Social Worker/Counselor I or II in Fairfax, Virginia at Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington

Social Worker/Counselor I or II

Ministry: Pregnancy and Adoption Support

Primary Office: Fairfax

Hours per Week: 40 exempt

Staff Supervisor: Adoption Supervisor

Telework Available: ____ No ___x Hybrid

Salary Range: $58,656 - $61,750

Position Description:

Catholic Charities’ Pregnancy and Adoption Support (PAS) Social Worker/Counselor provides options counseling and adoption planning to expectant parents, completes home studies for prospective adoptive families, provides post placement and educates adoptive families and community partners on adoption issues and services. Catholic Charities is seeking a Social Worker/Counselor I or II. The salary range and level of the role is commensurate with a candidate’s education and years of experience.

Position Responsibilities:

In alignment with ministry standards, conduct intake, assessment, and options counseling for all expectant parents in need of services.

• Provide parents pursuing an adoption with options counseling, adoption planning support, and case management during pregnancy and following placement.

• In alignment with agency and Virginia State standards, complete adoption home studies within designated period

• Maintain both infant and foster care adoption cases

• Advocate for adoptive families to make informed decisions adoption placement. Provides support to ensure a successful transition and placement for the child and family.

• Collaborate with community partners to educate them about PAS services and provide follow up with client referrals to/from these partners.

• Effective communication skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse populations.

• Support Social Worker/Counselor II and III with program training/public speaking obligations for PAS adoptive families and community partners (Social Worker/Counselor I).

• Facilitate training and outreach for PAS adoptive families and community partners (Social Worker/Counselor II).

Other Duties:

• Work occasional evenings and weekends and participate in an on-call rotation.

• Carry a small caseload of post adoption clients as needed.

• Travel throughout the Diocese educating and promoting the work of the ministry in the community.

• Willing to uphold Catholic social teaching in the workplace

• Other job-related duties as required.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Must possess a valid driver’s license, have a good driving record (including 3+ positive points on the VA Motor Vehicle Record), and have at least three years of US driving experience. Willing to drive clients.

• Fluency in Microsoft office and other relevant software

• Ability to learn new tasks and procedures, comply with processes, complete tasks independently, make timely decisions in the context of a workflow.

• Effective communication and people skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse populations.

Education and Experience Social Worker/Counselor I:

• Master’s degree in social work or another related field or a bachelor’s degree in a related field with 3 years social work/case management experience.

• Experience working in child welfare preferred.

• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Education and Experience Social Worker/Counselor II:

• Master’s degree in social work or another related field or a bachelor’s degree in a related field with 3-5 years social work/case management experience.

• Has completed one or more of the following (or equivalent):

  • National Training Institute (NTI) Training for Child Welfare Professionals or Mental Health Professionals

  • Training for Adoption Competence (TAC)

  • TBRI Practitioner Training

  • Grief Counseling Certification

• Experience working in child welfare.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

This role involves working frequently with individuals in crisis or distress which may require the mental health professional to manage their own stress and maintain emotional resilience.

BENEFITS: Vacation, Sick, STD, LTD, Paid FML*, 15 paid holidays in 2026, Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, retirement plan, After 1 year: Pension, Diocesan School Tuition Reimbursement K-12, Education Assistance. Closed between Christmas and New Years.