The Income Maintenance Caseworker II is assigned to the Work First/ Child Care Unit, which is a part of the Services Division of a local Department of Social Services. The primary purpose of the unit to which this position lends most of its focus is to carry out the agency's mandate to assist Work First Family Assistance (WFFA) recipients in becoming self-sufficient. The Work First program is designed to enable WFFA recipients to become self-sufficient and self supporting. The program strives to improve the employability of WFFA recipients through focused, intensive employment services, and the provision of supportive services. The program is designed to complement and coordinate with other community agencies aimed at helping individuals secure and maintain employment. One of the most important supportive services is child care assistance. This unit seeks to assist parents in job training and employment by offering child care assistance through subsidies, when a client is eligible and funds are available. The Work First/Child Care Unit’s mission is to address and to meet the needs of families for a variety of reasons such as employment, training, child development, and child welfare. The Work First/Child Care Unit serves families both on and off of public assistance.
A. Primary Purpose of Position
The primary purpose of this position is to perform duties associated with the provision of child care services for eligible clientele including determining eligibility and establishing a specific plan of care according to the individual needs. This position also serves as back up to the Work First Family Assistance Caseworker in screening and assessing families for Work First Family Assistance, as well as assessing the family’s eligibility within the program and processing applications of eligible families.
 
B. Work Schedule
Work hours are generally from 8 am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. Overtime may be required occasionally. The worker will be housed with the Work First/Child Care Unit. The following is a description of the responsibilities and duties of this position. The number designates the percentage of time spent by the worker in that specific duty. All responsibilities and duties described are essential to the effective performance of the Income Maintenance Caseworker II.
1. The Child Care Caseworker maintains an active caseload of clientele whose children are eligible for subsidized child care. The Child Care Caseworker assumes responsibility for case recording, agency monthly report, determines/re-determines eligibility for child care and assesses child care fees per local/state guidelines. Follow-up with clients, child care providers, community liaisons and other human resource/child care professionals to assess child's attendance and participation in established plan of care as required. The worker may work extensively with the Work First Social Workers in the coordination of services to the Work First population. The Child Care Caseworker completes yearly redeterminations on applicable client cases, making all changes necessary to ensure on-going quality child care to clients. On-going review of quality assurance issues is required as well as providing suggestions/interventions to resolve or alleviate the problems. (50%)
2. The Child Care Caseworker assists clients in the evaluation/selection of quality child care in accordance with the child's maturation progress, physical, socio-emotional and intellectual development to ensure appropriate delivery of child care by the provider and on-going review of the client/child's needs. The Child Care Caseworker assesses the child's needs and refers to appropriate interagency/community resources. The Child Care Caseworker is keenly aware of signs of possible abuse/neglect and subsequently reports all suspected/reported abuse/neglect to DSS Child Protective Services staff, per guidelines. The Child Care Caseworker assesses family's dynamics and refer to appropriate resources for necessary interventions. The Child Care Caseworker is required to enter and to maintain case information into NCFAST which requires proficiency using the personal computer. The Caseworker serves as a liaison between agency staff; clients and child care providers in negotiating services to best meet a child's needs. Liaison is needed between child care providers and child care recipients to assist in successful resolution of problematic issues. Liaison with Smart Start, Head Start, Health Department, interagency programs and community business/agencies is needed to ensure smooth delivery of child care services and to provide referrals for clients to appropriate agencies based on needs identified during the assessment process. (25%)
3. The Child Care Caseworker will serve as back up to the Work First Family Assistance Caseworker in completing the initial screening and assessment for families seeking cash benefit assistance through our Work First Family Assistance (WFFA) program. This worker must determine if the family is eligible for services and assist in completion of the application, processing of the application and redetermination of cases in the absence of the Work First Family Assistance Caseworker, or when there are waiting applicants to the program. (20%)
4. The Child Care Caseworker may serve on an array of committees or be called upon to attend meetings in order to represent the agency's view and to advocate for the clients served by the program. The Down East Partnership and Head Start are two examples of agencies that request a Nash County Child Care representative at their various meetings. (5%)
Employee will be expected to work in emergency shelters and/or perform related disaster tasks and perform other reasonable tasks requested by their immediate supervisor, Program Manager, Deputy Director and Director.
Other Position Characteristics
1. Accuracy Required in Work The highest degree of accuracy possible is required to accurately assess a child's needs to determine the most appropriate child care arrangements thus enabling the child to have a quality pre-school experience. State Child Care and other resource policies must be followed closely to insure accurate determination of eligibility and fees in a timely manner. Time reports, day sheets, and other state and county forms require accurate and timely completion.
2. Consequences of Error Thorough assessments of families enable us to help them appropriately plan for their children. Errors in placement could lead to a child having difficulty with adjustments and prevent the child from having a quality preschool experience, thus affecting his transition into public school. Eligibility errors could lead to misappropriation of child care funds. Approving of placement in centers without appropriate space or authorization could lead to failure to be reimbursed for care.
