Child Protection Specialist; Region - Southwest

Job Description - Child Protection Specialist (Region 4 - Southwest)

Position Title:

Child Protection Specialist (Region 4 - Southwest) )

As a Child Protection Specialist, you will play a critical role in enhancing the well‑being of Montana families by engaging directly with families facing a wide range of challenges, investigating child abuse, and providing support, advocacy, and connections to vital resources.

• Conduct timely assessments of reports of child maltreatment in accordance with state and federal statutes and agency policy, using standardized safety assessment tools and decision‑making guides.
• Carry a caseload and keep all case file documentation current.
• Work collaboratively with law enforcement, other welfare professionals, and agencies.
• Prepare for and testify in court, preliminary hearings, multi‑disciplinary team meetings, family partnership meetings, and court hearings.
• Place child(ren) in out‑of‑home care when necessary, ensuring safe placement that complies with statutory and policy preferences and is in the best interests of the child(ren).
• Identify available resources and connect families and children to these resources.
• Ensure child(ren) are evaluated and assessed to determine medical and psychological needs throughout the case.
• Prepare assessments, design case plans, evaluate progress of participants, and make and monitor appropriate placements.
• Travel frequently, conduct in‑home visits and interviews; may include out‑of‑state travel requiring appropriate travel documents.
• Maintain a standard schedule; may be required to work during evenings, weekends, or holidays as part of a rotating on‑call schedule.

• Required bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, psychology, or a related field.
• Two years of social services work experience, or directly related experience, working with children and families in difficult and sometimes volatile situations.
• Experience working with tribal government entities and/or other organizations of native peoples.
• Knowledge of child development, child maltreatment prevention and treatment, and family‑centered social work practice.

• Stress tolerance:
  Deal calmly and effectively with high‑stress situations such as tight deadlines, hostile individuals, or emergency situations.
• Self‑management:
  Set well‑defined and realistic personal goals; display initiative, effort, and commitment toward completing assignments in a timely manner; work with minimal supervision; demonstrate responsible behavior.
• Decision making:
  Make sound, well‑informed, and objective decisions; perceive the impact and implications of decisions; commit to action even in uncertain situations to accomplish organizational goals.
• Advocacy:
  Develop and present the client’s, youth’s, and/or customer’s interests in all matters.
• Teamwork:
  Encourage and facilitate cooperation, pride, trust, and foster commitment to achieve goals.
• Ability to make critical decisions based on integration of information from multiple sources, even when information is discrepant, in high‑stress situations.
• Ability to engage children and families, under difficult circumstances, to gather sufficient information to make accurate and precise decisions.
• Ability to remain calm when confronted and develop constructive, cooperative working relationships with others, even those who may be violent or angry, and maintain them over time.
• Proficiency with a personal computer and general office equipment, including spreadsheets, word processing, databases, email, and internet.

• Healthcare coverage, retirement plans, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Work‑life balance.
• Eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

This position may be eligible for partial telework within the state of Montana. Specific conditions will be provided by the supervisor and must adhere to state policy.

The Child and Family Services Division Region 4 includes the following cities:
Butte, Bozeman, Anaconda, Livingston, and Dillon. Work locations will vary depending on availability and community needs.

This position is open until filled with frequent screening of applicants.

The State of Montana does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.