Social Worker

Lutheran-Social-Services-of-the-National-Capital-Are; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Lutheran-Social-Services-of-the-National-Capital-Are seeks a Social Worker for Foster Care to coordinate services for children in the DC child welfare system and their families. You will conduct assessments to develop permanency plans and ensure safety and well-being through regular visits.

Responsibilities include bi-monthly home visits, court reports, referrals for mental health and education services, and collaboration with the team to update treatment plans.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program and licensed to practice social work in DC and MD.
• Knowledge of child welfare systems and guidance.
• Culturally competent with experience across cultures, religions, and nationalities.
• Experience in family therapy and/or trauma-informed therapy.
• Reliable and accessible transportation; valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance.

Responsibilities

• Provide bi-monthly visits to children in foster care or birth homes to ensure safety and well-being.
• Develop and monitor individual and family treatment plans, and ensure permanency goals.
• Write court reports and present in court; ensure court orders are met.
• Refer for mental health, medical, educational, and placement services as needed.
• Maintain accurate documentation in FACES and COMAR regulatory compliance.
• Facilitate quarterly team meetings to update treatment and staffing plans.
• Assist foster parents with home-based implementation of treatment plans and provide crisis intervention as needed.

Skills

Child welfare knowledge

Culturally competent

Trauma-informed therapy

Family therapy

Time management

Independent work

Microsoft Office

Data collection systems

Transportation

Education

Master's degree in Social Work (MSW)

DC & MD social work license

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Data collection systems

Job description

The Social Worker for LSSNCA Foster Care is responsible for the coordination of services and care for children in foster care and their families involved in the District of Columbia child welfare system. The Social Worker monitors and ensures the safety and overall well-being of clients and families served, makes both formal and informal assessments of clients served in order to develop a permanency plan to ensure timely permanency is achieved.Essential Functions:Provide bi-monthly visits to children residing in foster homes or birth family homes and additional visits as needed to ensure the safety and well-being of youth on their caseload.Ensure that children’s physical, medical, educational and therapeutic service needs are appropriately met.Ensure that each child has an appropriate permanency plan and that every team member is working together to reach the permanency goal.Conduct family assessments to develop individual/family case plans and treatment plans based on the needs of the child and family.Write court reports and make verbal presentations in court.Ensure that all court orders are met.Ensure appropriate referrals are made for the youth and birth family regarding mental health, medical, educational and placement stability.Ensure that the birth families’ needs are being met and that the children are visiting when appropriate.Ensure that all documentation in FACES is accurate and timely.Facilitate team meetings quarterly in conjunction with biological family, foster parents, services providers, legal team and child in order to develop and update individualized treatment plans and quarterly staffing plans for all youth on caseload.Assist foster parents with in-home implementation of individualized treatment plans and provide crisis intervention services as needed.Through regular home visits, ensures that all contracted services are provided according to treatment/case plan in collaboration with the foster parent.Maintain regular communication with interdisciplinary team members and provide updates on progress of the case.Complete appropriate documentation and ensure that case records are complete and in compliance with COMAR Regulations.Include evening hours as necessary to conduct home visits.Complete a minimum of 30 in service training hours annually in order to stay in compliance with CFSA regulations and stay current with Child Welfare practice.Other duties as assigned.Knowledge or understanding of child welfare systems and guidanceMaster’s degree (MSW) from an accredited college or university; licensed to practice social work in DC & MDCulturally competent: experience with different cultures, religions, and nationalities.Experience in family therapy and/or trauma informed therapy.Must have reliable and accessible transportationValid driver’s license and vehicle insurance.Required to pass to child protection clearances, federal and state criminal histories.Required to pass background and drug screen, and TB testPreferred Skills• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel)• Experienced in data collection systems• Ability to manage time well.• Ability to work independently and in a group.