Job Synopsis

This position has the primary responsibility for providing direct professional social work services to individuals and families. The incumbent must be skilled in evaluating and assessing the need of the clients, establishing appropriate service plans, and performing the full range of case work and/or group activities in order to identify and resolve problems and provide social work services.

About DHS

It is the mission of DHS to empower every District resident to reach their full potential by providing meaningful connections to work opportunities, economic assistance, and supportive services. Our approach to preventing homelessness and supporting individuals and/or families experiencing homelessness is focused both on systems-level reforms and on the quality of the programs and supports within that system. These efforts include creating economic opportunity, making our neighborhoods safer, and providing more effective and efficient government services. The Family Services Administration (FSA) helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness, people with low income, adults at-risk for abuse or neglect, teenage parents, families experiencing challenging times and refugees to become stable and fully self-sufficient through an array of social services, assessments and case-management and crisis-intervention.

Duties and Responsibilities

Conducts home and collateral visits in order to assess the need and strengths of client by interviewing and observing interactions, both verbal and non-verbal between immediate and extended family members and significant others. Contacts collateral sources such as neighbors, landlords, schools, medical professionals, clinics, and other service providers to interview, or review other available information, to complete the investigation and assessment and to arrange for necessary services for clients. Assesses the medical, emotional, and community supports available to clients; determines, if abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation exists. Intervenes to provide protective services when allegations are substantiated and develops service plans when problems exist which prevent the healthy functioning of individuals and families.

Develops and maintains up-to-date case plans for each client to include problem identification, choice of intervention, and goals for safe long-term care plans. Assists clients in establishing eligibility for services and helps client access services. Responds to crisis situations and attempts to resolve immediate problems, i.e., conducts preliminary crisis counseling to defuse the situation; determines whether a child or an adult is in immediate danger and identifies and secures services to reduce potential harm. Provides individual, group and family counseling to help clients recognize, accept and resolve social, environmental, emotional, and medical problems. Maintains statistical data which reflects an accurate account of the number of clients served and the number and type, of activities performed in order to provide services.

Qualifications and Education

Degree: Social Work. Must fulfill all the requirements for the master's degree in social work in a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, one (1) year of specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.

Licenses and Certifications

Must possess and maintain Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) OR Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in the District of Columbia as specified in the Health Occupation Revision Act of 1985, DC Law 6-99.

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Working Conditions /Environment

Work is performed in an office setting, but the incumbent must be able to conduct field visits in the community and will be required to make field visits which require frequent and regular travel to various parts of the District. The work is performed in the community during home and collateral visits to investigate allegations and provide case management service, and in an office setting for follow-up, documentation and case planning. The work environment involves risk associated with going into people’s home to investigate allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation and risk associated with going into neighborhoods throughout the District of Columbia. There are also some discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of office, meeting and training rooms, residences, or vehicles. Use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trip and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals, protection from contagious conditions, safeguard in visits to some families and in collateral visits will be necessary. Due to emotional distress of clients at times situations requiring home visits may expose incumbent to physical verbal attacks.

Other Significant Facts

Tour of Duty: Monday – Friday; 8:30am – 5:00pm

Pay, Plan, Series & Grade: CS-0185-11

Promotion Potential: CS-0185-12

Collective Bargaining Unit: This position is in a collective bargaining unit represented by AFSCME 2401 and union dues may be collected.

Position Designation: This position has been deemed Protection Sensitive under the guideline of the DC Personnel Manual. Incumbents of this position are subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC personnel regulations. Accordingly, incumbents must successfully pass a criminal background, a consumer credit check and a mandatory drug and alcohol testing as a condition of employment and will be subject to periodic background checks for the duration of their tenure.

Emergency Designation: This position has been designated as Emergency. Employees occupying positions designated as Emergency are required to:

• Provide advice, recommendations, and/or specific functional support necessary for the continuity of operations during a declared emergency.
• Remain at their duty station, or alternate work location (approved by their supervisor), if activated, when a situation or condition occurs and results in early dismissal for nonessential/non-emergency employees.
• Report to their duty station, when activated, on time and as scheduled when a situation or condition occurs during non-work hours, and results in the late arrival or closing of District government offices for non-essential/non-emergency employees.
• Telework during a declared emergency, instead of remaining or reporting to his or her duty station, if directed by the agency head (or designee), supervisor or manager.

EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.