Family Support Worker

The Family Support Worker (FSW) is responsible for providing comprehensive support to the Social Workers that are supporting youth and families in LSSNCA’s DC foster care program. This supportive position requires the ability to anticipate needs, think critically, develop relationships with the families served, plan visits/doctor appointments and transport youth to and from visits with family, and the ability to de-escalate conflict with a high level of professionalism. Reporting directly to a Supervisory Social Worker; the FSW serves as the most supportive role to the program. The FSW must be willing to transport clients, supervise visitation, document interactions and enjoy working within a collaborative and dynamic environment that is mission-driven, results-focused and community oriented. The candidate must have a commitment to the mission of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA). 

"This position is contingent upon grant funding/award. Recruitment is being conducted in advance of a final funding decision. Employment will begin only if funding is secured."

Essential Functions:

• Schedules in collaboration with social workers and supervises visitation with biological family members, transports child if necessary and completes visit log in FACES.
• Builds working relationships with biological families and foster families to effectively provide support and interventions during monthly home visits.
• Ensures that children living in the biological home are being adequately supervised, and that their needs are being met (educational, medical, physical, and emotional).
• Link families with respective collaborative agencies.
• Ensure that all contacts are documented in FACES.
• Reviews each foster child’s record to monitor documentation of annual physicals and twice year dental evaluations are completed.  Transports foster child to medical appointments as requested by social worker and program director.  Make necessary and appropriate referrals to DC Kids for medical, dental, psychological and therapy services.
• Will take clients to medical screenings per placement change.
• Transport children to and from school (until DCPS transportation service starts) when foster children are moved from one home to another for emergency respite.
• Coordinate and assist with Family-Based Team Meetings.
• Teams with Family Wellness Worker in identifying Kinship Permanency Resources through case mining family records and face-to-face contact with biological families.
• Must be available to work some evening hours.

•    Bachelor’s Degree in social work or related field.
•    At least two (2) years of prior experience working with children and families
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills
•    Must have an ability to provide excellent and compassionate engagement with all clients
•    Culturally competent: experience with different cultures, religions, and nationalities.
•    Ability to work independently and exercise a high level of confidentiality
•    Must be reliable with time sensitive appointments
•    Computer and typing skills sufficient to perform essential job functions.
•    Active motor vehicle license.
•    Maintain a reliable automobile with adequate insurance coverage.
•    Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries.

 

Preferred Skills

•    2 plus years of experience in child welfare 
•    2 plus years of experience in the foster care system
•    Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel)
•    Bi-lingual (Spanish and English)
•    Ability to manage time well
•    Ability to work independently and in a group.