Social Worker I

About the Position

The anticipated salary range for this position will be $68,501 - $75,344.

 

WHO WE ARE

Montgomery County is located adjacent to Washington, D.C., and with over one million residents, is the most populous County in the State of Maryland. The County is also the most diverse County in the State and ranks among the top ten most diverse Counties in the nation. Montgomery County contains many major U.S. government offices, scientific research and learning centers, and business campuses.

The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for delivery of the County’s public health and human services that meet the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children, adults and seniors. The Department provides services through more than 120 programs at more than 20 locations. With over 2,000 employees, the Department of Health and Human Services is the largest County Department.

As a Department, we believe health and wellness of the county can only be achieved by ensuring that every resident has fair opportunities to reach their fullest potential. This means access to quality housing, transportation, education, employment, health care, human services, safe neighborhoods, and healthy food. HHS provides critical services for residents who face a variety of obstacles in achieving their full potential. HHS plays an essential role in building a healthy and strong community.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

If you are interested in working for the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, we invite graduating MSW students to apply for our Social Worker I positions within Child Welfare Services.

What You'll Be Doing

These full-time merit positions are open to graduating MSW students.

This recruitment is for full-time Social Worker I positions in Child Welfare Services (CWS) ONLY.  Candidates will be required to be in possession of the following within five months of their application to meet the minimum qualifications of the Social Worker I. If these requirements are not met in the beforementioned timeframe you will no longer be considered for this position.

Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited college or university that meets the criteria of a graduate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education no later than July 1, 2025.

Must be licensed as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), or higher, by the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners prior to appointment and within five months of application.

CWS provides a variety of supportive services to children and families to reduce the risk of child maltreatment and ensure safety for children. When it is not possible for children to remain in their own homes, temporary placement in foster care, with relatives or with an adoptive family may be arranged. This work may involve occasional exposure to some risk of aggressive or unpredictable behavior by clients.

Ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the office. Employee must be available to work weekends, evenings, holidays and/or rotating shifts. 

Will need to operate a motor vehicle to transport children, supplies, and equipment, to other locations and would require the need to lift and carry, and manage stairs with children, equipment, and supplies.

The following units within CWS provide these services:

These positions require the ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the office. Employee must have some flexibility in their schedules, based on emergency or urgent workload/caseload needs.  

Employees will need to operate a motor vehicle to transport children, supplies, and equipment, to other locations to perform these duties and would require the need to lift and carry, and manage stairs with children, equipment, and supplies.

The following units within CWS provide these services: 

SCREENING UNIT: is the Child Protective Services (CPS) Hotline that receives calls regarding child abuse and neglect and determines if a CPS intervention is needed.

ASSESSMENT UNIT: investigates and assesses reports of alleged child abuse and neglect.

CONTINUING (Family Preservation) PROTECTIVE SERVICES: provides In-Home services to families where abuse and neglect have occurred.

OUT OF HOME PLACMENT SERVICES: provides case management and permanency planning for children who have been placed in foster care or relative placement.

ADOPTION SERVICES: (Foster care) prepare the child, who is under the guardianship of the Department, for placement in a legal, permanent family situation.

RESOURCE HOME: focuses on the licensing and monitoring of foster/resource homes, the coordination of foster care placements and facilitation of family team decision meetings.  

INDEPENDENT LIVING (Transitioning Youth) PROGRAM: prepares older foster children for transition from foster care to living independently.

Selected candidates for this position will be subject to a pre-employment medical exam, and drug screening and criminal history records check through the Maryland State Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.??Candidates will also be checked through the Maryland Registry for Child Abuse and Neglect and federal and state sex offender registries. Any applicant who fails the medical exam, background check or whose name appears on either of the registries may be disqualified from employment for this position.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Possession of a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited college or university that meets the criteria of a graduate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. MSW Students who will graduate by July 1, 2025.

Experience: None

Equivalency: See requirements of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners and the Code of Maryland (COMAR); see especially 10.42-01 (Regulations Governing Licensure) and 10.42.06 (Continuing Education). The Montgomery County Office of Human Resources must follow COMAR in providing qualifications credit and accepting substitutions or equivalents. 

License: 

• Must be licensed as a Licensed Master Social Worker - LMSW, or higher, by the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners prior to appointment. Note: There will be no substitutions for this requirement.

• Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class C (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant’s state of residence when required for job-related duties

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

Preference for interview will be give to qualified candidates with the following:
 

Bilingual Proficiency: Spanish 

Experience providing services to children and families.

Effective and comprehensive verbal and written communication skills

Demonstrated experience working in a Team environment.