Child Protection Services Case Manager

Job Summary
The Child Protective Services Case Manager ensures the safety, permanence, and well-being of children and youth. This position ensures protection of the community and imposes accountability for violations of the law by equipping juvenile offenders with competencies to live responsibly and productively, according to federal, state, and administrative code and standards.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities
The following duties are primarily performed and are essential for this position.  Employees are expected to be able to perform each of these job duties satisfactorily and successfully with or without reasonable accommodations to be qualified for the position.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

Intake/Case Management:
Conducts home visits, school visits, office visits, and collateral contacts to gather information. Documents all contacts, compile information into a comprehensive assessment to include all information about the presenting situation/alleged maltreatment, surrounding circumstances, child functioning, adult functioning, disciplinary practices, general parenting practices and family functioning. Identify and analyze safety and needs, assess present and impending danger threats, assess parental protective capacities, and refer families for services. Continuously reviews, oversees, and adjusts protective/safety plans in a way that is least intrusive to the family. When necessary, removes children from the home and complete all required documentation. Notifies DCFS of any egregious incident, death, and/or serious injury sustained to a child. Completes Temporary Physical Custody Request, Medical Consent, Acknowledgement of Notice of Rights, and gather Information for three relatives. Completes Confirming Safe Environments of placement provider (24 hours background check, 3 days visit, 7 days visit) and Foster Home Agreement/Relative Caregiver Agreement/Confidentiality of Records. Care 4 Kids Screening (within 2 days at CAC and within 30 days at primary doctor). Update e-Wisacwis: Participant Information, including Medical/Mental Health, Education/ Passport to School. Enters the Out of Home Placement, completes Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths within 30 days of placement, Foster Care Rate, Information for Out of Home Care Providers A (within 2 days) and B (within 7 days). Updates the Legal Record and complete legal documentation, including CHIPS Petition (within 72 hours of TPC hearing), Court Referral, and Uniform Child Custody Affidavit. Completes Family Interaction Plan (must be developed & started within 5 days of removal) and Referral to Family Support Worker for visits. Notify WIC/Public Health if removal of 5 years old or younger. Communicate with Economic Support and refer to Birth to Three.  Completes ICWA Screening for Child’s Status as Indian. Makes a referral for Relative Home Study for Kinship Care. Notify School District and County of Placement. Conducts team meetings and manage crisis situations and risk issues relating to children. Provides feedback to mandated/relative reporters. Attend case transfer staffing and introduce the family to the ongoing worker.

Engages families in a positive working relationship to achieve a safe, stable home and permanence for children. Assesses for safety (present and impending danger) and safety plan. Builds foundational relationships with families through engagement. Assesses families for various types of need and match services to meet those needs in areas such as mental health, substance abuse, housing, parenting skills, medical, dental, education, developmental, financial (budgeting, employment), transportation, family interaction/communication. Assesses for diminished and enhanced parental protective capacities. Develops plans to meet needs and enhance protective capacities. Facilitates relationships between birth families and out of home care placement providers. Maintains contact with children, parents, relatives, and placement providers through face to face (school, home, office, community, placement, jail, hospital), phone, video, and in writing. Attend IEP meetings, facilitate team meetings, and coordinate with collaterals. Completes thorough accurate and professional protective plans, safety plans, case plans, permanency plans, family interaction plans, dispositional reports, TPR reports, guardianship reports, referrals for service, billing requests, Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths, placements, foster care rate. Responds to assess crisis and risk. Facilitates and administers urine screens, saliva screens and breathalyzers by collecting the specimen, reading initial results, preparing the documentation, sending specimens for laboratory testing, then reading the results. Provides therapeutic services, education, and awareness to families. Notifies and locates biological family for placement. Moderates travel time to visits, meetings and placements, at times. Completes check requests, billing authorizations, discovery requests, and supervised visits with transportation on occasion. Transports clients to appointments, move children to and from placements, attend criminal court/non-CHIPS hearings, make recommendations to family court, and in collaboration with corporation counsel modify family court orders. Ensures confidentiality. Reviews and interpret psychological evaluations, medical reports, Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) Assessments and other provider documents. Provides mentoring to youth regarding development of independent living skills, educational success, social skills, and self-control. Assist youth to work toward independent living.

