Social Worker (DV) – Office of Parental Representation

Travis County; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Travis County in Austin seeks a Social Worker for the Office of Parental Representation to provide holistic case management, psychosocial assessments, and services planning for parents involved with CPS.

You will collaborate with attorneys, coordinate community resources, and advocate for family reunification using trauma‑informed practices, crisis intervention, and ongoing support.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work AND two (2) years social work experience counseling individuals in crisis/trauma situations.
• LMSW licensure is required.
• Valid Texas Driver's License is required.

Responsibilities

• Conducts client and/or family psychosocial and/or needs assessment and obtains maximum benefit from all available sources.
• Develops and implements client/family individualized service plans and monitors progress.
• Provides brief counseling and crisis intervention to individuals and/or their families to resolve crisis, prevent future crisis and promote progress toward self-sufficiency and individualized service plan goals and outcomes.
• Provides short or long-term case management and service coordination in manners and settings conducive to best client outcomes.
• Participates in community collaboration for resource development and elimination of duplication of services.
• Provides information, referral and linkage services to all community residents.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Skills

Counseling

Crisis intervention

Case management

Interviewing

Advocacy

Resource linkage

Time management

Education

Master's degree in Social Work

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)

Valid Texas Driver's License

Job description

Introduction

The Travis County Office of Parental Representation (OPR) is a multidisciplinary civil public defender’s office that provides holistic representation to parents in litigation with Child Protective Services. At OPR, we fight alongside parents to protect their families from CPS. We believe in representing parents with dignity while working to reduce the trauma experienced by families. Parents deserve help instead of shame. We use a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates social work into legal representation.

Our social workers utilize a trauma informed approach to advocate for clients. OPR social workers advocate for clients experiencing hardship, including all aspects of mental health, substance use, domestic violence, poverty, and housing instability. Our advocacy focuses on every part of a client’s life so that they can achieve family reunification.

OPR social workers provide services to clients to include intensive case management, biopsychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, danger assessments, safety planning, treatment evaluation, diagnoses review, and community resource connection. OPR social workers work with clients and attorneys to develop case goals and monitor progress. OPR social workers utilize existing community resources to address the socioeconomic, mental health, and basic needs of clients and their families, providing the client with psychoeducation, child development education, trauma informed advocacy, and general education on other life skills.

OPR is seeking a social worker dedicated to serving individuals experiencing domestic violence. Domestic violence is a widespread issue that has the potential to impact an individual in every aspect of their life and environment. OPR encounters individuals who are perpetrators and survivors of domestic violence.

• Intensive case management experience with underserved populations.
• Experience with holistic approaches to advocate on behalf of indigent clients.
• Expansive knowledge of addressing trauma and domestic violence (perpetrators and survivors).

* The position may be filled before the closing date. Applications will be reviewed and selected candidates will be contacted on a rolling basis. *

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is a job classification within the Social Services job family. This classification is distinguished from other social services classes due to the social work functions and services provided to clients. This classification performs case management, psychosocial and/or needs assessments, develops client service plans and accesses community resources to assist clients. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

• Conducts client and/or family psychosocial and/or needs assessment and obtains maximum benefit from all available sources.
• Develops and implements client/family individualized service plans and monitors progress. Conducts periodic and final assessments to determine progress, client barriers, follow-up needs and client outcomes.
• Provides brief counseling and crisis intervention to individuals and/or their families to resolve crisis, prevent future crisis and promote progress toward self-sufficiency and individualized service plan goals and outcomes.
• Provides short or long-term case management and service coordination in manners and settings conducive to best client outcomes. Utilizes community resources to assist client in learning to live as a self-sufficient member of the community, including, but not limited to, medical resources, local, state and federal agencies, community-based agencies and other resources.
• Participates in community collaboration for resource development and elimination of duplication of services. Serves as member of community groups advocating for client populations and needs.
• Provides client/family education, training and advocacy.
• Maintains current knowledge about resource availability, service costs and budgetary parameters and remains fiscally responsible in carrying out all case management functions and activities.
• Participates in evaluative and quality assurance activities designed to monitor the appropriateness and effectiveness of both the service delivery system in which case management operates as well as the case manager's own case management services. Ensures full professional accountability. Uses evidence based practices and remains current with standards of profession.
• Writes informational reports and compiles data/information in accordance with professional standards and policies.
• Participates and coordinates in case reviews involving client/family and other service providers.
• Provides information, referral and linkage services to all community residents.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Master's degree in Social Work AND two (2) years social work experience counseling individuals in crisis/trauma situations.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).

Valid Texas Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Theoretical constructs of human development and social work theory and practices.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function.
• Local social services, organizations and programs and the resources available.
• Crisis intervention and counseling techniques.
• Requirements for categorical assistance programs.
• Psychosocial factors impacted by stressors, illness and disability and intervention techniques.
• Federal, State and Local program laws and requirements.
• Financial resources available to clients.
• Modern office practices, procedures and methods.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

• Counseling and providing crisis and other assistance to clients.
• Assessing the medical, psychosocial and environmental status of clients.
• Determining types of counseling, social service provider and other services indicated for clients.
• Referring clients to appropriate social services organizations and programs.
• Crisis intervention and counseling techniques used in trauma, grief or crisis situations.
• Obtaining services for clients.
• Planning and organizing social service programs and activities.
• Application of casework principles.
• Interviewing and obtaining information from clients and other sources.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Apply social work and counseling theory, practice and procedures.
• Deal effectively with persons experiencing crises and economic stress.
• Work effectively and courteously under high-pressure circumstances.
• Prepare accurate and complete records and reports.
• Demonstrate consistent, sound and mature judgment in the effective and efficient use of human and financial resources.
• Deal effectively with mentally disturbed, hostile and aggressive individuals.
• Work independently.
• Manage time well and meet timelines.
• Communicate effectively.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, driving, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday.

Location: 1700 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas 78701

Department: Community Legal Services

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact: [e-mail]

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.