Social Worker Iii-Foster Care

Description of Work

Performs work in the support and assistance of agency clients with personal, social, health, mental health and economic needs, investigating neglect complaints, interviewing individuals, assessing needs, developing service plans, managing cases, maintaining records and files, preparing reports, and related work as apparent, and other duties as assigned. Work is performed under the general supervision of the assigned supervisor.

This position is integral to the Child Welfare Unit which serves abused, neglected, dependent and delinquent children whose temporary custody has been awarded to the county.

Thorough knowledge of department policies and procedures; thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their application to complex casework, group work and psychosocial problems and their treatment; thorough knowledge of applicable local, federal and state laws, rules and regulations. Considerable knowledge of family and group dynamics and a range of intervention techniques. Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community.

Considerable knowledge of the methods and principles of casework and training. Skill in establishing rapport with clients and in applying techniques of assessing psychosocial, behavioral psychosocial aspects of client problems. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrative superiors, members of caseload and their families and with civic, legal, medical, social and religious organizations. Ability to train or instruct lower-level social workers, students or interns if necessary.

Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively. Ability to produce results with limited resources. Ability to work under pressure.

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;
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.

Directly related experience is defined as human services experience in the areas of case management, assessment and referral, supportive counseling, intervention, psycho-social therapy and treatment planning.

Note:

Applicants who meet the education requirements but not the work experience requirement will be considered for trainee status or work against status.

All applicants must complete a State Application PD-107.