3. Instructions Provided to Employee Instructions are provided to the employee both verbally and in written form by the supervisor through scheduled conferences, at agency staff meetings, and at workshops and professional training sessions attended by the employee as available and appropriate. Such instruction serves to assist in case worker’s concepts and practices in detail or in general depending on the intensity needed.
4. Guidelines, Regulations, Policies and References Used by the Employee Agency Personnel Handbook Subsidized Child Care Services Manual Integrated Eligibility Manual NC Fast Learning Gateway NC FAST instructions and job aids SIS Manual North Carolina Personnel Regulations Instructions from Director, Deputy Director, Program Manager, Supervisor and Regional Consultant
5. Supervision Received by the Employee The supervisor operates with an "open-door" policy — addressing situations as they arise. An individual conference may be scheduled as needed by the employee. Records are read at random by the supervisor to assure they are current and accurate.
6. Variety and Purpose of Personal Contacts As a Child Care Caseworker dealing with the Child Care program, the worker will maintain contact the following units: Work First Family Assistance/Employment Services, Services Intake, Food and Nutrition, Child Welfare, Child Support, Medicaid, and Administration. In addition, the employee has significant contact with clients, child care providers, and other service agencies within the community. These contacts are necessary to assist in carrying out the identified plan of care for the client.
7. Physical Effort The employee must be able to move within the agency, climb stairs, and use office equipment described in item 9 below. Employee must travel to meetings within the county as well as workshops and meetings out of the county. Overnight travel is rarely necessary.
8. Work Environment and Conditions Work is performed in a county social service agency. The employee has a private/office within the agency to perform duties. The employee is occasionally exposed to infectious diseases such as scabies, head lice, flu, AIDS, etc. Additional hazards include hostile clients and travel in adverse conditions. All staff is aware of precautions to take when such events occur.
9. Machines, Tools, instruments, Equipment, and Materials Used The worker is required to have a valid driver's license and have access to a vehicle. The worker will use the telephone, copier, Personal Computer, printer, scanner, and calculator in order to perform duties.
10. Visual Attention, Mental Concentration, and Manipulative Skills Intense concentration is required when assessing client needs, counseling regarding appropriate plans and resolving client/provider problems. Visual attention is required when entering information into NC Fast and assessing facilities.
11. Safety for Others The Child Care Caseworker assists clients in making child care decisions that affect the lives of their children. Ensuring that the children are placed with appropriate providers in a safe environment is extremely important. The Child Care Caseworker must also be acutely aware of the family dynamics, abuse/neglect indicators, and psychosocial dynamics and refer to appropriate service resources including protective services as deemed necessary.
12. Dynamics of Work Programs are periodically affected by changes in methodology, guidelines, legislation, and shifting program emphasis. The worker will receive guidance and appropriate supervision as these changes occur. These Changes may have an impact on the case worker's responsibilities to clients and on the provision of services. It may also result in a change in case load size and the use of new forms.Considerable knowledge of the program/area of assignment. General knowledge of all agency and community programs and services which could affect the client/applicant. Good mathematical reasoning and computational skills. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret rules, regulations and procedures. Ability to communicate with clients/applicants, the public at large, and public officials to obtain data, and to explain, interpret rules, regulations and procedures. Ability to perform caseworker functions within structured timeframes. Specifically, the Child Care Caseworker should exhibit the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
1. The Child Care Caseworker should have considerable knowledge of techniques and practices and their application to specific casework to effectively work with the wide cross section of clients and presenting child care needs in the worker's case load.
2. The Child Care Caseworker should have the ability to understand Child Care regulations and policies and the skill to interpret them clearly and precisely in written or oral form.
3. The Child Care Caseworker should have considerable knowledge of developmental stages/tasks, human behavior, socioeconomic problems, family dynamics, and psychosocial dynamics to help the parent in making appropriate child care arrangements and referrals to other services as identified.
4. The Child Care Caseworker should have considerable knowledge of Subsidized Child Care eligibility requirements.
5. The Child Care Caseworker should have considerable knowledge of child care availability and child care licensure regulations to ensure child care is authorized with appropriate providers.
6. The Child Care Caseworker should have considerable knowledge of interagency governmental/private organizations which serve as resources in the community.
7. The Child Care Caseworker should have extensive communication/counseling skills to maintain effective relationships/rapport with clients/providers, community organizations and agency staff.
8. The Child Care Caseworker should exhibit the ability to express ideas clearly, cogently and concisely and to execute work with maximum effectiveness.
9. The Child Care Caseworker should have considerable knowledge in the practical application of mathematical principles.
10.The Child Care Caseworker is involved in all aspects of the helping process, collating resources, carrying out program duties and maintaining program integrity. The worker should have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrative superiors, with members of the caseload and their families, as well as all community resources.
11.The Child Care Caseworker should have the ability to operate a motor vehicle and a valid North Carolina Driver's License.Required Minimum Training: One year experience as an Income Maintenance Caseworker.
NC Fast experience preferred. 
Candidate should have strong computer and mathematical skills. Ability to read and interpret policy, communicate with clients and explain regulations and procedures. Ability to meet deadlines within established time frames.
Applicants without Income Maintenance Caseworker experience may be considered for a one year work-against period as an Income Maintenance Caseworker I.