Family Services Specialist (Children's Worker)(Job Id 17448)

Job ID: 17448

Agency: Department of Social Services/Division of Child Protection

Salary: $21.49 per hour

Pay Grade: GI

Closing Date: 10/15/21

This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the Department of Social Services. For more information on the Department of Social Services, please visit https://dss.sd.gov/.

This position develops and implements permanent plans for children when reunification efforts with their families are unsuccessful, including legal guardianship, adoption or transitioning older youth to adulthood.

The position coordinates adoptive placements through pre-adoptive visits and family preparation to ensure children’s needs are met; negotiates adoption/guardianship subsidies with permanent families; supports families and children in dealing with separation and attachment issues in preparation for permanent placements and actively seeks permanent placement options for specific children.

Reviews children’s psycho-social, medical, developmental, and educational histories and ensures identified needs are being met; provides training and consultation, or other services to adoptive or foster/kinship parents or facility placement; develops and monitors individual case plans for children with alternative care providers.

Maintains children in a variety of placements to include foster care, kinship care, pre-adoptive care and facilities.

Responds to emergency removal situations and placement disruptions.

Scheduled to be on call 1-2 times per month overnight or a weekend day. 

A bachelor's degree in any human service related field is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of theories and concepts related to culture, child development, trauma, addiction, family connections and family dynamics and their influence on child and parental relationships; current practices and interventions used in responding to child abuse and neglect. 

VETERANS' PREFERENCE ELIGIBLE 

Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment. Successful applicant(s) will undergo an abuse and neglect screening. 

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers employer paid health insurance plus ten paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/. This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.