The Social Worker - Children and Families position is responsible for performing a variety of highly complex social work functions in a team environment. This position works with children, youth, and families involved in Child Protective Services (CPS) and/or Youth Justice (YJ). Primary roles may include one or more of the following:
While social workers will be assigned one or two of the above as primary roles, social workers are cross-trained in order to provide back-up coverage and balance workload between the various roles within the Children and Families Division as needed. Includes after-hours, on-call coverage as part of a team rotation. Responsible for providing truthful and accurate written and verbal communications.
Essential Job Functions
- CPS Intake workers, and others providing coverage of this responsibility, receive and process reports of child abuse or neglect; interview reporters to gather detailed information; process referrals in a timely manner, and make initial screening recommendations.
- Juvenile Court Intake workers, and others providing coverage of this responsibility, receive and process reports of law violations, delinquent/uncontrollable behaviors, and truancy from law enforcement, schools, and parents; interview reporters, youth, parents, and victims to gather necessary information; process referrals in a timely manner; initiate and maintain communication with juvenile clerk and District Attorney’s office personnel; make recommendations on case disposition; coordinate and comply with legal court proceedings from intake through disposition; provide case management through disposition; and ensure seamless transition to ongoing case management.
- CPS Initial Assessment workers, and others providing coverage of this responsibility, complete thorough and timely investigations of all screened in reports; develop safety plans and protective plans; take custody of children when necessary and arrange out of home care placements; finalize initial assessments within 60 days; coordinate and comply with court proceedings and legal requirements; provide case management through disposition or until such time as the case is transferred to ongoing case management.
- Ongoing Case Management workers (CPS and YJ), and others providing coverage of these responsibilities, provide case management throughout the life of the case; develop case plans and/or permanency plans; coordinate services to meet identified needs; monitor for compliance and follow-through on formal or informal conditions of the child/ juvenile or family; coordinate and comply with court proceedings and legal requirements; receive and investigate new reports involving open cases; and arrange out-of-home placements for children/youth as necessary.
- The following are essential job functions for all Social Workers in the Children and Families Division:
- Engage with children, youth, and families in a trauma-informed, strength-based manner; establish trust in order to most effectively partner with children, youth and families to make needed changes to move toward family stability and well-being.
- Provide services and supports to assist clients in successfully completing formal or informal conditions and achieving goals.
- Comply with applicable statutory requirements, timelines, state standards of practice, and county policies.
- Complete all required documentation in eWiSACWIS as well as any necessary documentation required for the courts in a timely manner.
- Deliver permanency efforts with each child/youth in placement directed toward family reconciliation, guardianship, or termination of parental rights/adoption.
- Provide Juvenile Court (custody intake) services on a rotating basis during evening, holiday, and weekend hours, and during regular business hours when assigned.
General Job Functions
- Ongoing case management of voluntary child welfare cases as assigned.
- Collaboration with internal and external providers and community partners to facilitate effective case management.
Required Training and Experience
- Graduate with a BA / BS degree from a certified college or university program in Social Work or closely related field.
- Current valid driver’s license.
Preferred Training and Experience
- Certification as a Social Worker (or higher level of Social Worker certification) with the State of Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing.
- Previous experience providing social / human services and supervision to children/youth/families.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required
- Working knowledge of Chapter 48 and Chapter 938.
- Working knowledge of child maltreatment, juveniles in need of protection or services, and delinquency.
- Working knowledge of child development, including typical behaviors / parenting techniques / and disciplinary methods that are age – appropriate for children and juveniles.
- Working knowledge of Restorative Justice including accountability, competency building, & community protection.
- Ability to adhere to social work ethics and boundaries and exercise sound professional judgment and participate in appropriate continuing education.
- Working knowledge of computer software, including but not limited to: Microsoft Office, WORD, Outlook, Excel, AS400 applications, eWiSACWIS, TCM, etc.
- Working knowledge of other community resources available to provide assistance to families, if needed, but will train.
- Possesses a high level of communication skills, especially in engaging clients, interviewing techniques, oral communication, and report writing. Must be able to relate to all levels of age and social strata and be capable of making professional courtroom presentations based on fact.
- Ability to use tact and courtesy in maintaining an effective working relationship with department employees, county supervisors, county officials, and general public.
- Ability to read, comprehend, and communicate, both verbally and in writing.
Employees hired to work a full time schedule (40 hours per week) are eligible for full time benefits.
Benefits to promote employee/family wellness (full time status):
- Health Insurance including prescriptions – 85% of premium paid by the County of Door
- Wellworks wellness participation – health insurance premium discount
- Dental Insurance – 100% of premium paid by the County of Door!
- Vision Insurance
- Term Life Insurance - offered through WI Dept of Employee Trust Funds (ETF)
- Income Continuation Insurance – ask about premium holiday!
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Wisconsin Retirement System – required participation in Employee/Employer match
- 457(b) Deferred Compensation plans – (Wisconsin Deferred Comp & Nationwide)
- County of Door is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) qualifying employer!
Benefits to promote work/life balance (full time status):
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Time Off (PTO) Plan
- Personal Day(s) by position
- Flexible/Alternative Work Schedule by position