Family Safety Social Worker

Advanced Level Social Work Position

This position involves the provision of direct and indirect casework to children and adults requiring protective services, focusing on the best interests and protection of the child, the reunification of the child with his/her family, and the safeguarding of the child's cultural identity and larger relationship to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). The goal of the Human Services Department is to enhance the ability of families and individuals to become self-sufficient to their greatest ability while ensuring quality of care and support for those unable to achieve self-sufficiency.

Employees in this class may be assigned to either Child or Adult Care cases. Work is supervised by a Supervisor
- Family Safety who reports to the Manager
- Family Safety. Cases in these areas require an immediate response to a crisis situation for the client. Consequently, the social worker must be able to analyze the situation and determine an appropriate course of action in a short time span. There are, additionally, legally mandated time spans in which action must be taken in protective services investigation cases.

Responsibilities include:

• Following the procedures and guidelines as provided by the EBCI and the legal system.
• Preparing extensive court reports and associated legal documents; testifying in court; assisting attorneys in the preparation of court actions; coordinating service of subpoenas; responding to inquiries regarding court actions.
• Transporting children to protective facilities, appearances in court, scheduled appointments, or visitation, and for other authorized purposes.
• Evaluating compliance with court orders.
• Evaluating the suitability of child placements.
• Administering and processing recommended and court-ordered drug tests.
• Interpreting policies, rules, and regulations to clients, applicants, and other involved parties.
• Preparing and maintaining case records and reports in addition to answering correspondence.
• Participating in staff development programs to increase technical competence.
• Participating in community planning for the protection and care of children, and to identify potentially harmful influences on children.
• Participating in the PHHS Strategic planning process.
• Tracking & reporting data or billing for services.
• Tracking & documenting service delivery to families and individuals within established timelines and mandates.
• Maintaining timely and compliant recipient charts and documentation.
• Participating in review of outcomes of an interdisciplinary integrated services team and for client-specific cases.
• Participate in child fatality investigation to determine potential cause and whether abuse or neglect were contributory factors, potential child fatality review by outside agencies.
• Participate in collection and review of behavioral health/medical records to complete CANS assessment to obtain risk/neglect score.
• Maintaining confidentiality and adhering to HIPAA regulations.
• Maintaining availability to work as directed by management in emergency or disaster, which may require night or weekend shifts, prolonged shifts, and/or travel.
• In addition to the above duties, employees may be assigned to one or more of the following areas:
• Investigations/Intake/Prevention - Is responsible for the collection of information from professional and non-professional resources in a community setting, office setting, and on call setting. Is responsible for making prompt and thorough investigations when a report of abuse, neglect, or dependency is received by the department. Is responsible for ascertaining the facts of the case, the extent of the abuse or neglect, and the risk of harm to juvenile, to determine whether protective services should be provided, or the complaint filed as a petition.
  
  Is responsible for being on call on average 7 days per month. Is responsible for responding to reports after hours, on weekends, and holidays. Is responsible for gathering and presenting evidence that may needed for the removal of a child both in the office setting and at court.
• In Home Services (Family Integrity Preservation) - Is responsible for providing treatment services to families and children who have been substantiated for abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation. Is responsible for providing treatment services to children determined to be in need of protection, with the goal of preventing out of home placement, or if out of home placement cannot be prevented, provide the necessary services to affect an…