The primary purpose of the Social Services Worker 3 position is to investigate claims of abuse and neglect of children.In addition, the classification prepares child cases for court, meets procedural deadlines governing the management of social services cases set by the State of Ohio and ensures that this documentation is complete, and could serve as on-call social service worker (e.g., on weekends, holidays, after business hours).45% Provides services to families by maintaining a caseload of abuse, neglect, and dependency cases. Works to assess the validity of complaints accepted according to the Department of Children and Youth (DCY) rules and agency policy of abuse, neglect, and dependency by conducting interviews of adults and children at various locations, completing assessments in the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS), gathering evidence, and working with community partners and/or collateral sources. Provides interventions to alleviate crises and reduce risks to children by engaging the family, community partners and referring for service linkage. Identifies family strengths and needs for decision making and family case plan development; determines alternative treatment plans as necessary; provides crisis intervention case management as established by DCY Rule and Agency Policy, for all out-of-home caregivers. Attends/testifies at court hearings; attends and actively participates in administrative case reviews; performs planned and unplanned emergency removals and emergency placements; supervises visits with parents and transports children/adults. Is responsible for handling difficult and emergency cases and/or situations, during and after work hours, and makes referrals within Protective Services or to community partners for additional services to support the family. Required to travel throughout the state of Ohio and at times, throughout the United States, to complete mandates established by DCY. The duties of this position are considered high risk, high demand, and have significant unpredictability in daily tasks and require the need for flexibility. 
 
30% Maintains case record documentation in the SACWIS and the Electronic Data Management System (EDMS) (e.g., photos, audio/video recordings, activity logs, forms, written summaries, assessments, social history, court documents) for supervisory approvals and agency record retention.
15% Assess need for placement of children in substitute care when needed. Secure out-of-home care placement which best meets children’s individual needs in least restrictive and most home-like/appropriate setting.
 
10% Participate in ongoing training, supervisory/staff meetings, staff consultations and other related management support tasks. Participates in weekend and after hours on call coverage on a rotating basis. Assist with overflow case assignments by assessing the validity of complaints accepted according to DCY rules and agency policy of abuse, neglect, and dependency by conducting interviews of adults and children at various locations, completing assessments in the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS), gathering evidence, and working with community partners and/or collateral sources. Provides interventions to alleviate crises and reduce risks to children by engaging the family, community partners and referring for service linkage. Perform other duties as assigned.Minimum QualificationsPer Section 5153.112 of the Ohio Revised Code, applicants of a Public Children Services unit must have one of thefollowing:1. A bachelor’s degree in human services-related studies, or2. A bachelor’s degree in any field and have been employed for at least two years in a human services occupation.Per Section 5153.122 of the Ohio Revised Code, each caseworker shall complete at least ninety hours of in-servicetraining during the first year of the caseworker’s continuous employment, consisting of courses in recognizing andpreventing child abuse and neglect, assessing risks, interviewing persons, investigating cases, intervening, providingservices to children and their families, and other topics relevant to child abuse and neglect. After the first year ofcontinuous employment, each caseworker annually shall complete thirty-six hours of training in areas relevant to thecaseworker’s assigned duties. In addition, applicant must have valid driver’s license.