Family Safety Practitioner II -Adult Services

• Provides intensive community-based case management services to older adults and adults with disabilities.
• Assesses functional eligibility for Medicaid long term care services, conducts assessments and monitors the provision of in-home services.
• Conducts Adult Protective Services investigations of alleged abuse, neglect and/or exploitation, the ability to assess risks posed to clients, and to provide protective services.
• Requires assessment, care planning, and coordination skills, the ability to manage competing priorities, and to respond effectively to both deadlines and crisis situations.
• Participates and is available for on-call rotation for protective, preservation, critical incidents, and/or permanency for mandatory services that includes evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours which may require immediate response into the field.
• Attends and participates in local meetings.
• Works with the client, family and service providers to resolve service delivery issues.
• Performs record keeping according to local and state policy requirements within designated timeframes.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

Performs individual and family safety and risk assessment and casework duties pursuant to applicable state and federal policies/ law, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people facing vulnerabilities;
Determines whether people at risk of harm should be separated from their current living situation including, emergency separations of children or vulnerable adults from their homes when required;
Engages county residents in services that are often non-voluntary and/or protective in nature. County residents engaging in these services are often experiencing difficulties that may be stressful and upsetting and threaten their immediate physical or psychological safety;
Advocates for and assists families and individuals in obtaining services (e.g., mental health, intellectual disability, alcohol and drug, housing referrals, financial assistance for basic needs, home based services, training, and medical services) to ameliorate the circumstances that brought them to the attention of the department;
Provides family, individual, and group counseling and conducts mediation services to families in conflict;
Investigates and/or evaluates complaints of alleged abuse or neglect, and in consultation with supervisor, makes assessment of risks posed to clients in accordance with state and local policies, and works to ensure risks are eliminated or minimized;
Prepares written reports and required documentation supporting decisions related to immediate and ongoing safety needs;
Provides crisis intervention on a timely basis to clients or families whose wellbeing are seriously and imminently threatened;
Collects, documents, and makes appropriate case decisions related to information from clients, their family members and community support systems regarding their social, financial, physical health, emotional well-being, and problems affecting the completion of safety or services plans;
Documentation is detailed and becomes part of the case file which is a legal record;
Participates in the development of court related documents and may testify or attend court to provide support to the clients and/or their caregivers;
Provides training, outreach and education for allied resources including (but not limited to) foster and adoptive parents, volunteers, families, and other county residents regarding supportive services, agency programs, and other specialized topics related to the wellbeing of county residents at risk of harm;
Works with and monitors individual service providers such as contract service providers and volunteers who work with clients to adhere to or complete safety or service plans;
Uses case management, documentation management technology, and hard copy files to maintain and update case data, notes, documents, records, contacts, and summaries of information in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and policies.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

Knowledge of the principles and practices of social work and case management;
Knowledge of current social service problems and methods/approaches to address issues;
Knowledge or skill with crisis intervention or conflict resolution techniques;
Knowledge of regulations and guidelines relating to the assigned area of social service specialization;
Ability to analyze case information to reach sound decisions based on such information;
Ability to demonstrate advanced critical thinking and judgment by understanding and applying governing policy and statutes alongside best practices and unique case factors;
Ability to engage with persons effectively and empathically from different cultures who may be experiencing stressful family situations;
Ability to maintain a high level of sensitivity and confidentiality while performing client related tasks;
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
Ability to use case management and documentation technology to establish and maintain case records;
Ability to maintain professional ethics and confidentiality of client information;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals;
Ability to schedule and manage workload sufficiently to meet deadlines;
Skill in defining and explaining complex rules and guidelines in a variety of settings;
Skill in writing reports that are behaviorally specific, factually correct, include conclusions and recommended action;
Ability to engage children, adults, and/or families under safety-sensitive, time-limited, and difficult circumstances, to gather information and make informed decisions that are inclusive of their language, race, and culture;
Ability to engage and work with community partners and organizations;
Ability to collaboration as a team member to create and support safety planning and monitoring;
Ability to engage with juridical systems and processes to support the safety needs of clients as needed or when required by statute;
Demonstrated ability to set boundaries and participate in self-reflective practice and working knowledge of the National Association of Social Workers'' Code of Professional Ethical Standards.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or a related field*; plus, two years of experience in social work, psychology, sociology, or a *related experience. A master's degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience. *For Virginia Child Welfare Stipend Program graduates: A master's degree in social work, plus and eligible practicum in child welfare may be substituted for two years of the required experience.

*A related field/experience is based solely on the position description.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license.
Positions within this class are required to complete the state mandated training in the functional area within a specified time period.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, driving record check, and a Child Protective Services check.

This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).

Schedule requires evenings and weekends as needed.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's in Social Work (MSW)
• One years of professional social work experience working with older adults and/or adults with disabilities
• Working knowledge of community-based and long-term care services.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Good organizational skills.
• Experience using automated technology and software programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook.
• Experience conducting home visits.
• Experience working with a diverse multicultural population.
• Experience working in an inter-disciplinary team setting in a in a public, state, or local social services agency.
• Experience working with computerized case management programs.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.