Provides case management services for families involved in the child protection system, develops, and maintains relationships with court and legal systems, document casework activities and provide evaluation, advocacy and follow up to youth and their families throughout their court involvement or during the terms of their informal dispositions. Reviews and analyzes information relating to child and caregiver's social, psychiatric, and medical history to learn the nature of the functional limitations as well as strengths each child and family member presents. Reviews law enforcement referrals, conduct intake inquiries and provide recommendations to the District Attorney for disposition. Obtains and assess relevant information regarding child's development, i.e., social, familial, medical, and vocational strengths. Conducts family and individual risk and needs assessments and continually assess the safety of youth on the caseload. Provides youth and family with appropriate information regarding services offered by the Department of Human Services and within the community. Conducts a thorough assessment of youth's risks, needs and protective factors (YASI) and case plan. Provides the Juvenile Court with recommendations regarding services, treatment, and disposition by preparing a court report. Develops a case plan in conjunction, consultation, and cooperation with the youth's family and all others involved in the youth's life in accordance with statutory guidelines. Monitors the youth's compliance with the established court order; review and revise permanency plans as necessary and provide crisis services including emergency custody and changes of placement. Refers to and coordinate the various services to implement the case plan. Produces accurate and timely documentation and reports including but not limited to case notes, assessments, case plans, progress reports and court reports to ensure compliance with federal and state requirements. Maintains necessary e-WISACWIS and Harmony records to support these activities. Recommends to management changes or gaps in the system that prevent the delivery of services. Prioritizes and organize time to cover assigned area and manage caseload in equitable manner. Maintains contacts with the Juvenile Court, District Attorney, Public Defender, and legal community. Consults with other professionals in the field and in related fields to increase individual knowledge and understanding of various disciplines, changes, and developments. Serve as liaison to the courts for the Department of Human Services. Assists and provide back up to other case workers as necessary or required. Transports youth and families in personal and company vehicles.

Ensures accurate and timely documentation of all phone calls, emails, text messages, home visits. Document all interactions and contacts in the format of subjective, objective, assessment, and plan. Requests and Upload documents from outside agencies including but not limited to law enforcement reports, medical reports, school reports, out of state records, residential placement, and behavioral health records along with the release of information. Utilize the e-filing system for all court related documents.

(+ after hours) Emergency/After-Hours Coverage:
Participates in an after-hours on-call rotation for CPS and YJ, totaling approximately 100 hours during assigned month. Receive calls regarding concerns of abuse and neglect, youth justice charges, crisis situations and for collaboration. Documents child protective service reports, service reports and after-hours case notes. Responds to reports of alleged maltreatment in accordance with state and safety standards to include immediate response, 24/48 response, or within five days. Coordinates with law enforcement to conduct a joint investigation and locate parents, children, and family members to notify and interview.  Coordinates with Child Advocacy Centers and medical providers for emergency case response. Conducts assessments of alleged child abuse and neglect, which includes interviews with all household members, ensures every individual in the household is thoroughly assessed and interviewed. Respond within the community, make judgements about child safety, develop protective and/or safety plans, place children outside of the family home, if needed. Locate and coordinate placement options and transport children and youth to placements. Decides about youth risk and community safety when charges are being issued. Coordinates and respond to out of home placement. Provides mediation during difficult family dynamics when in crisis situations. Assists and coordinate with law enforcement. Connects with and refer to other counties and behavioral health crisis, when needed. Notifies access worker, supervisor, and manager of all after-hours contacts. Participate in daily CPS and YJ Intake emergency days during normal business hours. Provide Access coverage in the absence of the Access Worker during normal business hours.

Court Involvement:
Submits reports to the court. Prepare Permanency Plan Orders and submit to Corporation Counsel or District Attorney. Attends court hearings and provide testimony. Coordinates with legal parties to reach resolutions. Follows Chapter 48, Chapter 938, and state/federal policies. Completes collateral interviews of legal parties involved in the assigned family matter in family court. Collaborates with the District Attorney’s Office on joint cases. Participate in substantiation hearing through appellate court for any substantiation appeals. Gathers all records for substantiation reviews and cases going to trial.

