Child and Family Service Specialist Trainee-Hotline -Evening shift​/Overnight

Child and Family Service Specialist Trainee – Hotline (Evening/Overnight)

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hiring exceptional individuals to join our Hotline team as Child and Family Service Specialist Trainees. This role is critical in ensuring information reaches the correct HHS departments and in providing immediate safety assessment and support for children and vulnerable adults.

Location: Omaha, NE
Rate: $21.84 (increases to $25.61 after training)
Type: Full‑time (one F/T and one P/T position)
Schedule: Evening and overnight shifts; may include weekends and holidays; first few months of day work followed by varied schedule.

• Answer and receive all abuse and neglect hotline calls and reports via phone, email, eFax, website, and mail.
• Collect and evaluate information from callers using professional interviewing skills; gather collateral information from other sources when needed.
• Determine urgency of each call, ensure proper law‑enforcement and HHS response for immediate child and adult safety; provide de‑escalation, assessment, and referrals to community agencies.
• Work non‑traditional hours, shifts, and holidays as required; preserve family unity while focusing on safety, permanency, and well‑being.
• Review accessible information in NFOCUS and other data sources; apply the SDM Intake tool to screen, prioritize, and decide on immediate safety actions; contact law enforcement when appropriate.
• Distribute intake results to the correct law‑enforcement agencies and local DHHS office; provide technical assistance and support for priority 1 intakes.

Minimum Qualifications
:
Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, human development, mental health care, education, criminal justice, or a closely related field. Final‑semester students may be considered; promotion to the Child and Family Services classification requires successful completion of degree requirements and training.

Preferred Qualifications
:
Two years of child‑support experience; SDM Intake (IA) and Intake training; knowledge of NFOCUS; at least one year of child‑and‑family case management experience; internships or work with human services/child‑welfare agencies; ability to handle high‑stress, emotionally volatile situations; strong written and verbal communication; time‑management skills; experience with SDM (Structured Decision‑Making) and SOP (Safety‑Oriented Practice) is a plus.

Other
:
Ability to travel independently for occasional training. Hours include weekend rotation and holidays.

• Understanding of principles of social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, and related behavioral sciences.
• Commitment to confidentiality, client advocacy, and culturally competent practice.
• Effective communication with customers, co‑workers, supervisors, and external partners; active listening.
• Ability to work with community service providers, law enforcement, courts, and vulnerable adult families; maintain and organize case records; apply direct case‑management principles of assessment and analysis.

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement contributions, and professional development opportunities. Eligibility may vary by position, agency, and employment status. Learn more at State Benefits Portal.

The State of Nebraska values our teammates and maintains a supportive environment that promotes diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, or genetics.