Travis County is hiring: Social Worker in Austin

Overview

Travis County Child Representation provides high-quality legal representation and other support to children and youth involved in the Travis County child welfare system. The social worker will collaborate with staff attorneys to assist child-clients in suits filed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Social workers will build professional and trusting relationships with clients and assist attorneys in advocating for clients’ needs through knowledge of child development, trauma informed care, education, community resources, and case management. Provides social work services to clients and families to include case management, psychosocial and/or needs assessments. Develops client/family individualized service plans and monitors progress. Utilizes community resources to assist clients and their families and provides client/family education, training and advocacy.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This is a job classification within the Social Services job family. This classification is distinguished from other social services classes due to the social work functions and services provided to clients. This classification performs case management, psychosocial and/or needs assessments, develops client service plans and accesses community resources to assist clients. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Identify community resources to assist clients, including, but not limited to, medical resources, local, state, and federal agencies, community-based agencies, and other resources.
• Maintain current knowledge about resource availability.
• Use evidence-based practices and remains current with standards of profession.
• Participate in and coordinate case reviews involving client/family and other service providers.
• Meet with the clients and caregivers in a setting appropriate to assess the client’s needs and goals.
• Collaborate with the assigned attorney on a case plan and monitor progress.
• Help identify appropriate placements for child clients in the community.
• Attend court proceedings, negotiations, and mediations, as necessary.
• Support clients in preparing for and participating in court proceedings, mediations, and out-of-court advocacy efforts.
• Attend case planning meetings facilitated by the Department of Family and Protective Services, such as permanency conferences, Circles of Support, Family Team Meetings, as well as educational and other meetings.
• Review all relevant records and case-related information, including psychological, psychosocial, and psychiatric evaluations.
• Participate in out of court advocacy with service providers, schools, placements, and DFPS.
• Communicate regularly with care contacts, such as foster parents, kinship resources, DFPS case workers, service providers, and school personnel.
• Complete individualized needs assessment.
• Observe visitation between parents and children.
• Maintain updated case data, client notes, and legal files.
• Identify systemic issues and participate in advocacy efforts
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience: Master\'s degree in Social Work AND two (2) years social work experience counseling individuals in crisis/trauma situations.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).
Valid Texas Driver\'s License.

Preferred: Experience with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Practical experience engaging with the client population. Ability to fluently speak and write in Spanish.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Theoretical constructs of human development and social work theory and practices.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
• Local and statewide placement options for children in the Department of Family and Protective Services conservatorship.
• Local social services, organizations, and the programs and resources available.
• Therapeutic approaches, the impact of trauma on children, and trauma informed care
• Modern office practices, procedures and methods.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

• Counseling and providing crisis and other assistance to clients.
• Assessing the medical, psychosocial and environmental status of clients.
• Determining types of counseling, social service provider and other services indicated for clients.
• Therapeutic techniques used in trauma, grief or crisis situations.
• Interviewing and obtaining information from clients and other sources.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Both verbal and written communication.
• Cultural competence communication and the ability to identify and engage with different groups

Ability to:

• Work as part of a collaborative team.
• Accept and embrace the challenges inherent in the child welfare field.
• Apply social work and counseling theory, practice, and procedures.
• Work compassionately and respectfully with clients, relative caregivers, and foster parents.
• Work effectively and courteously under high-pressure circumstances.
• Prepare accurate and complete records and reports.
• Remain objective evaluating emotional challenging cases.
• Handle difficult conversations with tact and empathy.
• Demonstrate consistent, sound, and mature judgment.
• Manage time well and meet timelines.
• Participate as an advocate for clients in multidisciplinary meetings such as admission, dismissal meetings, family team meetings, and circles of support.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with DFPS, representatives of other County employees and officials, as well as the general public.
• Travel to various areas in Austin and surrounding counties in Texas to visit clients.
• Use current technology, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Dropbox, etc.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, driving, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday. Works some nights

Location: 1700 Guadalupe, 5th Floor, Austin, TX 78701

Department: Community Legal Services

Criminal, Driving Background Checks Required.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.