Master Social Worker

 Are you interested in making a difference in your community? Are you passionate about helping others who are in need across different groups? Do you value work life balance? If you answer yes to these questions, Bay Area Legal Services may be the workplace for you!

Bay Area Legal Services is a nonprofit law firm serving the Tampa Bay area for over 50 years. We assist low-income residents, veterans, seniors, children, domestic violence survivors, and many more.

Our Mission: Providing the highest quality legal counsel by:

• Assisting individuals and nonprofit groups with limited access to legal services
• Resolving the legal problems of our clients
• Preserving the independence, hope, and dignity of those we serve.

Our Vision: Creating pathways to justice through high-quality legal services, education and community partnerships.

Our firm includes over 190 dedicated staff members comprised of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff who work to carry out our mission and vision daily.

Position Title:  Children’s Law Center Master Social Worker (Full-time, Hybrid 3 days in office & 2 days remote) 

Office Location: Tampa, FL

Position Summary: Highly skilled MSW will collaborate with and support attorneys for children and youth in the Hillsborough County dependency system who provide high quality, holistic, client-directed legal representation. 

Illustrative Duties:

• Must adhere to Florida Bar requirements regarding attorney- client confidentiality.
• Attend case staffing and enter contemporaneous written notes and reports in case management system for each child client. 
• Visit children and youth in placements and in the community as requested by the attorneys.
• Provide assessments of child client’s needs, as requested by the attorneys, and identify services necessary to meet the needs of the child and the family. 
• Assist child welfare case managers in providing referrals on behalf of the children and follow-up on referrals to monitor whether services are being provided in a timely manner.
• With direction and supervision from the attorney, assist with educational advocacy, including attending Individual Educational Plan (IEP) meetings. 
• Assist with investigating pertinent facts in case, obtain and review records and reports when necessary.
• Assist in case planning and tracking cases towards permanency. Routinely meet with the attorneys to track case progress, identify and resolve barriers to permanency.
• Identify adoptive homes for clients when necessary. This will include networking with the Department of Children and Families, as well as private agencies, adoption attorneys, internet sources, relatives, teachers, foster parents, shelter staff and other members of the community.
• Be available to the attorneys to assist with any issues arising in cases (e.g., visitation, medical or dental care, Medicaid, daycare, educational issues, etc.).
• Interface with child welfare stakeholders on behalf of the CLC.
• Serve as a liaison with local Community Based Care Agency and Case Management Organizations and meet periodically with its staff to discuss issues involving children in care and early services intervention.
• Assist attorneys in providing community awareness and promoting the involvement of the CLC in working with children in foster care.
• Participate in planning sessions and workgroups within the community and the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and other community partners to develop a better child welfare system.
• Supervise social work student interns.
• Perform all other responsibilities as assigned by the Team Leader.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s Degree in social work (MSW) from an accredited University.
• Demonstrated commitment to the provision of high quality social services to at risk children.
• Experience in Child Welfare system or with dependent children and youth in Hillsborough County.
• An ability to work closely with others and a willingness to accept supervision.
• Sympathetic understanding of the social, economic, as well as legal problems of individuals with limited access to legal services.
• Strong advocacy skills.
• Existing knowledge of community resources in Hillsborough County.
• Experience with educational advocacy.
• Experience with early childhood development.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Bilingual in Spanish a plus.