Social Worker Investigative Assessment Treatment

This is advanced, professional level casework providing protective, investigative, counseling and case management services for children who are at risk for neglect, abuse, or dependency. Social work services provided will include immediate response to crisis situations for at-risk children; investigation of alleged neglect and abuse; substantiation as prescribed by federal and state guidelines; and assessment of individuals and family dynamics of any age and any developmental, mental, medical, substance abuse, or financial problems.  Crisis intervention may require referrals for treatment and placement in foster care or residential facilities.  This worker will provide expert testimony in court hearings, and follow-up with case management and preventive services for clients.  The scope of interpersonal contacts will include clients and their families, foster families, a variety of medical and psychological professionals, law enforcement, legal services and social and community agencies. Access to an automobile for in and out of county travel is required, as the worker is required to visit homes of service recipients and visits to other service providers.  Unit staff rotates on-call coverage and carries a beeper, making a Children's Services worker available 24 hours per day.  The person in this position must be able to respond to an agency cell phone and when necessary appear on site within 30 minutes.  There are also other times when this person may be required to work after the normal working hours.  Participation in unit staffing and working effectively with all unit members is a crucial element of the position. Preparation of case summaries and maintenance of accurate and up-to-date case records and documentation are also a responsibility of this position. Computer experience is important in this position

1. Protective Services – This position is responsible for assessing all assigned cases of child abuse and neglect.  A thorough assessment must be conducted in a timely manner and in accordance with state law and policy and standards.  The primary purpose of the assessment is determining the validity of the report, the need for protection of the child, and the identification of problematic areas for the family.  The worker will access all resources, which have knowledge of the child's situation and may rely on other community resources for assistance.  An integral component of the assessment is working with the family through the crisis state of intervention and establishing a working relationship. When a complaint is substantiated and a determination is made that a child is in need of continued protective services, a case plan must be implemented and treatment services provided.  In severe cases, when no other alternatives are available, the worker must rely on court action to offer protection to a child.  This may involve using the court to structure the plan for the family or may involve removing the child from the immediate family.  In these situations, the worker prepares written documentation for the court, works closely with the legal community, and assists the family through the court process.  The worker provides testimony and evidence to establish the necessity for court intervention.  In those situations where a child is removed from their own home, the worker prepares the child and family for separation and works jointly with the foster home to assure a smooth transition and quality care for the child. This worker will provide services to the children remaining in their own home as well as in foster care.  Problem areas as well as family and individual strengths and weaknesses are identified with the help of the family.  A corrective action or treatment is implemented and will take the form of a written contract.  The needs of these families are very diverse and require a variety of skills on the part of the worker, as well as knowledge of and access to all community resources.  A close liaison is maintained with other professional agencies to assure coordinated services to a particular family.  The worker retains close ties with the family in a one-on-one relationship and aids the family in reaching established goals.  This may be accomplished through providing educational material, modeling appropriate behavior for the family, and instructions on appropriate parenting behavior.  Additionally, the worker advocates for the family and assists them in the utilization of resources outside the scope of the worker.  Throughout this process the worker will be available to the family during crisis situations and will continually assess the risk to the child and the progress of the family.  Allotment of time to a particular family is determined by current need.  Crucial in the helping relationship with the family is the need to determine when the risk to the child has been minimized and the thrust of services can be redirected or terminated.  This position may work more intensively with families and may have a reduced number of cases.

1. Individual and Family Adjustment Services means services designed to offer assistance to individuals and their family members in support of attempts to restructure or solidify the individual's environment.  Activities include counseling to enable the individual to recognize, understand, and cope with problems and conflicts in regard specifically to such areas as household management, consumer affairs, family life, alcoholism, drug addiction, mental retardation, emotional disturbance, and school- related problems.  Such counseling is also designed to help individuals independently utilize community resources, including other social services: take advantage of natural support systems; and achieve an adequate level of functioning within the family.  Also included are arranging for other services when needed to support the provision of individual and family adjustment services; diagnostic psychological study and evaluation necessary to determine the appropriate plan of service; activities associated with fulfilling the agency's responsibility to serve as guardian or representative payee for individual clients; and social development through therapeutic groups as a part of a service plan to give individuals opportunities for participation in structured group activities focused on helping them cope with personal problems, develop capacities for more adequate social functioning and relieve social isolation.

1. Educating the community about the problem of child maltreatment and what services are available to families is another aspect of this position.  This worker works with community professionals to help them gain a clear understanding of agency programs and responsibilities as well as how to identify a child needing services.

1. Other Duties as Assigned – The Director, Program Manager or Supervisor may assign other tasks as needed. This may include shelter duty.  

Master's degree from accredited school of social work and one year of social work or counseling experience; or a bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work and two years of social work or counseling experience;  or Master's degree in a counseling field and two years of social work or counseling experience;  or four year degree in a human services field or related curriculum and three years of social work or counseling experience; or  graduation from a four year college or university and four years of experience in rehabilitation counseling, pastoral counseling, or a related human services field providing experience in the techniques of case-work, group work, or community organization; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. One year of work experience can be credited for completion of the social work collaborative.