Traveling Social Worker I, Child

COMPANY OVERVIEW

At Extra Special Parents, our commitment is to secure permanent, loving families for foster children. Our purpose is to improve their outcomes and help foster kids reach their true potential. We believe every child deserves a safe home and a nurturing adult they can trust.

Job Summary
We are seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable Clinical Services Specialist II to join our dynamic team. The Clinical Services Specialist II will play a crucial role in advocating and protecting our clients by providing clinical casework and supportive services to stabilize and support clients through the Clinical Services Department. This position requires a strong understanding of casework services to children and families, exemplary documentation skills, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Oversight & Case Management

• Provide ongoing supervision and support to youth in care and foster families through regular in-person visits, phone contacts, and crisis response, ensuring placement stability and the achievement of treatment goals.
• Develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment and service plans that align with regulatory requirements and meet the unique needs of each youth and family.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and detailed case documentation in compliance with agency policies and applicable licensing standards.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments, home studies, and home inspections to evaluate the safety and suitability of placements, including initial licensure, recertification, and closure processes.
• Coordinate youth admissions, placements, discharges, and transitions, ensuring proper documentation and communication with all relevant stakeholders.

Family & Caregiver Support

• Provide individualized training, education, and coaching for foster and biological parents on topics such as child development, trauma-informed care, conflict resolution, budgeting, behavior management, and parenting strategies.
• Monitor and track foster parent compliance with ongoing training requirements and provide support to meet state licensing standards.
• Facilitate family visitation, including supervision, observation, and documentation to support reunification or permanency planning, and provide parent coaching when necessary.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for foster families, providing consistent communication, advocacy, and support, including identification of respite care and coordination of community resources.

Clinical & Behavioral Support

• Deliver direct therapeutic and psycho-educational interventions to youth and families in both group and individual settings.
• Assist with crisis management, including participation in the on-call rotation to provide 24/7 support to families and youth, as well as managing emergency placements.
• Develop and implement behavior management strategies to address individual treatment needs and promote progress toward permanency or independence.

Collaboration & Coordination

• Collaborate with external stakeholders, including schools, courts, Family Assessment and Planning Teams (FAPT), and other service providers to ensure a coordinated approach to care.
• Attend required program and departmental meetings, supervision sessions, and team case reviews to support professional development and quality service delivery.
• Maintain positive relationships with referral agencies and community partners to ensure seamless service coordination and advocacy for client needs.

Administrative & Compliance

• Utilize electronic health record systems (e.g., Extended Reach, HubSpot, iSolved) to document contacts, tasks, and home studies accurately and within required timeframes.
• Ensure all licensing, documentation, and training requirements are completed in accordance with state and agency guidelines, including quarterly facility checklists and safety audits.
• Uphold all agency policies, ethical guidelines, and legal standards, and report any concerns or violations promptly to the supervisor.
• Abide by agency transportation policies, ensuring safe and compliant travel with youth and families, including proper use of safety restraints and adherence to traffic laws.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS:

• Knowledge of the Therapeutic Community model.
• Knowledge of Trauma Informed Care.
• Knowledge of transportation and child safety-seat laws.
• Strong ability to work under pressure, prioritize tasks, meet strict deadlines, and manage challenging situations or individuals with professionalism.
• Proficient in observing, assessing, and documenting client behaviors, symptoms, progress, and reactions to interventions.
• Skilled in interpreting and applying relevant rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance and service effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to develop efficient work methods and execute assignments independently and within required timeframes.
• Effective in building and maintaining positive working relationships with clients, families, colleagues, and external partners.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to convey information clearly and professionally across all levels.
• Capable of managing diverse behaviors and responding appropriately to behavioral and emotional challenges.
• Trained in and capable of performing crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies when necessary.
• Able to transport clients safely in accordance with agency policies and traffic safety regulations.
• Maintains current CPR and First Aid certifications and completes all required pre-service and in-service training as mandated by licensing, agency policy, and contracts.
• Knowledgeable in the use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) and maintaining accurate and confidential documentation.
• Strict adherence to confidentiality standards and HIPAA compliance.
• Highly organized with strong time management skills, capable of working efficiently in a hybrid (in-office and remote) work environment.
• Strong customer service orientation, with the ability to support and advocate for clients and families effectively.
• Proficient in maintaining thorough, up-to-date records and documentation systems.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

• A bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or sociology, or a directly related human service field degree from an accredited college, is required.
• At least three years of experience working with the child welfare population and two years of experience in training are preferred. Evenings and weekends are required.
• At least 2 years of case management experience are required.
• At least one year’s experience with home study development is preferred.

CASELOAD REQUIREMENTS:

• A full-time Family Services Specialist shall have a maximum family caseload of 50.
• When conducting home studies, the Family Services Specialist shall be assigned a maximum of 6 active homes.

HOME STUDY REQUIREMENTS:

• Contact with the family needs to occur within 24 hours of assignment. This should include a plan/schedule to set up all 3 visits.
• All home study visits need to occur within 30 days of assignment.
• Upon completion of the final visit, the home study report will be submitted for edits within 7 calendar days.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be at least 21 years of age or older.
• This position requires a valid Virginia driver's license.
• Travel up to 2 hours (one way) for visits.
• Must complete CPR/First Aid, Normalcy, CANS, Mental Health First Aid, and Mandated Reporter Training.

Location: Lebanon, VA and surrounding areas (within 30–40 miles), including Abingdon, Bristol, and Marion.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $22.00 - $27.00 per hour

Expected hours: 29 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Flexible schedule
• Mileage reimbursement
• Referral program

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Child welfare: 3 years (Required)
• Training: 2 years (Preferred)
• Case management: 2 years (Required)
• Home Study Development: 1 year (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Lebanon, VA (Required)

Work Location: On the road

Salary : $22 - $27