Adoption Caseworker

Athens County Children Services

Protecting Children, Strengthening Families, Securing Futures

POSITION: Adoption Caseworker (posting #142257)
SALARY: Starting at $41,600/year, commensurate with experience

Provides case management services to children and families in all stages of the adoption process.

• FULL-TIME positions, 40-hours per work week

Excellent Benefits Include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurances
• Paid $30,000 life insurance policy
• OPERS (Ohio Public Employees Retirement System)
• 12 paid holidays
• 2 weeks paid vacation time
• Possibility of vacation cash out
• Possibility of hybrid work environment
• Monthly phone stipend reimbursement
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Achieve Civil Servant status after 180-day probationary period

Required Qualifications  

• Bachelor's degree in social work or a related degree
• Valid driver’s license and Ohio Revised Code (ORC) compliant auto insurance 
• Candidate must pass a comprehensive background assessment

Preferred Qualifications  

• Licensed Social Worker
• 3 years of experience in kinship, adoption, or independent living casework

***APPLY on our website: ***
Employment Opportunities – Athens County Children Services (athenschildrenservices.com)

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**Applications accepted until ALL positions filled.**

ACCS is an EEO & Trauma Informed Employer.

**FULL JOB DESCRIPTION**

Position Definition

The Adoption Caseworker is responsible for providing case management services to children and families in all stages of the adoption process.

Reports To

Adoption Unit Supervisor

Employment Status

This is a full-time position working 40-hours per work week, regularly scheduled within the hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm., Monday thru Friday, except legal holidays, with flexibility of early morning and evening hours as needed to complete job responsibilities. Some weekend work may be required. The supervisor may require the worker to utilize an Alternative Work Site.

Principal Responsibilities

1) Provide Case Management Services

• Provide case management services to children in need of adoptive homes.
• Prepares child studies for all assigned children awaiting placement.
• Prepares a written case plan and/or amendment.
• Follows agency procedure in making child placements.
• Work with the children on life book activities.
• Refer children to appropriate service providers and coordinate with service providers.
• Complete all necessary paperwork to facilitate the adoptive placement.
• Participate in meetings inside and outside of the agency addressing the needs of the child or adoptive placement including matching meetings, case reviews, court, and team meetings.
• Form and maintain positive, supportive relationships with the child and substitute care providers.
• Provide placement services following adoptive placement.
• Involve the substitute caregiver in case planning and review.
• Provide regular contact with the child(ren) and caregiving family per ODJFS rule.
• Interviews potential adoptive families of children on caseload.
• Review home studies submitted for children on caseload.

2) Perform Assessment in Service Area

• Arrange for outside case management and follow up services if the placement is out of our service area.
• Provide regular contact with the child and caregiver(s) and other household members in the adoptive home per ODJFS rule.
• Complete necessary paperwork to facilitate adoption finalization.
• Complete all case record documentation as required.
• Connect the family with resource providers and work with these resources to ensure stability of the placement.
• Apprise the family of available subsidy options prior to placement and complete necessary subsidy paperwork.
• Consult with supervisor on a regular basis regarding the progress of the placement.
• Refer request of adoptive families for support services to Adoptive Family Caseworker.

3) Present Information

• Participate in court proceedings.
• Prepare court reports for court review.
• Complete other paperwork as requested by the court.
• Consult with supervisor and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney as needed.
• Testify at court hearings if necessary.
• Complete all case record documentation as required.
• File complaints and notify parents of emergency hearings.
• Provide testimony in court under oath.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the court system, procedures, legal requirements, terminology, and protocol for providing professional witness testimony.
• Provide a listing of potential witnesses to the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney as needed.
• Cooperates with the assigned prosecuting attorney on the prosecution of felony and misdemeanor charges regarding child maltreatment.

4) Collaborate and Coordinate with Multiple Stakeholders

• Form and maintain professional collaborate relationships, and maintain regular contact with workers from other agencies when child placed in non-ACCS home.
• Identify individuals who may have knowledge or are currently working with the child or family.
• Gather needed information from involved individuals and professionals.
• Utilize information to assist in making assessment on the case.
• Coordinate services with other community providers.
• Collaborate with ACCS staff when conducting abuse investigations on cases already open for family services.
• Share case information with Athens County Children Services (ACCS) employees and other individuals as appropriate.
• Display professional behavior and ethics.
• Maintain confidentiality of cases within the agency.
• Maintain a professional appearance as required by the agency dress code.
• Maintain professional conduct and manner within and outside the agency and when interacting with difficult clients.

