The Foster Youth Social Worker is responsible for both the clinical treatment and case management of four to six youth placed in intensive Resource Family Approved (RFA) homes, or a combination of these youth and lower needs youth placed in foster or adoptive homes. The Social Worker will support the caregiver in many capacities including providing psycho-education and coaching, foster care compliance and managing sustainability. The Social Worker will support resource parents in meeting all expectations to gain and maintain Resource Family (RF) approval as well as meeting the needs of the youth. They support the youth through clinical assessment and direct care to meet their immediate and long term needs. They work as part of a multidisciplinary team to support the youth meeting all treatment goals and transition to a more permanent placement.

Seneca offers weekly individual and group supervision toward licensure hours, free CEUs, many free trainings to improve clinical skills, and yearly scholarship opportunities for professional development.

ABOUT PLACEMENT

Seneca's Placement Programs operate with a core belief that every child deserves a family. Families are recruited, trained, and certified to provide permanency and safety for children of all ages who are not able to remain with their family of origin. Some are impacted by behavioral, emotional, developmental, or medical challenges and many have experienced trauma and loss. The program provides youth and children with the safety, stability, and support of a nurturing and trauma-informed family. Placement will match approved families with children who need homes and provide children who need homes and provide children and families ongoing support and resources.

ABOUT SENECA

Seneca Family of Agencies is a non-profit with a simple but powerful mission: to help children and families through the most difficult times of their lives. Since then, Seneca provides a broad continuum of permanency, mental health, education, and juvenile justice services, which today reach over 18,000 youth and families throughout California and Washington State each year. The agency’s growth has been guided by a commitment to our Unconditional Care® model – doing whatever it takes to help children and families thrive, even when faced with tremendous challenges. Seneca is committed to supporting historically underrepresented communities and informing agency policies and practices through its agency-wide DEI Initiative and DEI Advisory Board. Seneca is committed to fostering an agency culture that is welcoming, cooperative, and inclusive of diverse peoples and worldviews.

• Function as the team leader for multi-disciplinary team and coordinate all treatment and placement activities
• Design and implement each child's treatment plan in conjunction with the treatment team
• Assist in screening and assessing of RFA parents, including completion of RFA Family Evaluation/Permanency Assessment and Written Reports (internally and externally in partnership with counties as needed)
• Coordinate all activities involving the birth family (including counseling court appearances, home visits and reunification efforts) in conjunction with the treatment team
• Provide in-home training and support to the RFA parents during weekly meetings
• Provide weekly support for each child/parent and visit child in the home at least once per week
• Attend all program staff meetings, treatment reviews, IEPs, and other agency meetings as necessary
• Provide direction to treatment team on clinical issues, casework issues, and written reports for each case
• Part of the crisis on-call rotation
• Meet at least once per week with supervisor
• Chart weekly progress notes and all other documents needed for treatment services, including assessments, diagnoses, and treatment plans

REQUIRED

• Master's degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or related in field of social services to meet CCL requirements for "FFA Social Worker"
• Registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences
• Bilingual in English/Spanish
• Own vehicle, valid California Drivers License, and insurance
• Be insurable by Seneca's automobile insurance company
• Flexible schedule with ability to work evenings and weekend days as needed
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
• Must be 21 years of age

SKILLS OF AN IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Experience working with youth with behavioral health needs in out-of-home care
• Good organizational skills

• Full-time, hybrid
  • Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM 
  • Services provided in person, documentation can be done remotely
  • Occasional evenings and weekend flexibility required based on the needs of the children and families
• Travel throughout Monterey County, and occasionally San Benito and Santa Cruz County will be required to support families in their homes

• Starting at $81,360 - $95,360 per year.
  • Actual salary is dependent on creditable experience above the minimum qualifications for the role
  • Additional compensation provided upon passing bilingual language proficiency exam
  • Additional $4000 salary increase for BBS licensure
  • $2000 sign-on bonus for new employees
• 5 weeks of Paid Time off and 11 Paid Holidays
• Relocation assistance may be available
• Comprehensive employee benefits package, including:
  • Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, acupuncture, and fertility coverage
  • Long-term disability, family leave, and life insurance
  • 50% paid premiums for dependents
  • 403b retirement plan
  • Employer-paid Employee Assistance Plan
• Training stipend and professional development opportunities
• Seneca is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
• Excellent clinical training, individual and group supervision, and assistance toward licensure
• Opportunities to develop specialized skills, including clinical supervision and evidence-based practices
• Abundant promotional opportunities across the agency in California and Washington

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