Foster Care Caseworker

ABOUT CHILDREN SERVICES OF ROXBURY:
Founded in 1972 Children's Services of Roxbury's (CSR) mission is to provide high quality services to economically disadvantaged children, youth, families, and individuals thereby promoting and strengthening family life and individual growth. CSR serves approximately 6,000 families across Massachusetts, serving families through four key services areas; Early Education and Care, Behavioral Health Services, Youth and Family Services and Housing and Stabilization. There are 22 programs operating under those four services areas. CSR operates across in 4 cities, has a staff of 400 employees, and an operating budget of $28M.

OVERVIEW:
Children's Services of Roxbury is committed to providing support and services that build on the strengths of the biological family system, address possible risks, and prevent out-of-family placements. However, in situations where this is not possible, CSR's Comprehensive Foster Care Program works to place children in stable, loving, nurturing foster homes. Our goal is to find both short-term and long-term placements for at-risk children and youth with a broad range of emotional, physical and developmental special needs. Reunification with the child's biological family is our goal. When that is not feasible, foster care providers and staff work together to formulate an alternate plan for permanency such as kinship care, guardianship, or adoption.

Summary:

CSR's Intensive Foster Care Program works to place children in stable, loving, nurturing foster homes. Our goal is to find both short-term and long-term placements for at-risk children and youth with a broad range of emotional, physical, and developmental special needs. Reunification with the child's biological family is our goal. When that is not feasible, care providers and staff work together to formulate an alternate plan for permanency such as kinship care, guardianship, or adoption.

Responsibilities:

Weekly face to face contact with all clients on your caseload, specifically:

• Ensuring proper medication administration
• Collecting encounter forms from medical and dental visits
• Establishing rapport with your client and assisting to build a relationship between your client and the foster family
• Conflict resolution
• Trauma Informed Care
• Bedroom/house checks
• PAYA (with clients 14+)
• Will be assigned a duty day once per week
• Obtain and maintain Social Work/Mental Health License
• Required Participation in on call coverage as scheduled

• Help to coordinate two-week placement meetings (typically scheduled by Service Coordinator)
• Ensure quarterly reviews are scheduled consistently for all clients on your caseload
• Foster Care Reviews
• School Meetings
• Psychiatrist, therapy, medical and dental appointments as needed

• DCF Social Worker
• Lead Agency Service Coordinator
• Service Providers (Physiatrists, therapists, daycare, afterschool program, etc.)
• School administrators

• Child Crises
• Conflict Resolution
• Hospitalizations
• Emergency Meetings
• School suspensions
• Police involvement

• Virtual Gateway (Treatment Plans, Progress Reviews, Incident Reports)
• ETO (Administrative Checklists, Narratives, Monthly Reports)

• Referral Information (Birth Certificate and Assessments)
• Child Placement Agreements with all appropriate signatures (DCF Social Worker, Family Resource, Foster Parent)
• Grievance Policy
• Medical Information (MassHealth Card, Medical Passport, Encounter Forms)
• Legal documentation and correspondence
• Release of Information
• Maintain client files to be audit ready

• Weekly participation in supervision and unit meetings; Monthly participation in department meetings rotating between Roxbury and Tewksbury offices
• Professionalism and a positive attitude across settings
• Appropriate boundaries and work ethic
• On call coverage

1. Master's level or bachelor's level; in social work or a related field
2. Must have a valid driver's license without restrictions and have reliable transportation
3. Must be available during business hours (M-F, 9am - 5pm) and flexible when dealing with crises or attending meetings outside of business hours
4. Must have excellent writing and communication skills
5. Must have typing skills and experience with Microsoft Office
6. Must be willing to work in collaboration with the child's entire Treatment Team, including: DCF social workers, Service Providers (therapists, physiatrists), biological families, school personnel etc. towards the goals of the child's Service Plan
7. Knowledge of referral coordination to community and private/public resources a plus
8. Experience in navigating any of the child-serving systems and experience advocating for children who are involved with behavioral health systems