Social Service Worker

• Base Pay $24.53 / Hour
• Employee Type Non-Exempt
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree
• Manage Others No

TITLE: Social Service Worker 4

DIVISION: Child and Adult Protective Services

WORKING HOURS: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm or 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Monday-Friday or 7:00 am – 5:30 pm Monday-Thursday or Tuesday-Friday.

Under the direct supervision of a Child and Adult Protective Services Supervisor, performs investigations/assessments of child/elder abuse and neglect referrals and determines what type of protective/placement and/or services are needed. Incumbent is responsible for establishing individual or family case/permanency case plans with clients, specifying goals and objectives for the client, child and his/her family and securing and monitoring placement providers.

• Perform initial assessment investigations on child abuse and neglect referrals. Determine if child/children are at risk and what type of protective/placement and/or support services are needed.
• Make emergency removals, protective services assessments, and provide ongoing protective/placement services to families. Complete the Comprehensive Assessment Planning Model - Interim Solution (CAPMIS) tool and develop safety assessments, family assessments, safety plans, case plans, etc.
• Create family case/permanency case plans with clients, specifying goals and objectives for the child and his/her family. Provide intensive case management and supportive service, both on an individual and family basis, to the child, natural family, foster family and/or significant others when applicable.
• Respond to emergency and crisis situations involving families and children both efficiently and effectively.
• Receive reports of child and elder abuse and neglect through the abuse hotline. Screen information and prioritize reports to determine if further investigation is appropriate according to State mandates.
• Monitor and participate in the evaluation of support services to include collateral contacts with schools, law enforcement agencies, health care personnel, community, and Juvenile Court authorities.
• Monitor court-ordered supervised visits between child and family members.
• Initiate and maintain case records, dictation, including preparation of required forms, case narratives, correspondence, and case documentation.
• Testify in court proceedings and/or prepare and file court-required documents, as required.
• Perform initial assessments and investigations concerning elder abuse, elder neglect or elder exploitation, as defined by ORC 5101.62 for persons 60 years of age or older. Provide initial crisis intervention/protection and counseling to Adult Protective Services (APS) clients and arrange treatment services and supportive services goals.
• Petition the county Probate Court to include testifying concerning safety and/or competency hearings when necessary.
• Assist APS clients and/or their community-based service agency for admission to medical treatment centers, adult foster care, or nursing homes.
• Maintain caseload of Interstate Compact Cases.
• Support foster families in the foster home licensing process and maintain caseload of foster families that are licensed by the agency.
• Recertify licensed foster homes and take necessary actions when support, interventions and violations are necessary.
• Upon receipt of placement referrals, secure placement for youth that have open cases with Child Protective Services.
• Monitor all placement providers licensed and contracted by Portage County Job and Family Services.
• In the absence of the full-time after-hours CARES worker, participate in child welfare after-hours, providing initial investigation and crisis intervention on after-hours, weekend and holiday child abuse and neglect referrals.
• Adhere to State required mandates and submit required documentation in required time frames.
• Enter/retrieve data from automated computer (State, Court Systems).
• Participate in various agency required meetings (Family Team Meetings, Prosecutor meetings, Unit meetings, etc.).
• May organize or participate in child/elder workshops.
• Make speeches to the general public and social services agencies.
• Keep current in areas of…