Senior Social Worker IA&T

Senior Child Protective Services In-Home Social Worker

CPS In-Home Unit. Two+ years CPS Investigations experience required. Candidate must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to adapt to frequent changes, court experience and leadership skills. The Child Protective Services In-Home Unit's primary purpose is to execute the agency's legal mandate to serve families in which abuse, neglect or dependency has been substantiated or found in need of services.

Work in this unit entails: counseling and planning with the child's family intended to strengthen the ability of families to protect and care for their own children, to minimize harm to children and youth, and to ensure permanence in children's lives. Arranging for provision of and assisting families in utilizing appropriate services and community resources. Obtaining the cooperation of law enforcement agencies as required obtaining suitable care and services for the children in or out of their family origin.

Initiation of court action when necessary. The primary purpose of the position is to provide services to children who have been identified as neglected, abused, or dependent. This is an advanced, professional level case work position, providing counseling and case management services for children who are identified as neglected and/or abused or dependent. This is done so by assessing family situations to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the family system and to evaluate the level of risk the child may face in the home.

The Senior Social Worker also provides other services to families with children under the age of 18 years who have requested such services from the agency in conjunction with protective services. Treatment and immediate responses will be provided to crisis situations for at risk children in the most complex and hostile of cases. Regular working hours are from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

However, in order to make the mandated number of face-to-face contacts, in some situations, clients may need contact after hours and overtime may be required. Employees are given the option of flexing their workday to accommodate their clients' schedule without putting the Senior Social Worker in an overtime situation. Employee serves on a rotation basis for periodic radio coverage.

Duties and Responsibilities All responsibilities and duties described are essential to the effective performance of a Senior Social Worker IA&T in this position and are listed in ORDER OF IMPORTANCE.

A. Intervention The Senior SW IA&T is responsible for reviewing the case and becoming familiar with the family dynamics, identified problems and strengths of the family. Utilizing the Child and Family Team process, a Family Services Agreement is devised jointly with the family based on the Risk Assessment and Initial Case Plan. The Family Services Agreement contains objectives that are measurable, time limited, describe specific desired outcomes and identify necessary behavior changes.

Identified needs, objectives and activities are directed toward alleviating the problems that lead to the abuse, neglect or dependency and addressing underlying issues that may contribute to the need for protective services. Once the case plan is devised, the helping process is defined.

B. Lead Worker Function in the capacity as a lead worker to provide coaching/guidance to interns and to less experienced workers in case consultations that will help them achieve a higher level of performance. Provide guidance involving application of policy and other job functions including preparation of court studies. Accompany workers as a support in complex situations in absence of a supervisor.

Keep supervisor abreast of any work performance or training concerns noted when coaching staff. Provide necessary support to resolve problems and ensure that quality services are provided.

C. Conferences and Staff Development Supervisory conferences and staff development activities provide guidance, feedback and evaluation of the worker's interventions and an opportunity to upgrade skills and knowledge of substitute care. Such conferences also allow the opportunity to discuss program questions, agency mandates and monitoring issues as they arise.

D. Providing/Arranging for Counseling or Supportive Services The Senior SW IA&T provides counseling to the client directed toward the development and utilization of family support systems including recognition of development and…