Senior Social Worker

Responsibilities

• Performs advanced, professional level casework providing protective, investigative, counseling and case management services for children at risk of neglect and/or abuse.
• Provides social work services including treatment and immediate response to crisis situations for at‑risk children and families.
• Manages a caseload of the most difficult and complex cases.
• Performs group, family or individual treatment for clients of any age and any developmental, mental, medical, financial, substance abuse or family problem including abused, neglected or homeless children.
• Performs clinical and social investigation, assessment of individuals and family dynamics, and crisis intervention.
• Demonstrates knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their application to complex casework, treatment, and investigation of abuse or neglect of children.
• Demonstrates knowledge of policies and procedures as evidenced by the ability to cite the authority of federal and state law.
• Demonstrates knowledge of individual and group behavior, family dynamics, and medical, behavioral and psychosocial problems and their treatment theories.
• Demonstrates knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community.
• Exercises judgment in determining whether abuse or neglect has occurred, to what extent and how it occurred.
• Selects appropriate treatment for the family and clients based on assessments and interviews.
• Facilitates Child and Family Team meetings.
• Provides referrals for treatment and placement in foster care or residential facilities.
• Provides expert testimony in court hearings about case progress.
• Conducts home visits at least once a month for each foster child assigned to the case.
• Attends school meetings to advocate for the educational needs of children served.
• Maintains contact with parents, therapist, GAL, CDSA, CC4C, attorneys, medical providers, substance abuse agencies, domestic violence agencies, and relatives regarding the child and family needs.
• Attends therapy appointments and doctor/medical appointments with children, and obtains medical forms completed by a doctor.
• Completes strengths and needs monthly and Family Reunification assessments for cases where the plan is reunification.
• Interacts and motivates a resistant involuntary client population and the public who may not agree with the laws, rules or policies of the process or the programs.
• Prepares documentation such as written investigative reports for the court, case records and treatment plans.
• Testifies as an expert witness.
• Employs advanced case management interview techniques to establish a supportive relationship and involve families in the initial assessment for the need of services.
• Assesses the risks and safety of the client environment during daylight hours, after dark and in high‑crime areas.
• Employs expert negotiation skills in the most complex cases.
• Analyzes and assesses child development safety issues in relation to risk factors.
• Analyzes tense family situations and makes decisions about removing children when limited information and access to consultation exist.
• Communicates effectively and establishes supportive client relationships.
• Performs under occasional stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.
• Maintains high‑quality communication and interacts with other County agencies, co‑workers, and the general public.
• Operates small office equipment, including copy machines or multi‑line telephone systems.
• Operates computers for data entry, word processing and/or accounting purposes.
• Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, County policy, standards and prescribed procedures, and identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations.
• Stays abreast of social work theory, techniques and practices, individual and group behavior, social problems, medical and mental illness, family dynamics, coping behavior, crisis intervention, and treatment of various medical and mental diseases and social issues.
• Follows all guidelines set forth, including state and federal laws, program rules, directives, policies and regulations, professional…