Child Welfare Social Worker

Status: Full Time 1.0 FTE (40 hrs/wk)

Summary of Work:

The Cass Human Service Zone Family Services Department serves to ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families. Child Welfare/Social Workers serve across all phases of the family services program, including the in-person assessment of reports of child abuse and neglect. Child Welfare/Social Workers ensure the safety of children through in-home safety planning, and seek permanency for children placed in out of home care by working to strengthen parental performance and connecting families to critical and supportive services.

Training is provided to position Child Welfare/Social Workers in a specialized unit within the department based on interest and skillset, including Child Protective Services (CPS) and Case Management (In-Home and Foster Care). Cross-training within the department is utilized to ensure prompt response and consistent care to ensure child safety in our community.

This position maintains responsibilities of a highly complex and sensitive nature and requires a high degree of knowledge, skills, and passion in child welfare. Work activities involve decision-making within parameters of approved policies and procedures.

Thorough, accurate and timely response and documentation are required skills. This position requires coordination with local service providers, law enforcement and legal entities, as well as emergency response planning. Zone business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This position requires some afterhours/non-traditional working hours including on-call scheduling.

Frequent travel throughout Cass County is required.

Child Welfare/Social Worker - Example of Duties

• Assess and process referrals for child abuse or neglect
• Conduct assessment and fact-finding interviews to obtain and assess mental, physical, economic, employment, environmental and social status of client/family/caregiver
• Assess interview information to determine substantiation of referrals and prepare written intake reports
• Design, organize, implement, and monitor effectiveness of case plans using an array of community resources to resolve issues
• Facilitate client access to support services
• Determine appropriate client placement and ensure least restrictive environment, take action to reduce risk to client and others by providing emergency, crisis intervention, and after-hours on-call service
• Complete safety assessments on cases and determine eligibility for services and level of care
• Carry a full caseload in child welfare social work
• Client counseling, social services, support, and change-oriented activities to preserve the family unit and promote client self-determination
• Develop appropriate safety plans for children addressing special needs of clients
• Participate in interdisciplinary team staffing to modify treatment plans
• Prepare case record notes attesting to engagement with client and results from specific kinds of service
• Design and apply varying treatment modalities for problem resolution

To succeed in this position, you should have a passion for serving others, a desire to make a positive impact on our community and a strong communication skillset to engage with diverse populations.

You have a proven ability to problem-solve, make time-sensitive decisions, and take accountability to the responsibilities of the role.

Working for Cass Human Service Zone:

Cass Human Service Zone partners with the Department of Health and Human Services and Cass County to deliver state-driven child welfare safety and program protocols and provides employees with the excellent benefits and employment packages offered by Cass County as a Cass County employee.

Cass Human Service Zone team members are offered robust medical, dental and life insurance coverage, as well as an excellent retirement package (ND PERS).

Employees enjoy 10 paid holidays, as well as earning both annual leave AND sick leave days.

A LBSW and/or background in social work is preferred, but not required for this position.

This position requires a bachelor's degree in one of the following areas: social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, human development, education, human services, child development and family science, or criminal justice. Plus one of the following.

Position Levels & Requirements:

Family Service Specialist III (SC7004):

Two years of professional work experience as a social worker, child protective service worker, or professional case manager.

A master's degree may substitute for one year of the work experience requirement.

Family Services Specialist II (SC7004):

One year of professional work experience as a social worker, child protective service worker, or professional case manager.

A master's degree in one of the above areas may substitute for the work experience requirement.

Family Services Specialist I (SC7004):

No work experience required.

• Please make sure that your resume includes information to demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications as posted. Your work history will not be given credit if the Department’s Human Resource Division cannot determine that you meet the minimum qualifications
• Please include a list of professional references.
• The Department of Human Services does not offer or provide sponsorships. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• All application material (cover letter, resume and references) must be received on or before the closing date by 11:59 pm.
• A copy of your qualifying degrees transcript and any applicable certifications or licensures must be provided at the time of an interview.

For more information or if you need an accommodation, please contact Samantha Duitsman at DuitsmanS@casscountynd.gov

Employing Unit: Cass County Human Service Zone
Telephone Number: 701-239-6709
TTY Number: ND Relay Service 1-800-366-6888 (text); 1-800-366-6889 (voice)

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the Application Process or uploading attachments , please contact recruiter@nd.gov or (701)328-3290

The State of North Dakota and this hiring agency do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, genetics, religion, age or disability in employment or the provisions of services and complies with the provisions of the North Dakota Human Rights Act.

As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.