, experience, training and skills to perform duties and responsibilities of the position.

• Must not show any evidence or indication of the following behavior, which would constitute immediate grounds for dismissal:

o Any convictions involving child abuse or neglect

o Location on the Central Registry

o Any participation in the abduction, sale or trafficking of humans

o No unethical conduct impeding the best interests of children

o No felonies involving harm or threatened harm to an individual within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of hire.

• Ability to meet agency requirements for driving insurability, if applicable.

• Must be able to meet agency requirements for criminal background and central registry checks.

LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s Degree

• Unrestricted State of Michigan driver’s license

COMPLIANCE: 

This position requires compliance with AFS’ written standards, including its Compliance Program and Standards of Conduct and policies and procedures. Such compliance will be an element considered as part of the regular performance evaluation.

Failure to comply with AFS’ Written Standards, which may include the failure to report any conduct or event that potentially violates legal or compliance requirements or AFS’ Written Standards or, for managers and supervisors, fails to detect non-compliant conduct where reasonable efforts would have resulted in detection, will be met by the enforcement of disciplinary action, up to and including possible termination, in accordance with AFS’ Compliance Program Policy and Procedure: Addressing Instances of Non-Compliance through Appropriate Disciplinary Actions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, and use hands to finger handle or feel; to talk; or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must be able to frequently lift up to 25 pounds. The employee may occasionally be required to lift 25 to 50 pounds; however, this is not essential; duties may be shifted to accommodate lifting restrictions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less). The employee will occasionally be working near moving mechanical parts, be exposed to outdoor weather conditions and exposed to a risk of electrical shock while running the copier, printer, other standard equipment and answering the telephone. The noise level in the work environment is low to moderate. Stress level can be high at times.

Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with the job.