Social Service Worker Adoption

Description

Full Time (40 hours/week)  $33,280 - 37,440

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:  Performs independently a full range of assignments, using the methods and techniques required to complete the processes of counseling and services to birth parents, foster care case management, permanency planning for children, child assessment, adoptive evaluation, placement, post-placement services to children and adoptive families

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:  Duties and responsibilities shall be completed promptly and expeditiously within the time frames delineated in agency policy and the Department of Health and Human Services service manuals.

1. Considerable contact with agency staff/personnel; clients; DHHS staff; court staff; referral sources.
2. Works directly with children, birth families, foster families, and other relevant individuals and is primarily responsible for the development, implementation, and review of service plans in placing and supervising children in foster care, adoptive homes, or independent living, to restore and enhance optimum emotional and social functioning.
3. Assesses clients' and families' problems and current functioning and identifies any barriers to achieving the permanency goal.
4. Provides or secures resources to address clients' and families' needs and monitors the services provided.
5. Conducts social/psychological assessments of individuals/couples/families for foster care and adoptive placement.
6. Interviews birth parents to obtain information about their history and current life situation. Provides support and practical information. Provides education, counseling and intervention to assist parents in developing realistic and appropriate future plans for self and child.
7. Provides assistance to parents in making an adoption plan for a child:  explain laws and procedures; assists with completing and filing required forms; obtains medical and social history of child and family.  Provides written reports regarding release services and requirements for release.  Assists parents with the process of terminating parental rights, including scheduling court hearings and accompanying parents to hearings.  Provides pre and post release counseling and support to parents.
8. Prepares and maintains clear and complete reports and documents according to agency/state licensing policies and procedures including but not limited to: legal documents, forms, and petitions.  Maintains case studies and confidential case records and keeps files up to date.
9. Utilizes agency form letters, worksheets, check sheets, informational materials, and other agency resources to facilitate organizational service.
10. Participates in telephone and personal contacts. Engages in direct contact with alleged victims of abuse and/or neglect and completes regular monitoring of placements.
11. Transports clients to court hearings, medical appointments, visitation, etc. as needed.
12. Attends all court hearings and provides direct testimony regarding case progress, services rendered to children and families, and makes recommendations regarding placement.
13. Provides crisis intervention services and is available on-call as needed.
14. Attends agency training sessions and staff meetings in order to stay familiar with current foster care, adoption, and immigration laws and procedures; in addition to licensing rules and regulations so as to be most helpful to clients, meet all requirements for service to children and families, and maintain client records.  Participates in and successfully completes outside training and continuing education workshops as required per contract via the Department of Health and Human Services.
15. Completes investigations and research regarding current foster care and adoption issues.
16. Clarifies procedures and educates clients regarding foster care and adoption processes and time limits.
17. Educates foster and adoptive families regarding child welfare issues and the need to continue their personal education on related issues throughout a child's development.
18. Educates and assists foster and adoptive parents in providing care to children, including education on child development and interpretation of child behavior. Provides information about and links to social resources and provides assistance to clients to utilize community resources and agencies.
19. Provides information and links to available community resources to birthparents wishing to change from their plan for adoption, choosing instead to parent.
20. Counsels adoptive families should an adoption plan be disrupted for any reason. Educates families on available options and directs families toward appropriate community resources, and monitors their progress.
21. Provides post placement and post adoption services as needed.
22. Performs other tasks as needed and/or assigned by supervisor or administration.
23. Assist with recruitment and retention events.
24. Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Responsibilities:Must report any suspected child abuse or neglect as required by state child protection statutes. Is knowledgeable about the statute and directs any questions about the statute to the appropriate protective services unit. Further understands that such suspected child abuse or neglect involving any FCS client or immediate family member must also be reported to FCS supervision.
25. Complies with agency policies and procedures, COA regulations, federal and state requirements, and educational/certification/registry requirements.
26. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Knowledge of agency policy, procedures and overall operations
2. Knowledge of State and Federal social welfare laws, rules and regulations including but not limited to: Child Protection Law, Michigan Adoption Code, Act No. 116 of the Public Acts of 1973, Licensing Rules For Child Placing Agencies, and all relevant court requirements and procedures
3. Ability to maintain records, prepare reports, conduct correspondence, communicate verbally with range of clients and professionals, and maintain favorable public relations
4. Knowledge of social work theory methods, principles, practices, techniques, and language for casework, group work, and community organization
5. High level of language, writing and other communication skills
6. High level of reasoning and decision-making ability
7. Ability to work independently
8. Be of good moral character and demonstrate emotional stability
9. Develop and maintain the ability, knowledge, experience, training and skills to perform duties and responsibilities of the position
10. Must not show any evidence or indication of the following behavior, which would constitute immediate grounds for dismissal:

• No convictions or investigations regarding financial irregularities
• No unethical conduct impeding the best interests of children
• No participation in the abduction, sale or trafficking of children for inter-country adoption

11. Professional attitude and demeanor, composed under pressure, independent, self initiated, responsible, dependable, decisive, able to work well with all types of people, mature, emotionally stable, tactful, reliable, well organized, conscientious, down to earth, composed under pressure, self assured, flexible, able to cope with change and variables, respectful of authority, dresses appropriately, respond positively to constructive performance evaluation

12. Valid Michigan Driver’s License and ability to meet agency requirements for driving insurability if applicable

MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL/LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS:  

Possession of a Bachelor's or Master's degree with a major in one of the following human services areas: social work, sociology, psychology, family ecology, consumer/community services, family studies, family and/or child development, guidance/school counseling, counseling psychology, criminal justice, or human services.  Licensed Social Worker and/or Professional Counselor in the State of Michigan preferred.  Successfully complete all initial and ongoing training requirements to comply with social work licensure, CWTI, and Hague regulations.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:  One year experience as a social service worker and completion of CWTI in foster care or adoption preferred.