This position includes a signing bonus of $2,500 (full-time) for new county hires.

Do you aspire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and youth in foster care? Are you energized by a dynamic, fast-paced work environment where every day brings new challenges? If so, we invite you to join our team! We seek individuals dedicated to children's permanency, safety, and well-being, who excel in critical thinking, decision-making, and leadership. This challenging role offers a unique opportunity to positively impact the lives of children and families.

Works within the Division of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) as part of our Placement and Resource team. This team is in the Foster Care and Adoption, Resource and Support program. Due to the important function of this team, this position requires participation in after-hours support for the Division.

As a Placement Coordinator, you will be at the forefront of the decision-making process for the placement of children entering foster care or requiring re-placement. Your role will involve evaluating the needs and challenges of each child, while also considering the strengths, limitations, and availability of foster families. Additionally, you will work to place children in out-of-home placements when necessary, based on their specific treatment needs.

As an agency, DFS is committed to strengthening the well-being of its diverse community by protecting and improving the lives of all children, adults, and families through assistance, partnership, advocacy, outreach, and quality services. To learn more about DFS and its Mission, Vision, and Values, please clickhere{target="_blank" tabindex="0"}.

Under general direction of the Supervisor of the Placement and Resource Team, the Placement Coordinators duties and responsibilities include:

• Match children with appropriate foster homes, ensuring information accuracy and completeness, and coordinating with CPS and foster care staff.
• Assess the condition and needs of children and communicate with foster parents and agencies to arrange placements.
• Manage placement resources, maintain knowledge of foster homes and agencies, and coordinate potential placement options.
• Maintain a detailed database of referrals, children demographics, and track referral dispositions.
• Prepare and maintain reports on referral activities, case assignments, and characteristics of children entering foster care.
• Enter and update information on foster homes in the OASIS system and manage related paperwork.
• Provide crisis intervention, training, and mentorship to social services specialists, and assist with administrative functions.
• Participate in team decision-making meetings, evaluation of program services, and planning of appreciation events for foster parents.
• Participation in an on-call after-hours rotation that includes evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours.
• Performs other duties as assigned to ensure child safety and improve outcomes for families.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of child protection laws, rules, and regulations.
• Knowledge of foster care and adoption laws, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to interview, assess needs, counsel, and refer clients to other resources as needed.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service to members of the community whom the agency serves, as well as community partners and internal agency staff.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to learn, retain, and apply both state and federal law and policy for foster home providers.
• Ability to work independently

Grow your career with Fairfax County! With more than 16,000 employees, Fairfax County is a diverse workforce offering employees stimulating and challenging opportunities across a broad scope of career opportunities. As a Fairfax County employee, you impact the well-being of our community every day.

This is an exciting time to join Fairfax County Government as we shape racial and social equity policies in the county through the One Fairfax Policy. Using this framework, we intentionally consider equity when making policies or delivering programs and services. To learn more, we highly encourage you to watch the Becoming One FairfaxAn Introduction to Key Concepts video and visit the One Fairfax webpagehere{target="_blank" tabindex="0"}.

Finally, clickhere{target="_blank" tabindex="0"}to learn more about learn more about our Department of Family Services, meet our director and some of our practitioners, watch a short video to learn more about this position, read the top 5 reasons to come work with us, and check out the great benefits, including excellent paid leave, health plans, and retirement plans. In addition to the many County benefits, working with us gives you access to supervision towards becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, our Child Welfare Institute onboarding academy, and practice guidance grounded in the Safe and Connectedandtrade; practice model.

All Fairfax County Government employees are expected to adhere to the Standards of Conduct. In maintaining a drug free workplace, employees are prohibited from manufacturing, distributing, possessing, using or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while at work or on county premises.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree, plus three years of professional social work experience. A master's degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED: Valid driver's license.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background, a driving record check, and a Child Protective Services check to the satisfaction of the employer.

Works a flexible schedule to include evenings and weekends. May be required to be on-call rotation that includes evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours which may require immediate response into the field.

This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).