Human Resources

Child Care Social Worker

CHILD CARE SOCIAL WORKER

 

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:  These duties involve responsibility for coordinating and supervising an intensive care foster home (cluster home) group living program for disturbed adolescents.  The Child Care Social Worker also provides professional social work services including casework treatment for clients, and supervising the activities of Foster Parents, Caseworkers and Child Care Workers assigned to the program.  The work also involves serving as a liaison with other agencies and the community and responsibility for arranging medical, psychiatric and psychological services for clients.  The Child Care Social Worker provides training and acts as back-up to Grade B Case Supervisors.  The incumbent is responsible for maintaining acceptable standards of social services in accordance with agency policies, and for recommending changes to social services policies and procedures.  Does related work, as required.

 

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

Under the general direction of the Director of Social Services, supervises a cluster

home program for emotionally disturbed adolescents;

Assists in the formulation of casework or group work policies and procedures, and interprets Federal, State, and local policies and programs to subordinates under his/her supervision;

Provides recruitment, selection, training, advice and supervision for Foster Parents, Caseworkers, and Child Care Workers;

Provides direct social work services to children/families, including casework, intake, developing and implementing treatment plans, home visits, conducting discharge conferences, and arranging and coordinating medical, psychiatric and psychological services for clients;

Serves as liaison between the cluster home program, cooperating agencies/service providers, the Family Courts, and the community;

Ensures that care and treatment provided meets requirements of all supervisory and regulatory agencies;

Maintains complete and accurate records of program activities and makes oral and written reports;

Establishes necessary control for determining staff performance, and evaluates performance of assigned staff;

Is required to participate in “on call” activities and transportation of clients.

 

The above examples of duties are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

 

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND/OR PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Thorough knowledge of current theories, principles and techniques of social case work and counseling applicable to children and their families; thorough knowledge of treatment planning methods and techniques; thorough knowledge of motivation factors, interests, attitudes and behavior patterns of children and adolescents; good knowledge of modern methods of managing group living programs for disturbed children and adolescents; good knowledge of Federal, State, and local applicable laws and programs; ability to plan, direct and supervise the work of others;  ability to work effectively with disturbed juvenile and adolescent children; ability to plan, implement and supervise activities and programs to help troubled children; ability to communicate effectively with staff members; good professional judgment; thorough knowledge of techniques of case recording; strong ability to maintain records and make oral and written reports; ability to interpret the work of the agency; initiative and resourcefulness; good powers of observation and analysis; imagination; sensitivity to the reaction of others; emotional maturity; judgment; tact; ability to establish and maintain successful relationships with people.

 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is required to walk, talk and hear.

 

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

The noise level in the work environment is moderately quiet.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from high school or possession of an appropriate equivalency diploma recognized by the NYS Department of Education, AND:             

A.     Graduation from a regionally accredited or NYS registered college or university with a Bachelor's degree AND five (5) years of full time, paid experience in social work with a public or private agency;

OR:       

B.     Graduation from a regionally accredited or NYS registered college or university with a Bachelor's degree AND three (3) years of full time, paid experience in social work with a public or private agency, with at least one (1) year of supervisory experience in that setting;

 

A Master's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Rehabilitative Counseling or a closely related field from a regionally accredited or NYS registered college or university may be substituted for two years of social work experience.

 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENT AND CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT:

Possession of a valid NYS Operator’s license.

 

Competitive Class

Adopted 4/5/80

Revised 5/1/80, 4/19/83, 12/22/88, 9/30/98, 8/26/15