Social Worker IV; A&T-Child Protective Services

This is advanced, professional level casework providing protective, investigative, counseling and case management services for children who are at risk for neglect and/or abuse. Employee will provide social work services including treatment and immediate response to crisis situations for at-risk children in the most complex cases in the agency. Work involves investigation of alleged neglect and abuse, substantiation of the alleged neglect or abuse as prescribed by federal and state guidelines, providing expert testimony in court hearings and following–up with case management and preventive services for clients.

The employee will analyze situations and determine appropriate courses of action immediately or in short time spans and often under very stressful conditions. Employee may provide group, family or individual case management to clients of any age and any developmental, mental, medical, substance abuse, financial or family problem. Employees typically report to a Social Work Supervisor III under general supervision.

The employee may have combined investigative and in‑home services (treatment) roles or may have separate functions depending on the caseload needs and the size and organizational structure of the CPS unit of the agency.

Hiring Range: $62,763.00

• Employee will investigate/assess allegations of neglect, abuse and dependency.
• Employee will make case decisions of CPS reports based on DHHS policy with federal and state guidelines.
• Employee will be responsible for face‑to‑face contacts with clients, making home visits, school visits, collateral contacts, provide transportation as needed to clients.
• Employee will manage a caseload of clients providing guidance, support and referrals.
• Employee may at times be required to assume custody of children in the course of their job. They will need to provide expert testimony in court hearings.
• Employee will be responsible for maintaining current (within 7 days) narrative in their cases.
• Employee will be responsible for completing required DHHS Child Welfare forms in each case in a timely manner.
• Interact with other professionals in a professional manner.
• Employee is required to be flexible to meet the demands of the unpredictable situations and hours of the job. Child Protective Services is a federally mandated responsibility of the department.
• The employee will be expected to work over the typical 40‑hour work week and will at times work a varied schedule over and beyond the agency’s business hours of 8‑5 in order to accommodate the schedules of the families we serve.
• Employee will work an after‑hours schedule to include weekends and holidays if assigned on‑call duty in order to be available to respond immediately to any situation concerning the possible abuse, neglect or dependency of a child.
• Timely submit required data collecting forms. Timely and accurately complete internal Daysheets, Executime and other required documents.
• Other reasonable duties as assigned to include but not limited to working in an Emergency Shelter and assisting with emergency food and nutrition services.

• Considerable judgement in determining whether abuse or neglect has occurred, to what extent and how it occurred.
• A significant understanding of clients’ personalities based on assessments and interviews.
• An understanding of social work principles, techniques and practices and their applications to complex casework, treatment and investigation of abuse or neglect of children.
• Thorough knowledge of policies and procedures in Child Welfare.
• Knowledge of individual and group behavior, family dynamics and medical, behavioral and/or psychosocial problems.
• Resource knowledge to make appropriate referrals to the clients.
• Ability to interact and motivate others. Ability to work with others who may be resistant to assistance from the agency.
• Ability to prepare documentation such as written investigative reports for the court and case records.
• Ability to testify in court; ability to demonstrate advanced case management interview techniques and negotiation skills in often‑complex cases.
• Ability to quickly assess the risks and safety of…