Child Welfare Social Worker
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:
To provide professional level duties to children and families, receive and investigate reports of child maltreatment, provide servicesand support to strengthen familiesin need, locatealternate care for children, perform ongoing service and case management services according to applicable standards and statutes. Child welfare professionals work cooperatively with other organizations, community service agencies, schools, courts, and law enforcement to accomplish the goals of safety, permanency and well-being for children and families. The work is performed under the supervision of the Social Work Supervisor.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
This list of duties is not to be construed as all-inclusive and may be modified as need requires. Special duty assignments will occur.
- Conduct child protective assessment in accordance with s. 48.981 to ensure safety and well-being of children and families and determine presence of maltreatment. Determines child’s safety within the family setting and takes required action to protect child. Collaborate with Corporation Counsel, District Attorney, law enforcement, and medical personnel.
- Identifies through family assessment and case management individual needs which includes parenting, discipline, family functioning, substance use, daily functioning and safety of the child. Maintains safety plans to ensure child’s safety. Monitors family utilization of services, informs court of family’s compliance to court orders. Maintain ongoing contact with parents and family members in delivery of services.
- Coordinates with staff, families, and providers to assess and develop goal oriented, time limited, family-based service plans to meet identified needs. Explains the consequences of non-compliance with court orders to families.
- Exercise powers and perform intake duties under WI Statutes 48.067 and 938.067. Provides intake services to individuals for the purpose of screening children taken into custody and not released under s.48.20 and 938.20. Interviews children taken into custody and other parties. Determine whether children remain in custody and location child held if not released.
- Takes juveniles and children into custody under WI Statute 48.19, 48.193, 48.195 and 938.19, 938.355(6d).
- Provides intake and ongoing case management duties for adolescents that are referred to the department for juvenileoffenses.
- Provide intake dutiesafter hours on a rotatingbasis in compliance with 48.067 and 938.067. Provide mental health mobile crisis assessments after hours on a rotating basis.
- Meet with families in their homes, office, school, jail, and public locations to provide assessments, supervision and ongoing services.
- Coordinates families’ access to services, monitors services to ensure services are provided timely and meeting family/child’s needs, evaluates progress and terminates services when goals are met.
- Maintains a compete record for all assigned cases; completes required written assessments and plans, court reports,client progress, and other related paperwork as required by statute, DCF and
agency policy. Documents contacts and services, maintains files and data for reporting purposes.
- Prepares timely reports for the court recommending a plan of rehabilitation, treatment, care and permanency in accordance with statute, juvenile court policy, State policy standards, and agency policy.
- Recommend actions to Corporation Counsel and District Attorney including petitions, court order revisions, permanency plan hearings, termination of parental rights, and termination of orders. Attend court hearings, testify and prepare for court.
- Assesses and arrangesneeded safety services,out-of-home placements and other services. Provides and monitors services to foster parents. Assess out of home placements to determine if safe placement for child. Provide ongoing face to face contacts to out of home care providers and child.
- Inform families of available community resources and how to independently gain access to needed services. Provides leadership to achieve active involvement and participation of the child, family, school, mental health provider and other community resources in resolving problems.
- Supervise child and parents during family interactions when deemed necessary through safety evaluations and ongoing case management to ensure safety of child with parent and provide appropriate skill development.
- Foster Care Coordinator; license relatives and non-relatives as foster homes utilizing a Structured Analysis Family Evaluation home study methodology and in compliance with DCF Administrative Code 56. Develop, provide or arrange for required foster parent training. Assist in developing and maintaining foster care manual, policies and procedures.
- Conduct Independent Living Skills assessment and arrange or provide appropriate services for eligible youth in out of home care.
- Determine eligibility for Voluntary Kinship Care benefits. Maintain eligibility documentation, case records, and conduct home visit.
- Develop and present public education information to the community and other organizations. Promote inter-agency cooperation with area law enforcement agencies, hospitals, schools, and collateralagencies.
- Maintain working knowledge of program policies, laws, case management and reporting requirements. Attend and participate in training and professional development.
- Participate in staff meetings, supervision times and other regularly scheduled meetings. Participate in collaborative efforts internally and outside of agency
- Under the direction of the supervisor this position may at times be requiredto work overtimehours or shifts.
NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Attend local and regional meetings as instructed
- Attend professional development trainings/conferences
- Participate on committees and work groups
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor or master’s degree in Social Work or closely related human services field.
- Social Worker Certification in the State of Wisconsin required or commitment to enroll in an accredited social work educational program within one year of hire and obtain Social Work Certification.
- Three years experience in providing child protective services to children and families preferred.
- Successful completion of the Juvenile Justice Intake Training or completion of Juvenile Justice Intake Training within the first six months of hire.
- A valid driver’s license required.
- Appointment will be conditional upon successful completion of the following pre-employment requirements: Criminal and caregiver background check.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of social work theory and methods; family theory, systems theory, family- based services, cognitive/physical development, disabilities, psychotherapy, psychotherapeutic techniques and best current practices to integrate and promote ethical social work practice
- Knowledge of human development and behavior, family and group dynamics, and mental, physical and social dysfunctions
- Knowledge of and sensitivity to cultural differences and special needs of various minority groups, and ability to consult with other staff regarding these
- Knowledge of treatment approaches and techniques to provide appropriate social services to persons in the client population
- Knowledge of and ability to interpret and administer federal, state, and county laws, rules, regulations and standards governing direct services programs
- Knowledge of risk assessment and program evaluation systems, delivery systems, and treatment approaches and techniques for crisis intervention services
- Ability to apply problem-solving, communication, and people skills to effectively deal with the variety of individuals, providers, agencies, and situations
- Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with people and communicate, both orally and in writing, to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and the public
- Ability to navigate and operate a computer and use multiple software systems, fax machine, copier, scanner, etc.