Adoption Social Worker bei Holt International Children's Services Inc

Description

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

US Programs focuses on providing high quality, essential services that help put—and keep, children into safe and secure homes. The department provides services to over 3,000 children and adults annually through a variety of pre- and post-adoption services. Managed by Eugene, Oregon and branch office staff, these programs and services are carried out in close cooperation with Holt’s regional and country programs, partner agencies, child welfare service providers, government child welfare agencies, local and regional officials, funding agencies, and others. The program continuously evaluates opportunities to expand or deepen program services, while maintaining high standards of quality and transparency for child welfare impact.

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Holt International finds and supports permanent, loving families for children who are orphaned, abandoned or at serious risk of separation from their family. The Master’s Level Social Worker represents Holt in his/her community and ensures successful adjustment of child and family by conducting an assessment of the family, and providing appropriate services throughout the adoption process. The Master’s Level Social Worker works cooperatively with families, the Branch Office and the Regional and Social Service Teams in Eugene, Oregon. Note: The Branch Social Worker is primarily a home based position. Depending on where the position is located in proximity to the branch location, the position may be required to have branch office hours. The Branch Social Worker position is required to travel (most often by car) to different locations within the assigned area to complete the essential functions of the position.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (to be completed within timeframes outlined by the Branch Director): 

1. Contributes to public knowledge about Holt and support Holt programs by recruiting adoptive families, conducting informational meetings and phone calls, holding pre-adoption seminars, participating in activities arranged by Holt including picnics or parent groups, representing Holt at adoption meetings, coalitions and organizations, and performing other outreach activities as appropriate.
2. Determines a family’s ability and capacity to parent an adopted child by conducting pre-home study meetings as requested, reviewing and assessing agency-requested information, evaluating the family’s knowledge and perceptions of adoption, teaching adoption education courses, and conducting psycho-social assessments of family members.
3. Contributes to the delivery of high quality adoption services by producing adoption home studies and post placement reports and all supplemental materials in compliance with current country, agency, state and USCIS requirements.
4. Provides support and case management on all assigned families by maintaining quarterly contact throughout process, communicating information to the family, referring family to appropriate community support systems when necessary and documenting all correspondence in Holt’s database. Monitor for expiration dates for background checks and home study as required by State law and ensure families receive forms necessary to update paperwork.
5. Prepares family for travel and assist with post placement adjustment by providing face-to-face training on the prediction path including possible reactions and behaviors of the child, identifying resources available to the family while in country and upon their return. Social worker will contact the family within one week of their arrival, conduct home visits as required by State law and country program guidelines, assist in early identification of problematic issues, and follow agency policy and consult with Branch Director and/or Clinical Resource Group if additional intervention is required above and beyond the standard protocol for the state/country, recommending removal of child when appropriate.
6. Assures child’s physical and emotional well-being and ease family’s adjustment at disruption by providing counseling to the child and family and/or arranging for counseling with a clinician outside the agency and maintaining relationships to ensure behaviors and contacts with the child will allow for closure for child and family. Assist child and family with transition of child to new placement.
7. Maintains professional knowledge by attending relevant seminars and course work, keeping informed about State regulations, legislation, adoption issues and child-related issues overseas; maintaining license, if required. Participate in Holt Branch Staff meetings as required.
8. Contributes to a positive, productive work environment by meeting attendance and punctuality guidelines and pre-arranging time off with appropriate notice; treating all people with dignity and respect; and exhibiting good listening and comprehension skills including giving and welcoming feedback.
9. Contributes to team effort by working cooperatively with Branch and Eugene offices, respectfully responding to all communication from Branch and Eugene within one business day. Providing back-up to colleagues as needed and accomplishing results.

INFORMATION PROCESSING: 

Ability to organize, set priorities and work independently. Ability to analyze and interpret complex information from multiple sources and work through complex issues with families and children to identify root issues, potential solutions and options for intervention. Looks at information from multiple perspectives and thoroughly weighs strengths and weaknesses of families before making decisions.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY: 

This position requires the application of clinical skills and knowledge in determining the appropriateness of an adoptive placement for a child and whether the placement is in the best interests of the child. Include recruiting families; assessing family functioning; determining capacity to parent; identifying unusual adjustment issues and problematic family dynamics; managing families and children in crisis; providing on-going support and case management to families; completing reports on-time; documenting all contact with family; communicating with families, Branch and Eugene staff; treating families and co-workers with respect; exercise good judgment and problem solve in a creative manner.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: 

Ability to express thoughts and feelings and facilitate that expression from others. Ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship, work cooperatively with agency staff, and work well with collateral contacts in the community including returning phone calls and emails in a timely and courteous manner.

IMPACT OF RESULTS: 

Promote feelings of good will and public support for Holt by ensuring successful adjustment of child and family, optimizing effectiveness of adoption process, boosting family recruitment and community awareness of adoption and Holt’s services in the coverage area.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

DESCRIBE CONTROLS: Reports to and is evaluated by the Branch Director. 

Requirements

SUCCESS FACTORS: 

The successful Adoption Social Worker has strong assessment skills and the ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with families and work cooperatively with agency staff and contacts in the community. She/he has the ability to identify unusual adjustment issues and problematic family dynamics and address these with families in a respectful, open and supportive manner. She/he has the ability to problem solve in a creative manner and manage families and children in crisis while exercising good judgment. She/he has strong organizational skills, is able to work independently, set priorities, and analyze documents. She/he leverages current technology to support performance and efficiency in accomplishing assigned responsibilities.

KNOWLEDGE:  

Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field, five years experience in a social service setting, and state license (where applicable). Requires the application of clinical skills and knowledge to determine the appropriateness of an adoptive placement of a child and whether that placement is in the best interests of the child. Must have proven clinical and assessment skills and experience in adoption services and processes. Ability to conduct a psycho-social assessment. Experience providing counseling to individuals, families and/or groups. Knowledge of family and group dynamics and adoption practices. Excellent writing and computer skills. Cross cultural sensitivity. Note: Required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of training every two years on current and emerging adoption practice issues.