Social Services Professional

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled and dedicated Social Services Professional to join our team at Trempealeau County, WI. As a key member of our department, you will be responsible for providing professional level duties and managing social services to children and families, child protection investigation, alternate care for children, and ongoing services to families according to applicable policies, regulations and statues.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide intake services to individuals for the purpose of screening children taken into custody and not released under s and Interviews children taken into custody and other parties.
• Determines whether children continue to be held in custody under s and s and in accordance with juvenile court policies.
• Takes juveniles and children into custody under WI statute 48.19, 48.193, and 938.19, d)
• Conducts child protective service assessments in accordance with s to ensure the safety and well-being of children and families and determine the presence of maltreatment.
• Provides the leadership role in developing family-based case management services and decision-making to maintain intact families or to keep out-of-home placement at minimum levels.
• Prepares timely reports for the court recommending a plan of rehabilitation, treatment, care, and permanency in accordance with statute, juvenile court policy, Department of Children and Family policy, and agency policies.
• Coordinates with staff, families and providers to assess and develop goal oriented, time limited, family based service plans to meet identified needs.
• Identifies through family assessment and case management individual needs which include psychological, parenting, discipline, family functioning, substance use, daily functioning, and safety of child.
• Develops case plans including goals, objectives and services.
• Maintains safety plans to ensure child's safety.
• Monitors family utilization of services and informs the court of family/youth's adherence to court orders.
• Maintains ongoing contact with parents and family members in the delivery of services.
• Meets with families in their homes, and public locations to provide assessments, supervision and ongoing services.
• Teaches families about available community resources and how to independently gain access to needed services.
• Provides leadership to achieve active involvement and participation of the child, family, schools, mental health providers, and other community resources in resolving problems.
• Coordinates families' access to services, monitors services to ensure services are provided timely and meeting family/child's needs, evaluates progress and terminates services when goals are met.
• Meet with child and families in their homes to monitor progress.
• Works to achieve services and treatment objectives without duplication of effort and with maximum effective use of staff time and available resources.
• Maintains a complete record for all assigned cases; completes required written assessments and plans, court reports, client progress, and other related paperwork as required by statute, DCF and agency policy.
• Documents contacts and services, maintains files and data for reporting purposes, and prepares collateral dictation and other records and reports.
• Assess and arranges needed safety services, out-home placements and other services.
• Provides and monitors services to foster parents.
• Assess out of home placements to determine if safe placement for child/youth.
• Provide ongoing face to face contacts to out of home care providers and child.
• Supervise child and parents during family interactions when deemed necessary through safety evaluations and ongoing case management to ensure safety of child with parent and provide appropriate skill development.
• Participate as a team member of a Coordinated Service Team providing services to children and families.
• Conduct Independent Living Skills assessment and arrange or provide appropriate services for eligible youth in out of home care.
• Advocate on behalf of clients and provide leadership role in client and service staff meetings.
• Assist in writing grant applications.
• Participates in developing and delivering programs and services for families.
• Recommend actions to District Attorney including petitions, sanctions, court order revisions, permanency plan hearings, termination of parental rights, and termination of orders.
• Attend court hearings, testify and prepare for court.
• Develop and present public education information to the community and other organizations.
• Promote inter-agency cooperation between Trempealeau County Department of Human Services and area law enforcement agencies, hospitals and collateral agencies.
• Maintain working knowledge of social services program policies and laws and case management and reporting requirements.
• Attend and participate in training and professional development.
• Develops professional knowledge and skills by attending training events, conferences, and workshops.
• Participate in staff meetings, supervision times, and other regularly scheduled meetings.
• Participate in collaborative efforts internally and outside of the agency.
• Answer telephone, take and relay messages, data entry and keyboarding, provide information to callers and visitors and fax materials.
• Photocopy materials.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related field, two years case management experience preferred, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Valid motor vehicle operator's license and/or available means of transportation required.
• Social Workers are required to maintain their Wisconsin Social Work licensure or certification, to remain in the Social Worker position.
• Case Workers may obtain their Wisconsin Social Work licensure or certification and be eligible to advance to a Social Worker position.

Benefits:

• Medical: County participates in the State of Wisconsin offered Health Plan.
• Dental: Delta Dental WI Plan: Uniform Dental Benefit (UDB)/Preventative offers basic coverage for routine cleanings, x-rays, fillings (100% no deductible), orthodontics (50% for those 19 and under with $1500 individual max).
• Vision: Delta Vision: Eye exams ($15 copay in-network), $150 for frames $150 for contact lenses and discount on Laser Vision Correction.
• Short-Term Disability: Provides a financial benefit available up to 60% of your salary during time off work due to illness/injury up to 25 weeks.
• Deferred Compensation: Available plans: WI Deferred Comp (WDC) and Nationwide (NACO).
• Term Life Insurance: Life insurance coverage for yourself, spouse and children.
• Whole Life Insurance: Guaranteed rates for the life of the policy and guaranteed death benefit to be paid to your beneficiaries.
• Group Accident: Lump sum benefit for off the job accidental injuries, pays in addition to other insurances.
• Group Cancer: Cancer Insurance to help you manage expenses of treatment (including experimental), pays in addition to other insurances.
• Group Critical Illness: Lump sum benefit for critical illness such as heart attack, stroke, major organ transplant, end stage renal failure.
• Vacation: Accrues per pay period per year as follows.
• Sick Leave: Accrues per pay period up to 12 days per year.
• Holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, Two Personal Holidays.