Family Services Worker III - Intake Coordinator (Foster Care)

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 foster parents that work with the youth in the program.

The NDHS is seeking to fill a Family Services Worker III (FSW III). The Family Services Worker III-Intake Coordinator will 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.

The Family Services Worker III will:

•  Serve as a Specialized Placement locator for all new intake children in foster care by working to locate appropriate placements in the community. Will contact resource homes, contract placement providers, apply for statewide congregate care, specialized foster care, and medical/psychiatric placements, track responses from vendors and complete paperwork needed to place children and have Finance set up contracts for payment.
• Ensure that Family Services Workers (FSW) complete required state and local forms to support high acuity cases and provide child specific training on the policies and processes to locate and fund placement and services.
• Provide training, consultation and supervision as needed to FSW staff who have youth experiencing placement disruptions and in need of specialized recruitment for new placement.
• Provide Supervisory and on call Coverage for the Foster Care Team as directed
• Conduct VEMAT Assessments monthly for foster children
• Develop relationships with agencies that serve high acuity youth and kinship support and become knowledgeable about how to access these services. Provide training to FSW staff, clients and families on this information.
• Manage High Acuity foster care cases by assessing clients’ needs, conducting field visits to schools, homes and hospitals, making referrals, coordinating with law enforcement and working with families to prevent crisis. Will maintain client files, telephone contacts, referrals to private vendors for services, prepare documents, file, authorize payments, and provide coverage as a lead worker. Prepare for court by attending court hearings with written reports and verbal testimonies, filing petitions and affidavits, prepare witnesses, prepare court reports, and coordinate activities with attorneys and law enforcement
• Work with the Program Manager and KinGap supervisor to utilize and maximize PSSF, KinGAP and CSA budgets to support high acuity and kinship placements.
• Manage caseloads by maintaining files, telephone contacts, referrals to private vendors for services, preparing documents, filing, authorizing payments, and providing coverage as a lead worker.
• Provide direct supervision to Family Services staff as assigned
• Must be knowledgeable of foster care, kinship and adoption practices.
• Required to serve in Norfolk’s After Hours On-call rotation for foster care/adoption.
• All employees are called upon to serve shelter duty in times of emergency and/or natural disaster.

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.

Three (3) years experience in social work / human services.

• Valid Driver's License may be required depending on assignment. 

Salary : $59,746 - $100,095