Family Services Specialist; CD- Permanency

Overview

Hanover County Department of Social Services is seeking a highly-skilled and experienced social worker to join our foster care team. In this role, you will provide support to foster families and children in care, ensuring their safety and well-being. You will also be responsible for conducting home studies, connecting families with resources, and advocating for the best interests of the children.

The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the foster care system and experience working with children and families in crisis. We are looking for someone passionate about their work and committed to making a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Telework options are available after successful completion of training and certifications.

• Interviews customers to assess needs, assign them to appropriate groups, interview all parties, assess immediate and long‑term dangers to children or adults, and resolve complaints.
• Performs investigative duties including screening referrals for validity and complaints of exploitation, neglect, and/or abuse of children, the elderly, and/or persons with disabilities.
• Provides psychosocial support to persons, families or vulnerable populations to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses, neglect and abuse.
• Ensures that reports of suspected abuse/neglect are assigned to appropriate staff.
• Ensures that the local department has staff on duty 24 hours per day, seven days per week to respond to reports of abuse/neglect; provides after‑hours on‑call coverage and responds to emergencies in child/adult protective services and/or foster care.
• Provides guidance, consultation and supervision to other staff in the absence of the supervisor.
• Prepares social histories.
• Represents the agency in civil and criminal court proceedings, which involves interpreting laws, filing petitions, preparing court records, testifying, and compiling evidence.
• Attends court and coordinates cases with attorneys; provides reports for guardianship cases and orders home assessments and custody studies.
• Provides direct intervention and service delivery for complex social work cases, and coordinates casework and case management services.
• Develops and conducts training for staff, interns and other professionals in the community.
• Conducts field visits to residential facilities, consults with therapists and staff, and participates in staffing and planning meetings.
• Functions as a lead worker providing guidance and training to other staff.
• Coordinates program functions, develops programs, and evaluates materials.
• Monitors, coordinates and administers specific assigned programs.
• Coordinates services within a specific area of responsibility.
• Coordinates with other agencies and participates in multidisciplinary and interagency teams.
• Develops, writes and/or reviews service plans documenting goals, objectives and details of services.
• Tracks expenditures, prepares/submits budget estimates and ensures payment for services.
• Interprets laws, policies and regulations applicable to the area of responsibility.
• Completes necessary federal, state and local planning and reporting requirements.
• Manages program waiting lists.
• Trains foster parents and submits progress reports to the court.
• Refers families to treatment resources within the community.
• Transports children to placements, meetings, therapy sessions, doctor and dental appointments, and for visitation with families.
• Provides parent education and support for families in the target population.
• Conducts intensive in‑home counseling and prepares reports to referral sources regarding status of interventions.
• Conducts studies such as companion and adult foster care provider and pre‑admission screenings for nursing home/community‑based care and assisted living.
• Informs clients of service programs and the rules and regulations, and their right to participate.
• Conducts overall monitoring of programs in the specific area of responsibility.
• Serves as a resource to clients and the community in their area of expertise.
• Monitors caseloads and assigns cases to staff.
• Provides program administration and caseload management services.
• Condu…