Social Services Specialist III - Foster Care

• Matching children with appropriate foster homes and coordinating with CPS and foster care staff.
• Assessing the needs of children and communicating those needs, both in writing and telephonically or virtually with foster care staff, CPS staff, therapeutic foster care agencies, group homes, residential treatment facilities and medical institutions.
• Research various options for our youth in care and will help with the completion of applications, Title IV-E paperwork and respite paperwork.
• Engage in treatment team meetings and staffings with other members of the community and our agency.
• Serve as the liaison to contracted licensed child placing agencies
• Function as a resource worker when needed. These duties will include providing ongoing support to our DFS foster families through both in-person and telephonic contact
• Complete foster home reapprovals and adoption addendums as needed
• This position requires carrying a cell phone to respond to afterhours emergencies and for the need of identifying homes for children separated from their family of origin or children who need to move while in foster care.

• Knowledge of child protection laws, rules, and regulations
• Knowledge of foster care and adoption laws, rules, and regulations
• Ability to interview, assess needs, counsel, and refer clients to other resource, as needed
• Ability to learn, retain, and apply state and federal laws and policies for foster home providers
• Well-developed listening, creative problem-solving, assessment and decision-making skills
• Ability to work independently and use automated technology
• Ability to provide excellent customer services internally within the agency, as well as with community partners and resource parents
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree, plus three years of professional social work experience. A master's degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED
Valid Driver's license.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, driving record check, and a Child Protective Services Registry check to the satisfaction of the employer.

Evening and weekends required for support and placement activities. Position may be required to be on-call rotation that includes evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours which may require immediate response into the field.

This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in social work (MSW) or a related human services degree.
• Experience working with children and youth in foster care.
• Experience working with a diverse multicultural population.

• At least two years of experience professional social services or human services experience in any of the following areas: Adult protective services, Alcohol and Drug Services, Child protective services, Children and families, Domestic violence, Education, Foster care, Intellectual disabilities, Mental health, Older adults, Physical disabilities, Prevention, Sexual assault.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.