5) Utilize Appropriate Supervision

• Regularly meet with supervisor as scheduled to share, consult, discuss work management, case activity, case direction, issues, recruitment ideas/plans, and questions.
• Present any or all case documentation for case records to the supervisor as requested by the supervisor.
• Share information with supervisor on independent decision making.
• Develop agenda for supervisory conferences.
• Discuss case dispositions and resolutions prior to entering into data systems.
• Meet with supervisor prior to case closing.
• Show balance between over-dependence on supervisor and independence in decision making.
• Utilize supervision during crisis situations and/or prior to removal of children from their homes.
• Prepare an individualized training plan along with supervisor and show ability to evaluate own practice.
• Participate in and contribute to agency meetings, discussions, and conferences.
• Discuss information entered into data systems and monitored for quality and compliance.
• Attend staff meetings and required in-service training.
• Develop intervention and action plans for families to share during the conference.
• Keep supervisor informed of critical issues that may arise between scheduled conferences.
• Remain open to learning from the clients and understanding cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, and life-style differences.
• Attend trainings or seminars focused on abuse and neglect investigations or prosecutions.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of trauma in its various forms and how it impacts a parent’s perception of services, use of resources, ability to interact with agency staff, parent-child visitation, and other service providers.
• Ability to maintain relations with other social agencies, public officials, and general public.
• Effective engagement and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, with a team, and with supervision.
• Knowledge of the Ohio’s legal definitions of physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, dependency, and endangerment.
• Knowledge of the need to maintain regarding the agency’s caseload.
• Knowledge of assessment /investigation procedures and possess effective investigative skills.
• Ability to gather information through interviews and the use of assessment tools.
• Ability to work with families in their own home and providing services as to where the family “is at” respecting the family at that level, using your skills and resources to move the family to a level of functioning that they can manage on their own.
• Knowledge of the impact of drugs on individuals and families and methods of intervention.
• Ability to break down information in incremental steps through discussion and demonstration and share this with the family.
• Ability to develop relationships with families and support staff.
• Ability to work with the public.
• Knowledge of permanency planning issues, theories, and principles.
• Apply ethical standard as established by the NASW.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet program goals, responsibilities, and deadlines.
• Knowledge of community resources for employment, education, housing, health care, mental health and community supports.
• Ability to prioritize and follow case activities which expedite case movement through the system.
• General knowledge of medical terminology.
• Knowledge of current ORC laws and local court procedures.
• Ability to prepare accurate and informative social case records.
• Basic knowledge of child welfare practice and goals.
• Knowledge of child development and the effects of abuse and neglect.
• General knowledge of parenting skills and appropriate disciplining techniques.
• Knowledge of child behavior patterns and environmental factors.
• Awareness of local cultural norms and values.
• Knowledge of social work methods, techniques, and applications.
• Knowledge of legal requirements, terminology, and court procedures.
• Time management and organizational skills
• Effective written and verbal skills.
• Ability to handle high levels of stress.
• Demonstrate knowledge of crisis-intervention and mediation skills.

Equipment Operated

Computer, Multi-line telephone system, cellular telephone, copier, and scanner and an electronic tablet.

Physically Demanding and Hazardous Working Conditions Inherent in This Job Description

The physical demands and hazardous working conditions 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 almost continuously required to sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee may continuously repeat the same hand, arm, or finger motion many times as in typing. The position frequently requires non-stop typing on the computer. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds, such as files or computer reports. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The position requires the individual to meet deadlines with time constraints and to interact with the public and other workers.

The employee will encounter irate or upset individuals.

The employee will encounter persons with limited social skills, limited reading and writing skills or unsanitary environments. It is not uncommon to work with individuals who are addicted to one or more drugs.

Workplace Environment

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 acceptable to this environment. However, the noise level can vary depending upon daily activity but will remain within the acceptable noise level range. The employee continuously is interacting with the public and staff. The employee will be required to meet multiple demands from several people.

Required Training

The Caseworker is to attend all required Core training within the first year of employment. An additional 12 hours of domestic violence training is required in the first two years. ACCS staff are to attend safety training as offered by the RTC and any other agency scheduled training. Caseworkers are expected to upgrade knowledge and skills through advanced training as recommended by their supervisors.

Caseworkers are expected to use computer programs including Microsoft Suite, SACWIS, Traverse, HRIS, travel reimbursement software, cloud-based communication systems, and any other computer programming that will be utilized by the agency in the future. Orientation to these programs will be provided by the agency.

General Conditions of Employment

Other conditions of employment as explained in the Agency Policy Manual.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Athens, OH 45701