Social Services Assistant - Non-Merit

Baltimore County; Towson (MD); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Part time

Job summary

Baltimore County Government seeks a Family Services Assistant - Family Services - Child Protective Services to support Social Workers in delivering Out of Home services for children in foster care. The role involves transport, supervision of visitations, and delivering parenting guidance within a teamwork-oriented environment.

The position is non-merit and part-time with a regular schedule of 34 hours per week, located in Towson, MD.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma and experience working in the field of human services.
• Applicants must provide proof of licenses, certifications and education with each application.

Responsibilities

• Transport children and/or parents to appointments to provide needed services.
• Supervise family visitation to ensure child safety and strengthen parent/child relationships.
• Teach parenting and life skills to improve overall family functioning.
• Prepare case notes and maintain documentation within required timeframes.
• Attend court review hearings and family team decision meetings as needed.
• Provide support to meet the needs of the division and assist clients in crisis.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Observation

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Regular Schedule: 34 hours per week

A Non-Merit vacancy exists in the Department of Health and Human Services, Family Child Protective Services.

Non-Merit positions are not classified within the Baltimore County Government Classification and Compensation Plan.

A list of eligible applicants will be established based on the examination as outlined below.

Current and future vacancies occurring within this class may be filled from the list of eligible applicants.

List all promotions and changes in job duties due to reclassification as separate work experience on your application. Applicants must include the dates of the promotions and reclassifications.

Note: Failure to complete all fields of the "Work Experience" section of the application will result in your application not being considered. A resume will not be considered in determining your qualifications for a position. Applicants selected for an interview may provide a resume at that time.

Failure to submit proof of Licenses, Certifications and Education will result in your application not being considered. Proof of licenses, certifications, and/or education must be submitted with each application.

Examples of Duties

The role of the Family Service Division Social Services Assistant/Family Support Worker is to support and assist the Social Workers in the delivery of Out of Home (OOH) Intensive, clinical and concrete services to children placed in foster care to ensure their safety, wellbeing and permanence.

Job Function And Other Assigned Duties

• Transport children and/or parents safely and timely to appointments that will provide them with needed services to enhance the parent/child relationship. At all times, the incumbent will provide customer service to both internal and external customers that meets or exceeds the standards set by the Department.
• Supervise family visitation to provide safety of the child(ren) and direction to the parent(s) to enhance the parent/child relationship. Observation, verbalizing direction and role modeling are techniques used during the supervision of these visits. Negotiate visiting schedule with and between social worker, parents, children and/or foster care providers.
• Teach parenting and life skills to improve the overall ability level of parents/guardians who have their children in foster care by giving verbal tips, distributing material related to the subject matter, modeling and providing constructive feedback. Teach budgeting and home management to improve the parents/guardians’ overall control of their finances and household through verbal instruction and use of charts/written financial plans. Assist to meet goals outlined on FSW request or service agreement or safety plan.
• Prepare summary of contacts on progress of clients, services offered, assistance provided and overall documentation of family support work. Detail efforts made and describe if the parent was cooperative and receptive to services offered. Written documentation is required to be updated within 72 hrs. of contact in CHESSIE or via email to supervisor and social worker assigned to the case if one-time-only request or not assigned in CJAMS. Written documentation is required on a monthly basis.
• Additional duties, as assigned to support the Children’s Services Division. These duties, include but are not limited to, phone coverage, mass mail distribution, preparing packets for training, filing, scanning documents, data base entry, etc.
• Attend court review hearings, family team decision meetings, medical, therapy, educational or other appointments with client to provide supportive services or appropriate direction as necessary. Advocate for clients in crisis.
• Keep all interested parties informed of case status. Prepare leave accordingly; keep e-calendar up-to-date/accurate. Provide monthly stats. Attend all mandatory meetings and trainings.
• Emergency Operations and Quality Assurance: Participates, as needed, in the agency’s mandated obligation to provide mass care and shelter under the director of the County or State Emergency Operations Center, and to participate in quality improvement activities.

Performance Standards

• Transport children and/or parents safely and timely to appointments that will provide them with needed services to enhance the parent/child relationship. Keep monthly statistical log and submit to supervisor, as requested.
• Supervise visitations to provide safety and direction between all parties. Observe, intervene, redirect as needed. Supervise family visitation to provide safety of the child(ren) and direction to the parent(s) to enhance the parent/child relationship. Observation, verbalizing direction and role modeling are techniques used during the supervision of these visits. Negotiate visiting schedule between social worker, parents, children and foster care providers.
• Teach parenting and life skills as outlined on request.
• Prepare case and contact notes for FSW assignments in CHESSIE within 72 hr. of contact or send to social worker and supervisor via email if a one-time-only and not assigned the case on CHESSIE.
• Provide assistance as a member of the Support Unit to meet the needs of the division.
• Attend court review hearings, FTDM meetings, medical and other appointments to assist FSW customers with services and direction.
• Emergency Operations and Quality Assurance: Participates, as needed, in the agency’s mandated obligation to provide mass care and shelter under the director of the County or State Emergency Operations Center, and to participate in quality improvement activities.
• At all times, the incumbent will provide customer service to both internal and external customers that meets or exceeds the standards set by the Department.

