Family Services Worker I - Foster Care

Full Job Description

Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city.

Home to the world's largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications.

Working for the City of Norfolk is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others.

With our commitment to competitive pay and a strong retirement package, you can do good for your community and do well for yourself.

Join a caring workplace that proudly celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our residents.

The City of Norfolk’s Department of Human Services (NDHS) provides a wide range of essential services to its citizens.

These services are crucial in supporting the wellbeing of the community and ensuring that all citizens have access to the resources they need.

NDHS is committed to providing such comprehensive support to its citizens.

The NDHS Foster Care and Adoption Program serves youth ages birth-21 that are in foster care or have been adopted from foster care. This program also recruits, trains, certifies and supports kinship and foster parents that work with the youth in the program.

The NDHS is seeking a Family Services Worker I in their Foster Care and Adoption Program. The Family Services Worker I will help prepare children and families for the transition into foster/adoptive homes; provide support to children and families in finalizing adoptions; work directly with biological parents and/or relatives to prepare for transition and return to their custody.

Requirements

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

• Recruit, assess, select and match foster/adoptive families for children in care; prepare children and families for the transition into foster/adoptive homes; provide support to children and families in finalizing adoptions; work directly with biological parents and/or relatives to prepare for transition and return to their custody.

• Manages caseloads by maintaining files, telephone contacts, referrals to private vendors for services, preparing documents, filing, authorizing payments, and providing coverage as a lead worker.

• Prepares for court by attending court hearings with written reports and verbal testimonies, filing petitions and affidavits, preparing witnesses, preparing court reports, and coordinating activities with attorneys and law enforcement.

• Provides case management in conjunction with the supervisor and other relevant parties. Keep factual and timely formal records through the use of computer based and other information systems. Co-operate with any agreed quality assurance process operated by the Service.

• Performs related duties by conducting home studies, preparing written reports of findings, providing on-call and emergency response for reports of abuse and neglect, attending and coordinating related meetings, and seeking to resolve crisis situations for families and individuals regarding personal safety, shelter, food and clothing.

• Makes referrals for services by being knowledgeable of local services and resources, working with service providers in the community, serving on interagency service assessment teams, serving as a client advocate in accessing services and working with other agencies such as schools, courts and mental health providers.

• Collaborates with other staff in locating foster homes, group homes, and residential treatment facilities based on child’s service needs.

• Provides group counseling by providing training to citizens and professionals pertaining to social issues and services.

• Participates in staff and training meetings as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field or minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field and minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia). Possession of a BSW or MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are desirable.

No experience required.

Additional Information

• Valid Driver's License may be required depending on assignment.
• Successful completion of State mandated training within the first 24 months of employment.
• Required to serve in Norfolk’s After Hours On-call rotation after six (6) months of employment.
• All employees are called upon to serve shelter duty in times of emergency and/or natural disaster.