Family Safety Practitioner II - Foster Care

Position Overview

We are seeking a dynamic Foster Care and Adoption (&) Family Safety Practitioner II for the Division of Children, Youth, and Families (CYF). The role provides clinical casework services to support the permanency of children in foster care and their families.

Signing bonus: $2,500 (full‑time) for new county hires.

• Conduct face‑to‑face contacts and attend home visits to ensure children in foster care and adoption are safe and their physical, emotional, and educational needs are met.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments covering safety, permanency, well‑being, education, social and independent living skills, substance abuse, developmental concerns, family relationships, parenting capacity, social supports, physical health challenges, and basic needs.
• Collaborate with parents, prior custodians, foster parents, and children to develop a family‑centered, solution‑focused service plan.
• Coordinate with foster families and other service providers to deliver home‑based counseling, medical care, parenting support, and domestic violence interventions.
• Respond and intervene in emergency crisis regarding placement of children in foster homes, congregate care facilities, and trial home placements.
• Perform court‑related services including writing and submitting service plans, consulting with county attorney, writing affidavits, filing petitions, and testifying in court.
• Document assessments, critical incident reports, case contacts, progress notes, and service plans in a timely manner following local and state policy.
• Participate in required trainings, meetings, and work groups, and contribute to written product development.
• Coordinate and attend intra‑agency and inter‑agency meetings.
• May be required to be on‑call in a rotation that includes evenings, overnight, weekends, and holidays.
• Perform other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes in families.

• Knowledge of child protection laws, rules, and regulations.
• Knowledge of foster care and adoption laws, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to interview, assess needs, counsel, and refer clients to other resources.
• Knowledge of childhood trauma and attachment.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of social work.
• Knowledge of current social service problems and methods/approaches to address issues.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Ability to use automated technology to establish and maintain case records.
• Ability to maintain professional ethics and confidentiality of client information.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.
• Ability to schedule and manage workload to meet deadlines.

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a human services field.
• OR a bachelor’s degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area.

• Valid driver’s license.
• Completion of state‑mandated training in the functional area within a specified time period.

• Master’s degree in social work (MSW) or a related human services degree.
• Three years of experience in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, or related field.
• Experience in child welfare field.
• Experience with professional case management.
• Experience working with the court system, testifying, and filing affidavits.
• Experience working with a diverse multicultural population.

• Ability to navigate stressful and crisis situations.
• Mobile enough for home visits, meetings, court appearances, and community events outside the office.
• Ability to lift, carry, and diaper infants.
• Use of automated technology.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Work may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Work hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; however, evening and/or weekend work is required and may be on call.

Panel interview; may include practical exercise.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and interview process per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact: TTY 703‑222‑7314. DHREmployment. EEO/AA/TTY.