Senior Social Worker IA&T - CPS Investigations Unit

Overview

The primary purpose of the Child Protective Services Intake / Investigations / Assessment Unit is to receive and investigate/assess referrals of child neglect, abuse and dependency including immediate responses to crisis for at risk children in complex cases. Services to families will enhance the family’s ability to function independently and will prevent child neglect or abuse from re-occurring. Services for maltreated children are aimed at strengthening family life by supporting and improving parental/caretaker abilities, which, in turn, assure a safe nurturing home for children.

Services are home-based and are preventive, rehabilitative and non-punitive with efforts directed toward identifying, providing or arranging services as needed. Social workers may provide group, family or individual treatment to clients of any age and any developmental, medical, mental, substance abuse, financial or family problem. Child Protective Services is an advanced professional level of casework.

A second important purpose of the unit is to provide public education regarding risk of maltreatment, incidents of maltreatment reporting methods and procedures and the availability of preventive, protective and case management services.

The primary purpose of the CPS Investigative, Assessment and Treatment social worker is to provide services to families and children in an effort to secure a more protective environment. Duties rotate among IA&T staff as follows:

Working hours generally rotate from 8:00 a.m.

- 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Employees are given the opportunity to manage their workday in order to be available to accommodate client’s work and school schedules.

None.

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.

The Social Worker IA&T will receive intake calls from the community and interview the reporter to identify the allegations of child maltreatment and complete the Nash County Child Protective Services Report form to be referred for proper screening. The worker will receive referrals that meet the NC legal definition for neglect, abuse or dependency and, following the Multiple Response System, will conduct a family or investigative assessment to determine if the family is in need of further services to ensure the protection of children.

The process involves reviewing agency records to be aware of family history, interviewing the parents, children, and collaterals, completing safety assessments, risk assessments, strength / needs assessments throughout the fact-finding process. The work involves visits to the homes of clients, schools, medical and mental facilities, prison facilities and other agencies. The worker will involve law enforcement when investigating cases of physical and sexual abuse, or at other times when deemed necessary.

When safety concerns are discovered, safety plans will be developed with the family to ensure safety of the children. The worker will refer clients to community service agencies to address identified needs. The worker will follow standards outlined in Volume I. Chapter VIII of the Children’s Services Manual and the Multiple Response Manual. The Senior Social Worker keeps documentation of all casework current within 7 days of last contact.

Decisions are often made under stressful and sometimes dangerous conditions. This requires a highly skilled worker who is very familiar with CPS policy, state and federal laws and agency expectations. Court action is necessary when a child is found to be…