Family Support Worker ; Statewide

Introduction

When you join the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS), you join a team of more than 5,000 employees across the state dedicated to positively changing the lives of more than 1 million Marylanders each year. We do this by providing economic support, preventive services, and caring for children and adults. We aim to deliver services so that we more quickly meet the needs of the people we serve.

At DHS, we grapple with hard questions to find new ways to foster a culture of bold innovation. We do this to ensure that in Maryland, we leave no one behind.

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STATEWIDE. This statewide recruitment has been opened to establish a list of eligible candidates to be used to fill current and future vacancies occurring in our Local Departments of Social Services throughout the State. Please indicate the counties in which you are willing to accept employment on your application.

A Family Support Worker I is the intermediate level of work providing in‑home support services that enable individuals to maintain their independence and well‑being, assist in preserving the family structure, promote a functional home environment and teach clients to make use of available community resources. Employees in this classification function as members of treatment or service teams and visit clients’ homes to identify needs and provide in‑home assistance in activities associated with daily living, personal care, caregiving or parenting.

• Provide in‑home support services that enable individuals to maintain their independence and well‑being, assist in preserving the family structure, promote a functional home environment and teach clients to make use of available community resources.
• Visit clients’ homes to identify needs and provide in‑home assistance for clients through teaching and demonstrating practical living skills including, but not limited to, meal planning, household maintenance, laundry, shopping, positive parenting and caring for dependents, conflict resolution, interpersonal relationship skills, job readiness, locating and securing housing, and household budgeting.
• Assess clients’ personal and living conditions in conjunction with the treatment or service plan goals to determine the need for specific behavioral changes.
• Develop positive relationships with clients in order to gain their acceptance of the In‑Home Care Plan and contribute to the client’s physical and emotional health.
• Encourage clients to participate in and make use of community resources and services such as child and adult support groups, food pantries, neighborhood services centers and child or adult day care.
• Observe the behavior of children and adults, record pertinent observations, maintain records of their behaviors and make recommendations to the services team for possible plan modifications.
• Prepare reports for the health care professional, case manager or supervisor on the clients’ physical condition, social and physical environment and services provided in order to assist the in‑home care team in developing, monitoring and modifying the clients’ In‑Home Care Plan.
• Participate in team meetings with the case manager, health care professionals and other persons responsible for developing or modifying the In‑Home Care Plans for clients.
• Transport and assist clients in obtaining transportation to medical appointments and community centers.
• MAY present parenting or job readiness subject matter to clients in structured training sessions and conduct in‑home follow‑up.
• MAY assist clients with personal care such as giving baths, shampoos, dressing, feeding or using a bedpan.
• MAY provide temporary care of children or adults in the absence of the caregiver.
• MAY oversee court‑ordered family visits, testify in court or prepare a client for a court appearance.
• Perform other related duties.

Applicants must meet all minimum (and selective) qualifications to be considered, and to appear on the list of people eligible for hire. Please read all requirements before applying.

• Education:
  
  Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency…