Family Services Worker - Foster Care Services

Under direct supervision, performs social work and case management in the provision of social services for individuals in need of assistance. Employee is responsible for investigating allegations of abuse or exploitation of elderly/disabled adults,adult abuse/neglect with lead role responsibilities in cases involving criminal abuse/neglect or sexual abuse, investigating cases of suspected child abuse/neglect, assisting clients in achieving self-sufficiency, or implementing activities associated with other social services.

Work involves performing case management, providing crisis intervention and/or counseling, assessing client needs, coordinating provision of needed services, and maintaining case records.

Work may regularly involve two or more program areas.

This position is essential. Personnel occupying this position may be scheduled to work regardless of weather conditions and/or when general County offices are closed. Employee must be willing to work in the community emergency shelter in the event of a natural disaster or emergency. If chosen for this position, the employee will be required to be part of an on-call rotation that includes evenings, weekends, overnight visits, and holiday hours that may require immediate response into the field.

• Performs case management, intervention, and/or counseling involving situations such as abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children, elderly citizens, disabled/incapacitated adults, or other individuals at risk
• Implements activities associated with other social service programs, such as assisting clients in achieving self-sufficiency and render advocacy.
• Investigates allegations of abuse or exploitation of elderly/disabled adults; conducts assessments of personal care facilities, nursing homes, adult care residences, and adult day care facilities; assesses client needs and makes provisions for services, which may include protective services, companion services, or long term services; recruits, interviews, and approves companion aides, and monitors companion aide cases; makes home visits to clients’ homes;
  
  reviews guardianship reports.
• Coordinates or participates in meetings relating to area of assignment, such as Family Partnership Meetings, Treatment Team meetings, Individual Education Plan meetings, adult prescription team meetings, or team meetings between staff members, family members and/or other professionals.
• Participates in specialized work teams involving multiple County agencies or external entities.
• Prepares referrals for families requiring financial assistance or other assistance; collaborates or contracts with outside agencies or professionals as appropriate; maintains current listings of community resources, social service agencies, or other resources available for clients.
• Prepares and maintains confidential case records and files; documents all interactions with clients; prepares purchase of services orders and vendor invoices; enters data into computer system.
• Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, case records, purchase of services orders, invoices, applications, court orders, needs assessments, guardianship reports, adult protective services reports, sexual trauma reports, police/arrest reports, medical exemption forms, laws, policies, procedures, manuals, directories, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
• Communicates with supervisor, employees, other departments, clients, family members, companion aides, social service agencies, government agencies, counselors, medical providers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health agencies, probation officers, law enforcement personnel, court personnel, attorneys, community organizations, professional colleagues, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate, exchange information, or resolve problems.
• Maintains confidentiality of departmental issues and documentation.
• Maintains a working, current knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, policies, or other guidelines; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; attends workshops and training sessions regarding changing laws and policies.
• Participates in the staffing of local emergency shelter when this facility is opened by the County to meet community needs.
• Operates a motor vehicle to conduct work activities.
• Performs general/clerical tasks, which may include answering telephone calls, entering data into computer, typing documents, making copies, sending/receiving faxes, filing documentation, or processing incoming/outgoing mail.
• Provides assistance to other employees or departments as needed.
• May be required to be part of an on-call rotation that includes evening, overnight shifts, weekend and holiday hours, which may require immediate response into the field.
• Performs other related duties as required.

• Conducts initial assessment of child abuse and neglect…