Other:
Participates in committees (outreach, TIC, events, employee recognition), supervision (individual and group), collaboration meetings, case staffing, case consultation with colleagues, Division Meetings, and All-Staff Meetings. Completes training and continuing education as required for licensure and professional development. Facilitates cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral anger reduction groups for teens and adolescents. Provides community education related to child maltreatment awareness including but not limited to human trafficking, mandated reporting, trauma informed care, drug endangered children. Participates in and run multi-disciplinary teams regarding drug endangered children, human trafficking task force, and LRCAC case review.  Develops a human trafficking indicator form.

Participates in foster parent appreciation events. Participation in TIC Initiatives. Tracks and documents case statistics. Completes expense reports, timesheets, and training authorizations. Remain updated on Wisconsin Standards, Wisconsin Statutes, and DCF Initiatives. Assists all positions within the Division. Other duties as assigned by the Children and Family Manager, Children and Family Supervisor and/or Children and Family Initial Assessment Supervisor.

Supervision Exercised

None

Minimum Education Qualifications

Education and/or Experience Requirements:

• Master’s degree in social work or related field is preferred. Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field is required.
• Two years of experience in Child Protection Services, Youth Justice, Children’s Long-Term Support, or related fields working with Children and Families.

Licenses, Certifications, and Other Requirements:

• CANS Training, 30 hours ongoing training for licensure including Ethics and Boundaries.
• Basic Intake Training may obtain after hire.
• Pre-Service Training (Child Welfare) may obtain after hire.
• Foundation Training (Child Welfare) may obtain after hire.
• Certification or licensure is preferred but not required.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Qualifications
In order to perform the functions and responsibilities of the position (listed above) the following knowledge, skills, and abilities are essential.
 

• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent Assessment skills.
• Strong written skills.
• Highly organized and demonstrates the ability to analyze and synthesize information.
• Highly advanced engagement and interviewing skills.
• Demonstrates the ability to defuse hostility, fear, anger, and resistance to prevent aggressive and violent behaviors.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in working with a variety of people and circumstances.
• Able to work with diverse populations.
• Ability to provide effective collaboration and coordination with community resources.
• Knowledge of and ability to demonstrate Trauma Informed Care and strengths-based practice to child welfare.
• Knowledge of separation, placement and reunification issues affecting children in Alternate Care.
• Knowledge of the Children’s Code #48 and #938.
• Knowledge of Wisconsin Child Welfare Model of Practice.
• Knowledge of E-WiSacwis.
• Knowledge of children and disabilities (developmental, physical, mental health)
• Knowledge of Children’s Long-Term Support and Children’s Community Options Program funding services.
• Understanding of Medicaid Program, community resources
• Ability to maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive documentation in compliance with state standards as well as agency policy and procedures.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships.
• Requires a valid Wisconsin Driver's License with a good driving record and liability insurance.
• Ability to travel throughout the county sometimes daily at times with personnel vehicle.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently.
• Excellent critical thinking skills
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize work duties and successfully meet deadlines as required.
• Ability to manage families in crisis and provide appropriate services and support.
• Ability to have a flexible work schedule to accommodate family’s needs.

In evaluating candidates for this position, Ozaukee County may consider a combination of education, training, and experience which provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. 

Physical Requirements
 

• Prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer.
• Periodic periods of standing or walking.

Work Environment

Working with families either in the office, courtroom setting, community, or in their homes. Working remotely is available for some tasks.

EOE / ADA Statement

Ozaukee County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ozaukee County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Nothing in this job description limits management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.  The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.  The job description does not constitute an employment agreement or affect the at-will nature of the employment arrangement between the employee and company and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
 

Ozaukee County offers a generous benefits package including: health, dental, life, & vision insurance; free employee health clinic & Teladoc; paid holidays, vacation, & sick time; state of Wisconsin WRS defined benefit pension program; bonus opportunities; employee fitness room; wellness program & wellness reimbursement; tuition reimbursement & continuing education opportunities; and more Please note some that benefits offered are dependent on full-time/part-time status.

Ozaukee County prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, disability, genetics, veteran status or military service, marital status or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic or status protected by federal, state or local laws. Ozaukee County also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws.

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