Family Representation Unit Social Worker

JOB TITLE: Social Worker – Full-time

DEPARTMENT: Family Representation Unit of Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI)

LOCATION: New Castle County Office (Wilmington, DE)

REPORTS TO: Social Work Supervisor

SALARY: Commensurate with experience and CLASI’s collective bargaining agreement; excellent benefits. (Details on salary scale and benefits package can be found here.) 

DATE OF POSTING: February 18, 2026

POSITION SUMMARY: The Family Representation Unit Social Worker provides family-centered support to parents involved in child welfare and custody proceedings with Delaware Division of Family Services (DFS). This position works closely with attorneys, paralegals and advocates to strengthen families, support reunification efforts, and address barriers that impact parental capacity and court outcomes. The Social Worker plays a critical role in helping parents navigate child welfare systems while promoting family stability, resilience, and long-term success.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Provide emotional support and resources to clients.
  • Develop individualized service and reunification support plans in collaboration with legal staff.
  • Assist parents in understanding court processes, service plans, and DFS requirements and assist with navigation through systems.
  • Support clients in meeting case plan goals related to (if applicable):
    • Parenting education
    • Mental health treatment
    • Substance use services
    • Housing stability
    • Employment and financial security
    • Domestic Violence services
  • Advocate for parents’ needs within child welfare, court, and service systems.
  • Communicate with DFS caseworkers, service providers, and community partners as needed to help support the needs of the client.
  • Support parents during meetings, hearings, visits and case conferences when appropriate.
  • Assist with documentation and verification of service participation.
  • Identify and address systemic barriers impacting reunification and permanency.
  • Participate in interdisciplinary case staffing with attorneys and advocates and team.
  • Provide social work insight to inform legal strategy and case planning.
  • Maintain consistent communication with legal team members.
  • Connect families with community-based resources, including:
    • Parenting programs
    • Mental health and substance use treatment
    • Housing assistance
    • Transportation support
    • Childcare resources
    • Public benefits
  • Monitor client engagement with services and provide follow-up support.
  • Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential case records.
  • Enter case information into electronic case management systems.
  • Ensure compliance with ethical, legal, and organizational standards.
  • Protect client confidentiality at all times.
  • Participate in community outreach and family education initiatives.
  • Support program evaluation and reporting as needed.
  • Assist with training and professional development activities and be prepared to participate in professional development opportunities both in-state and out-of-state.
  • Must be able and willing to travel across counties as needed and be prepared to attend hearings in person in the Family Courts multiple times per week.
  • Fulfill any other reasonably related program duties.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field required (Masters in Social Work or related field is preferred).
  • Minimum of 2 years of experience in child welfare, family services, or related field preferred.
  • Experience working with parents involved with dependency, neglect, or custody matters preferred.
  • Knowledge of child welfare systems and family court processes.
  • Strong advocacy, assessment, and case management skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
  • Ability to work effectively in high-stress and emotionally complex situations.
  • Proficiency with case management software and standard office tools.
  • Training in trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and family systems preferred.
  • Bilingual or multilingual abilities preferred.
  • Experience working with substance use or mental health populations and/or diverse populations preferred.

CLASI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we comply with all laws governing fair hiring practices. We welcome applications from interested candidates of all backgrounds. For this position, we strongly encourage candidates with experience in criminal defense, child welfare/family regulation, public interest advocacy, and social work to apply.

TO APPLY: Please email your cover letter and resume to Nicole T. Justice at njustice@declasi.org

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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