Social Worker - Child Protection

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING.  OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED. 

Child Protection Services – conduct traditional child protection investigations, family assessments, and child welfare assessments per agency, state and federal requirements for children and families determined to be at risk due to allegations of child maltreatment.

• Accept and document intakes from mandated reporters and community members regarding alleged maltreatment
• Participate in the screening of all maltreatment reports
• Verbally notify law enforcement and follow up with a written notice
• Conduct traditional CP investigations following required protocols within designated timelines.

• Conduct family assessments following required protocols within designated timelines

• Conduct child welfare assessments following required protocols within designated timelines 

Provide ongoing Child Protection Case Management services to children and their families to alleviate issues of maltreatment, prevent out-of-home placements and insure that children are at least minimally free from harm or risk.

• Contact parents/guardians and arrange an initial meeting to complete case opening.
• Complete assessment tools and assist family in developing appropriate safety, crisis and protection plans.
• Provide ongoing case management services for families involved in Traditional Response and Family Assessments.
• Meet with child(ren) face-to-face at least monthly per agency, state and federal requirements.
• Consistently monitor the family compliance with the case plans and progress toward their goals.
• Review the case plan with the family at least quarterly or when there are significant changes and make revisions whenever necessary.
• Coordinate supportive services for the family, providing them with appropriate information and referrals needed to accomplish their goals.
• Complete all case documentation per agency, state and federal requirements.
• File CHIPS petitions with the court as necessary.
• Consult with supervision as necessary.

Provide ongoing Child Welfare Case Management to children and families due to truancy, minor parent status, juvenile delinquency, chemical dependency or other issues placing children at risk.

• Contact parents/guardians and/or children and arrange an initial meeting to complete initial case opening.
• Complete assessment tools and assist the child(ren) and family in developing appropriate social service plans.
• Meet with child(ren) and family at least monthly per Agency, State and Federal requirements.
• Consistently monitor the child(ren)’s and family’s compliance with the case plans and progress toward their goals.
• Review the case plan with the child(ren) and family at least biannually or when there are significant changes and make revisions whenever necessary.
• Coordinate supportive services for the child(ren) and family providing them with appropriate information and referrals needed to accomplish their goals.
• Complete all case documentation per Agency, State and Federal requirements.
• Consult with supervision as necessary.

Provide or arrange substitute care services for children and families who need out-of-home placement in order to minimize the harm to children and insure permanency.

• Participate in pre-placement screening team meetings.
• Arrange for emergency placements of children who are in danger or at imminent risk of harm.
• Arrange for and supervise voluntary and court ordered placements.
• Provide ongoing case management to children in placement.
• Provide reunification related services and activities.
• Facilitate the development of all necessary plans.
• Meet with the child face to face at least monthly.
• Complete all documentation per Agency, State and Federal requirements.
• File CHIPS petitions with the court when necessary.
• Prepare and submit necessary reports to the court.
• Attend court hearings and provide testimony as required.
• Review case with supervision per Agency standards.

Provide Permanency Planning for all children requiring these services.

• Develop clear and comprehensive case plans for children indicating specific goals, objectives and actions requested of all family members to alleviate problems and promote successful reunification.
• Schedule and conduct case reviews to update and amend the plans as appropriate per Agency, State and Federal requirements.
• Coordinate and maintain communication with all appropriate individuals in the case planning process.
• For children where reunification is not possible, seek permanency through termination of parental rights and adoption for transfer of permanent custody to a relative.
• If adoption or transfer of permanent custody is not possible, seek an affidavit of permanent foster care.
• Complete all required documentation per Agency, State and Federal requirements.
• Have general knowledge of court trials and procedures and understand there may be a requirement to testify.
• Consult with supervision as necessary.

Intake Information and Referral.

• Intake – accept initial reports from various agencies, providers, families and the general public including Child Protection, Child Welfare, Children and Adult Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and other program services by telephone or walk-in.
• Provide information and referral services to persons contacting the agency for assistance by putting said persons in contact with appropriate resources (professional services, agencies) and coding the time used to perform this responsibility with the correct brass code.
• Perform public speaking engagements, outreach education and prevention activities as directed by supervision.

Facilitate continual professional growth and development to enhance case management skills in order to effectively deliver services.

• Attend staff meetings and participate in any scheduled in-service training sessions as directed by supervision.
• Attend professional staff development trainings, seminars and conferences pertinent to case management duties as approved by directed by supervision.
• Read appropriate manuals, policies, rules, statutes and bulletins related to case management duties.
• Participate in all required Indian Child Welfare Act trainings to ensure thorough knowledge of all active effort requirements when involved with Native American children and families.
• Participate in supervisory conferences.
• Other duties as assigned by supervision.

Accomplish all administrative duties as assigned.

• Maintain accurate and current case narratives including, but not limited to applications, initial intakes, assessments, case plans, reviews, correspondence, legal documentation, referrals, evaluations, service provision and closings utilizing SSIS.
• Meet all Agency, State and Federal requirements regarding documentation, client contact, case plans and service provision.
• Implement policies affecting caseload.
• Meet Agency standards for time reporting.
• Clarify and explain information on program(s) to other agency staff, Human Services Board, clients, guardians, community members, other interested persons, etc.
• Maintain and update appropriate program forms, policies, manuals, etc.
• Perform on-call services per Agency policy.
• Disseminate and communicate all pertinent information with the Agency, Financial, Fiscal and Child Support units.
• Other duties as assigned by supervision.

FREEDOM TO ACT AND PROBLEM SOLVING

Employee is responsible and accountable for facilitation of services and monitoring of service to client population per existing local State and Federal regulations provided through manuals, bulletins, laws, policies and procedures, etc.  Employees have access to supervision when needing direction on specific cases, when needing approval on specific matters and for the purpose of receiving performance reviews.  Access to supervision on unusual matters is available around the clock, 7 days a week.  Typical reports are through oral communication and written dictation to the files.  Employee's professional judgment is relied on heavily by the agency.

JOB RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal interactions with:  County Attorney's office, Case Managers, Public Health, PrimeWest Health system, and client advocate with other worker's case plans.

External interactions with:   Vulnerable adults and children with disabilities and their families, schools, law enforcement, State Department of Safety, State Department of Probation, doctors, treatment agencies, court, medical and mental health professionals, care facilities, funeral homes and the general public. 

Ability to deal with customers who are under stress, and who may be angry, hostile, verbally aggressive, and may use language that would be considered inappropriate in normal business interactions. The ability to diffuse these situations is highly desirable.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:  Bachelor's degree from accredited four-year college or university, with a major in social work, psychology, sociology or closely related field.  Knowledge of human behavior, interviewing skills, decision making skills, and organizational skills.

Must attend continuing education courses as required for caseload areas. 

Language Skills:  Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Mathematical and Computer Skills:  Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. Ability to use a computer is necessary including a thorough knowledge of computer related tasks and programs such as SSIS, MMIS, MnChoices, PrimeWest web-based care plans, Word, Excel, and Microsoft Outlook. 

Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, collects data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.  Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Driver’s License necessary. 

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk or hear.  The employee is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.

The employee must occasionally lift and /or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and color vision.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Exposure to communicable diseases is a risk factor. Exposure to controlled substances or controlled substance paraphernalia is a risk factor.

Selection Process:

Applications will be accepted until 4/9/2025

First Round Interviews will be held via technology on 4/17/2025

For those selected, second round interviews will be held in person on 4/25/25

Renville County Benefits Information:

https://www.renvillecountymn.gov/employment/benefits/