Posted: 09/07/242024-02-222024-05-03Employment Type:TemporaryPosition:Social WorkJob Number: 23938Specialty: Case Management;Social Work
Job Description
*NOTE: MUST HAVE COMPLETED PRE-SERVICE TRAINING IN PRIOR EMPLOYMENT*
Job Description:
Social Services Specialist I, II and III Child Safety Investigations Unit - Service Areas
Under general supervision, Social Services Specialist provides initial assessment and investigation services to resolve allegations of child maltreatment. The Specialist conducts safety and risk assessments to determine safety of children and make ethical and fact-based recommendations for continuation of services. This includes monitoring safety plans and making referrals for services as appropriate.
Qualifications:
At least, Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in social work, social services, psychology, educational psychology, sociology, nursing, criminal justice, counseling, marriage and family therapy, family studies or a related field.
Specialist level is determined by the employee’s licensure, education, and experience.
Functional Job Responsibilities
Receive investigation assignments and conduct historical checks of records to determine if individuals in the reports have had prior agency involvement,
Recognize signs and symptoms of child maltreatment (Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation),
Investigates reports of child maltreatment (Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation) of children that are reported through the Mississippi Centralized Intake and Assessment including human trafficking, maltreatment in care, and child fatalities through conducting home visits, visits to other settings where children/families live and other structured interviews,
Conducts safety and risk assessments to determine safety of children and make ethical and fact-based recommendations for continuation of services. This includes monitoring safety plans and making referrals for services as appropriate,
Prepare for, attend, and testifies in court hearings and administrative appeals on investigations,
Participate in collaborative internal team meetings,
Schedule and attend forensic interviews, autopsies, and other meetings regarding investigations,
Document initial and ongoing work in accordance with established protocols, practices, and policies. This includes finalizing completed investigations with all supportive documents uploaded to a shared drive and sending final notifications per policy,
Serve as mentor and peer support for new staff to the unit,
Participate in scheduled staffing and other meetings,
Build professional relationships and collaborate with law enforcement, legal and other stakeholders to support the agency’s work in the investigation process,
Requires routine travel in personal vehicle (mileage reimbursed based on DFA guidelines).
May require work beyond assigned geographic area and/or special assignments,
Use data to manage and plan the workday for timely initiation and completion of work,
On-call after work hours and on weekends in designated coverage area,
Other duties as assigned
What it takes to be successful
A successful candidate for this position will understand micro, mezzo and macro level social work practice and how social, economic, and personal factors impact safety.
A professional commitment of caring about people, their safety, well-being, and the larger profession of child welfare is also a benefit.
Efficient organizational and time management skills.
Good oral and written communication skills.
Positive work morale.
Ability to be flexible in thinking and problem solving.
Realistic expectations about the difficulty and challenges of the work.
Ability to positively handle an often-unpredictable work environment
If you are customer service driven with personal resilience and strong self-efficacy beliefs about the ability to work with all clients to produce positive client outcomes, this is the optimal career for you.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. #liveyourlife
Job Requirements
MDCPS, Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services, social work, social worker, LMSW, LCSW, RSW, CSW, child protective investigations, social services specialist, foster care, child protection, child safety investigations unit, child safety investigations