Overview

Responsible of assessing child and family needs and implementing preventive services to avert, when possible, foster care placement and disruption of the family unit. Incumbents evaluate the social, developmental and resource needs of children and families, develop and implement individualized service plans and when necessary, provide protective and placement services for dependent or neglected children. Work includes casework counseling families toward resolving individual and family problems and utilizing agency and community resources to assist families in achieving and maintaining self sufficiency and independence. Work is performed under the supervision of an administrative superior, usually the Case Work Supervisor. Close supervision is received in the form of review of case work plans, one-on-one supervision and frequent case work conferences.

Responsibilities

• Assesses unique strengths and needs of each child and family, in consultation with the interdisciplinary child care team and appropriate specialty consultants. 
• Develops, maintains and communicates an individualized service plan and treatment program which responds to identified needs of each child and family; shares pertinent information (i.e., psychological, behavioral, educational) with other team members; conducts regularly scheduled Family Team Conferences.
• Actively engages the child, family and/or guardians in case planning, setting goals, establishing priorities and implementing service/treatment plans; tracks progress toward desired outcomes; initiates solutions to eliminate barriers to goal achievement; share information with the children, youths and their families regarding progress toward case plan goals.
• Conducts case contact visits in the home and face-to-face casework counseling sessions as mandated and as appropriate, based on need; encourage participation of non-custodial or incarcerated parents, when possible; coordinate visits to correctional facilities on behalf of the family; record and document assessment results, case plan, services provided, visits made and progress toward goals.
• Authorizes and arranges formal referral and treatment activities and monitors levels of participation and effectiveness; advocates for needed services; when in the nest interest of the child, recommend placement; support the transition of the child and family into foster care, alternate living arrangements and independent living programs.
• Provides or arranges for appropriate neighborhood-based and other services required by children, youths and families, including education, housing, vocation training, health, mental health and related services. 
• Support the separation of the child from his/her family become necessary as a part of the treatment plan, support the transition into foster care; help children and family understand the rationale and process; provides emotional support related to separation, attachment and loss.
• Should the separation of the child from his/her family become necessary as a part of the treatment plan. Support the transition into foster care; help children and family understand the rationale and process; provides emotional support related to separation, attachment and loss.
• Conducts intake, on-going and discharge planning as well as aftercare activities, as appropriate; maintain confidentiality of all assessments, treatment, files and records.
• Assists families, caretakers and children in securing appropriate neighborhood based and other services related to their needs, ie. Social, medical, educational, vocational, financial, legal, child care, home management and emotiona 
• Apprizes the child and family of their rights, entitlement and benefits; expedites access to entitlements and serves as advocate for the child and family.
• Promptly addresses all safety and protection needs of the child; ensure that living environments (i.e., homes and child care facilities) are safe and developmentally/emotionally suitable. Assess and responds to all reports or observations of suspected neglect, abuse or exploitation of children; immediately reports and addresses unsafe or reasonably suspicious situations consistent with actions of mandated reporter; takes precautions to eliminate risks.
• Ensures that case management activities, documents, record-keeping and reporting comply with regulatory guidelines and quality standards; prepare and submit required forms (i.e. FASPs and Progress notes and PROMIS) in a timely manner. 
• Manages and periodically self-audits case records; observes confidentiality and keeps progress notes and other required documents updated, accurate and up to Family Assessment and Service Plan standards.
• Completes mandated and other professional training to increase knowledge and upgrade skills; maintains appropriate credentials to perform specialty functions of the job.
• Participates as a responsible, cooperative member of the interdisciplinary team; contributes to the team effort; maintains positive relationships with the Edwin Gould constituency, i.e., children, families, caretakers, representatives of governing agencies, colleagues, service providers and the community; interprets the program to service providers and the community; assists in developing community interest. 
• Performs related or similar duties as required or assigned

Qualifications

Education:

• Minimum requirement of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college/university in social work, psychology or a related field. BSW preferred.

Experience:

• Preferred at least two years of documented satisfactory experience in casework counseling working with a child-family population.

General Skills & Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship skills. Ability to work effectively as a member of a team. Good planning, organizing and priority-setting skills. Appreciation and respect for individuals of diverse background and lifestyles.

Other Relevant Requirements:

Willingness to travel to make home visits throughout the Boroughs.