CWS Case Manager - Family Preservation

Job Duties

• Perform case management in the Child Welfare area of Family Preservation in accordance with DSS Policy, Mission and GPS Practice Model. Conducts time-limited interventions by assessing safety concerns, matching appropriate services, and providing least intrusive interventions. Uses critical thinking to monitor safety, risk, and well‑being. Performs on‑call duties as assigned.
• Completes, reviews, and updates the Family Advocacy and Support Tool (FAST) according to DSS policy time frames and collaborates to develop Family Permanency Plans and make timely service referrals.
• Authentically engages families, agency professionals, and external partners with empathy and respect; provides timely responses to telephone calls, emails, and texts; locates and engages absent parents, relatives, and fictive kin; participates in and facilitates child and family team meetings.
• Maintains physical and electronic case records and documents all activities in CAPSS system, ensuring quality standards and capturing safety, permanency, well‑being, and case‑planning elements.
• Collaborates closely with legal when safety concerns are present or when a case requires legal action, promoting timely permanency. Assesses safety and permanency resources, adheres to court orders, submits court packets, and participates in legal proceedings.
• Maintains child‑welfare certification and completes 20 hours of required training annually.
• Engages in self‑care and seeks support when necessary to manage secondary trauma.
• Performs Red Cross shelter duty or other emergency shelter duties/services as directed.
• Performs other duties required.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Behavioral Science, or Social Science.
• Bachelor’s Degree in any other field and one (1) year experience in a related field.
• Preferred:
  Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field. Child Welfare experience highly desired.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and ability to operate a motor vehicle. Must comply with necessary field‑work assignments.

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long‑Term Disability, and Life Insurance for employee, spouse, and children.
• 15 days annual vacation leave per year.
• 15 days sick leave per year.
• 13 paid holidays.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Program.

New child‑welfare case managers earn a starting salary of at least $45,721 during initial certification and may receive up‑to 5% supplement for Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work degrees, with additional supplemental increases for team leaders. Annual salary increases of up to 0.50% per year are awarded on a quarterly basis for each consecutive year a Level 1 case manager remains in the position.

Progression to Levels 2 and 3 provides additional salary increases averaging 2.5% per level and accelerated annual increases of 1% to 1.5% per year for continuous service.

Salary updates reflect the Child Welfare salary plan implemented in July 2021 and recognized by the General Assembly.