Salary: $26.33 - $34.90 HourlyLocation : Sheboygan, WIJob Type: Full TimeJob Number: 2024--146Department: Health & Human ServicesOpening Date: 11/05/2024Purpose and Summary Responsible for conducting and completing initial assessment investigations that identify conditions that make children unsafe or at risk of abuse or neglect and provide services to families to assure that children are safe and protected. This is accomplished by receiving and responding to reports of abuse or neglect, conducting initial and family assessments, developing and implementing protective, safety and case plans, as well as, providing services and case management until cases can be safely closed. This is done under the supervision of the Child Protective Services Intake Supervisor.Sheboygan County Health & Human Services strives to be a trauma informed organization which fully realizes the prevalence of trauma, recognizes the effects of trauma, and responds with trauma informed policies and practices, and we are looking for staff who will help us champion this journey. Essential Duties
- Complete intensive Wi-Learn, Basic Intake Worker training in order to practice under State Statute Chapter 48, Child Welfare Foundation Training, as well as any other required training to perform job functions.
- Complete and receive Access Reports that document alleged child maltreatment by primary and secondary caregivers, or non-caregivers, to include, unborn child abuse, and identify present or impending danger threats to determine if child protective service intervention is necessary.
- Complete Initial Assessments to determine service needs for families to assure they can safely and adequately provide supervision and care, as well as, meet their children's basic needs, to include their social, emotional and physical needs. This includes, a comprehensive assessment that will assess and analyze the alleged maltreatment of a child (physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect), present and impending danger threats, protective parenting capacities and abilities, and as a result, determine if Department intervention is necessary to assure for a child's safety in the future.
- Determine if Ongoing Child Protective Service intervention is necessary for a family to assure for a child's safety and allow parents to be provided services to address identified safety concerns. It will be the responsibility of the investigating staff to determine/recommend what level of intervention is warranted, to include, a Voluntary Service Agreement, Informal Disposition Agreement, or Child in Need of Protection and/or Services (CHIPS) Petition.
- Work with and collaborate with various community partners when conducting child abuse and neglect investigations, to include, law enforcement, Indian Tribes, child care licensing agencies, various school districts, child advocacy centers, domestic abuse and sexual assault advocates/professionals, etc.
- Ongoing assessment of both present and impending danger threats, throughout the course of an investigation, to assure children's safety is not at risk and they are provided with a safe and nurturing environment. If Child Protective Services are unable to assess a parental home as safe, this may result in removal of a child from their home environment and out of home care placement will need to be identified.
- Demonstrate engagement and responsiveness with families and their support teams; assess current functioning, priorities, and child safety. Determine the type, times, and range of services or supports required.
- Conduct regular visits with children & families in various environments, to include, family homes, schools, hospitals, Child Advocacy Centers, law enforcement agencies, jail/detention center, Deland Receiving Home, foster homes, treatment foster homes, group homes, and residential care facilities.
- Collaborate with Indian Child Welfare agencies to assure compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act when a child has been identified as a subject to ICWA or WICWA.
- Ensure for child and family well-being which can include coordinating services for their physical health, mental health, behavioral health, educational, and cultural needs.
- Maintain case records that are timely and accurately documented of all activity involving case management and investigation.
- Generate well written court documentation including, temporary physical custody affidavits, pre-trial recommendations, court reports, etc. Further, attend all court hearings and provide written and oral testimony as required by the court.
- Work closely with the Alternate Care Unit staff to identify placement resources when needed prior to and after removal from the parental home.
- Provide family interaction during an investigative period to maintain, establish, and promote parent-child relationships. This can include supervising visitation between parents and children.
- Maintain awareness of and compliance with applicable rules, policies, procedures, funding source requirements, professional standards, and evidence- based practices as they apply.
- Participate in unit and department-wide meetings, discussions, training, and activities, demonstrating orientation toward professional competence and continuous quality improvement; make recommendations for and assists with service improvement when warranted.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- A minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in social work or a closely related field, and either has social work certification or the ability to receive social work certification.
- Certified Social Worker (CSW) licensure or an active Social Worker Training Certificate is required. Individuals who are eligible for a Social Worker Training Certificate and are willing to actively pursue one upon hire will be considered as well.
- Relevant prior experience working with the population(s) to be served preferred.
- Preference for knowledge of and/or experience with trauma-informed principles and practices.
- Requires basic computer keyboarding skills for entering data related to clients.
- Knowledge of and sensitivity to social problems, cultural diversity, human growth and development, and individual and family functioning.
- Knowledge and understanding of Federal Laws, State Statutes and
- Administrative rules which regulate the services to be provided.
- Knowledge and understanding of the programs, funds and services available.
- Ability to coordinate activities and functions that cross unit and departmental lines and involve other county and community agencies.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, superiors, Corporation Counsel, community partners, and the public at large.
- Ability to relate to people and to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment in confrontational and stressful situations.
- Ability to follow instructions, plan, organize, prioritize, complete tasks, and to work closely with the supervisor and others.
- Must have unlimited access to a car, a valid driver's license, automobile insurance, and the ability to efficiently travel in and out of the county, as needed.
- Ability to connect, empathize and work with a diverse population.
- Ability to demonstrate reliability, resourcefulness, initiative, and good judgment.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
- Work is performed in a variety of home, community based and office settings andinvolves travel. Ability to lift up to 20 pounds and a combination of sitting and standing postures may be required. Ability to minimally work 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week is required.
- Must be able to operate and be conversant with office equipment including phone, computer, facsimile , calculator, printer and photocopier. Familiarity and capacity to work with various software applications and keyboarding proficiency are essential.
- May be required to work night, weekend, or during community events outside of normal working hours.
- May be asked to perform various duties if a community emergency or disaster occurs.
- Risk of blood borne pathogen exposure is considered low for all.
Sheboygan County offers a wide range of employee benefits. to view benefit overview.