Note: The duties and responsibilities listed above are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications for all positions in this class. They may not include all of the essential job functions of each position in the class. Each position may not be required to perform all of the essential job functions listed.

Qualifications

High School Diploma and experience working in the field of human services.

Proof of Degree Equivalency

Applicants who have obtained a degree from outside the United States of America are required to submit degree equivalence documentation from World Education Services, Inc. (www.WES.org)

Mail Or Deliver Documents To

ATTN: Social Services Assistant - Family Services - Child Protective Services

Office of Human Resources

Baltimore County Government

308 Allegheny Ave.

Towson, MD 21204

EXAMINATION PROCEDURE

Applicants will be qualified based on an evaluation of their training and experience, as stated on their application, which includes answers to the supplemental questions. Applicants must state the dates and duties of past and present experience clearly and completely for evaluation purposes.

Conditions of Employment

Working Conditions

• Work involves exposure to uncomfortable or unpleasant surroundings
  • Must visit families in their home, which can occasionally be infested with insects or vermin, may have unpleasant/foul odors, may have animals, may be overcrowded, and may be dirty
  • Work requires use of protective equipment such as gloves, mask, etc. when working in deplorable and/or unsanitary home conditions.
• Work involves exposure to hazardous conditions, which may result in injury.
  • Involves using one’s own personal vehicle to drive to and from home visits, to other community-based destinations, and occasionally to transport clients.
  • Requires driving into areas in the County, which may be unfamiliar with community or streets
  • Involves occasionally driving in high crime areas in the County
  • Clients may possess weapons, participate in drug or human trafficking, or suffer from very contagious illnesses such as Hep C, HIV+, etc.

Medical Examination and Employment Background Investigation

Applicants selected for employment with Baltimore County must successfully complete a physical examination, drug screening and employment investigation, including, but not limited to criminal background, education certification and fingerprinting checks.

Employment Benefits for Non-Merit or Non-Classified, Part-Time Employees

Baltimore County General Government offers the following benefits to part-time, non-merit or non-classified employees. New employees are eligible for benefits upon hire, unless noted otherwise.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Baltimore County is an equal opportunity employer and encourages minority, female and disabled applicants.

Smoke free workplace

All Baltimore County offices are smoke free.

Drug free workplace

Baltimore County provides a drug free workplace. Prospective employees are required to submit to urinalysis drug testing as part of the pre-employment physical examination.

Employee Assistance Program

Our Employee Assistance Program provides confidential and professional assessment and referral assistance for employees and eligible dependents in the household who are experiencing personal problems that may be affecting work performance, job satisfaction, or overall quality of life.

Health Insurance

In order to qualify for health insurance benefits (medical, prescription, dental and vision insurance), part-time employees must be scheduled for four (4) full work days plus two (2) hours each week.

Benefits

Health Insurance benefits elected become effective the first day of the month following the date of hire if the employee has completed online enrollment prior to that date. New employees must enroll within thirty (30) calendar days of hire. Plans offered include: Medical, Prescription, Dental and Vision insurance.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Opportunity to set aside pre-tax dollars, through payroll deduction, for eligible unreimbursed medical care expenses and/or dependent care costs.

Life Insurance

In order to qualify for life insurance benefits, part-time employees must be scheduled for four (4) full work days plus two (2) hours each week.

Employees may elect basic term life insurance for themselves equal to one time the employee's annual salary, rounded to the next higher $1,000. Employees contribute a portion of the premium through monthly payroll deductions. The County also offers an Additional/Employee paid Life Insurance plan with coverage up to $100,000.

Retirement

Employees are required to participate in the Baltimore County Employees' Retirement System, with very limited exceptions.

Paid Leave

Sick Leave

Monthly sick leave earnings prorated based on the number of hours worked per week. No maximum on accrual. Accrued balance can be applied toward service credit at retirement.

Vacation Leave

Monthly vacation leave earnings prorated based on the number of hours worked per week. Earnings increase after five, ten and fifteen years of service generally.

Holidays

Part-time 30 to 39 hour non-merit or non-classified employees will generally be paid for ten holidays per calendar year. Other part-time, non-merit or non-classified employees working 29 hours per week or less will receive two paid holidays per calendar year. These holidays are the Christmas holiday and the Independence Day holiday.

Bereavement Leave

Jury Leave

Military Leave

Baltimore County Employees Federal Credit Union

Membership in Baltimore County Employees Federal Credit Union offers a full range of savings programs, loans, checking, direct deposit, payroll deduction, savings bonds, and other financial services.

Direct Deposit

Payroll through direct deposit to the financial institution selected by employee is required.

Deferred Compensation

Nationwide Retirement Solutions offers a 457 retirement plan allowing for payroll contributions of tax deferred dollars to investment options of your choice.

Disclaimer

This is only a summary of benefits and policies in Baltimore County. Any benefit or policy may be changed at any time at the discretion of the administration. This summary does not constitute an express or implied contract, nor does it constitute a guarantee that your employment relationship will continue for any specified period of time or end only under certain conditions.