Social Worker IA&T-Assesments

The primary purpose of this position is to provide family based social work services designed to strengthen and empower families while ensuring the safety of children in cases in which abuse, neglect and/or dependency have been alleged or found. This is accomplished by conducting a child protective services assessment and/or in-home services. This position also conducts assessments and participates routinely in the back-up on call rotation.

This position assesses relatives and other kinship type persons, as possible caretakers in the event the child cannot remain safely in the home.

The work is performed within the Child and Family Services Division.

Continually assess information from various collateral contacts and resources in the community to determine whether abuse, neglect and/or dependency have occurred or continue to occur. State mandated assessment tools are utilized to aid in determining the level of risk to the children.

To work with clients who are children from newborn to 18 years of age who have not been emancipated or married that are suspected or found to be abused, neglected and/or dependent. Clients are also the parents or caretakers of these children who frequently are uncooperative or hostile regarding mandatory intervention with their family.

To work with cases received from Child Protective Services Intake Worker, transfers from other counties, the Courts, other child protective services agencies outside the state.

Meet all federal, state and county policies in the provision of CPS intake and initiation; and other assigned duties. To stay abreast of and comply with all changes in program policies, laws and regulations. To stay abreast of and comply with all changes in program policies, laws and regulations.

To arrange and accompany children to medical examinations in order to gather information for the assessment and/or for initial placement into Foster Care. To write court reports if court action is required on their caseload and testify in court cases.

Worker must maintain regular contact with the families and various collaterals including but not limited to education personnel, medical and mental health providers and comply with state policy.

• Coordinates with involved professionals to include Work 1st, including them in the development of the plan; organizes and assigns tasks for effective and efficient service delivery.
• Advocates for the client when the service delivery system fails.
• Complete the Initial Kinship/Temporary Safety Provider (TSP) Placement Assessment including checking and reviewing CPS history, Central Registry and criminal records on possible kinship/TSP placement providers if it is determined that a child cannot remain at home safely and a kinship placement is available.
• Participate in child and family team meetings at the designated intervals according to policy.
• Consult with management and complete and file petitions and other initial required paperwork to initiate Juvenile Court action when children cannot safely remain with their family. This may subsequently include testifying and providing written or oral recommendations to the Court.
• Write court reports when a petition has been filed on a family in the workers caseload.
• Enhances the client's problem-solving skills through the use of role modeling, advising, instructing and reinforcing positive behavior to prevent out of home placement.
• Responds to family crisis by altering or redirecting inappropriate behavior.
• Prepares child and family for a proposed change in the child's placement and resulting separation and grief.
• Educates parents in basic child development and behavioral management techniques.
• Provides feedback to parents and foster parents regarding effects of child rearing and child management practices used by each.
• Prepares families for self-sufficiency when case is to be closed.
• Observes client's verbal and non-verbal behavior in various settings to assess overall progress.
• As per state standards and the needs of the family, consults with other service providers involved with the client to determine progress towards specified objectives and goal.
• Monitors compliance of any court orders to parent/guardian and child As per state standards, documents progress, barriers and new problems through progress notes, court reports, social histories, case plans and reviews

• Initiates and completes CPS assessments re: reports of abuse, neglect and/or dependency by assessing the risk of harm to…