Child Welfare Specialist Trainee, 1-3 (Alexandria Region)

Child Welfare Specialist

Department Mission: DCFS is working to keep children safe, helping individuals and families become self-sufficient, and providing safe refuge during disasters.

Department Vision: We care for the well-being and safety of Louisiana's people.

Department Values: Treating all people with dignity, compassion and respect, while providing services with integrity.

Help make a difference and join our team today. This announcement serves to fill vacancies in one of the following parishes: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Rapides, Vernon and Winn.

The referenced positions have a Special Entrance Rate (SER) see below:

• Child Welfare Specialist Trainee - SER: $ 1,649.60 bi-weekly (Pay Level SS-411)
• Child Welfare Specialist 1 - SER: $1,764.80 bi-weekly (Pay Level SS-412)
• Child Welfare Specialist 2 - SER: $1,820.80 bi-weekly (Pay Level SS-414)
• Child Welfare Specialist 3 - SER: $1,948.00 bi-weekly (Pay Level SS-415)

In accordance with La. R.S. 46:51.2 the department shall conduct a State Central Registry (SCR) check for a potential employee of the department to determine whether or not said individual's name appears on a SCR subsequent to December 31, 2009, and whose duties include: investigations of child abuse or neglect, supervisory or disciplinary authority over children, direct care to a child, or performance of licensing surveys.

In accordance with state laws, selected candidates must pass the following checks before any final job offer will be made: Drug Test, Criminal Background, State Central Registry, and Louisiana State Police Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry. Must possess a valid driver's license.

This position may be filled as a probational appointment or a job appointment that may last up to 48 months. Job appointments may convert to probational appointments. Also, it may be filled as a detail and promoted within 12 months or by promotion of a permanent classified employee. You must include all relevant education and experience on your official State application. Resumes cannot be submitted in lieu of completing an application. The duties that you describe in the Work Experience section of your application will be reviewed by State Civil Service as part of the process in determining if you meet the minimum qualifications for this job. Your experience WILL NOT be evaluated based on the job title alone. You must describe your actual duties. If you are a current employee of the State of Louisiana it is important that you indicate in the "Duties" section for each job the specific programs that you worked in to receive credit for that experience. List all prior employment. Work experience left off of your electronic application or only included in an attached resume will not be credited. Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants qualifying based on college training or receipt of a baccalaureate degree will be required to submit an official college transcript to verify credentials claimed prior to appointment. Please make every effort to attach a copy of your transcript to your online application. The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire. As part of a Career Progression Group, vacancies may be filled from this recruitment as a Child Welfare Specialist Trainee, 1, 2, or 3 depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant(s). The maximum salary for the Child Welfare Specialist 3 is $84,302. No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy. To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page. DCFS is an "Equal Opportunity Employer" and Louisiana is a "State as a Model Employer for People with Disabilities".

For additional information about this vacancy, please email View email address on click.appcast.io.

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Three years of experience in child welfare; OR Six years of full-time work experience in any field; OR A bachelor's degree. EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION: Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field. NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent. A current driver's license and access to a personal vehicle. NOTE: The incumbent of this position must not have been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15.587.1 (c).

Job Specification

FUNCTION OF WORK: To train in performing professional child welfare services for the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families as mandated by state and federal laws. LEVEL OF WORK: Entry. SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Direct from a Child Welfare Supervisor. SUPERVISION EXERCISED: None. LOCATION OF WORK: Department of Children and Family Services. JOB DISTINCTIONS: Differs from Child Welfare Services Assistant by the presence of training to perform professional child welfare services. Differs from Child Welfare Specialist 1 by the absence of independence in the performance of assigned duties.

Job Duties and Other Information

EXAMPLES LISTED BELOW INCLUDE BRIEF SAMPLES OF COMMON DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS JOB TITLE. PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL TASKS ARE INCLUDED. Under very close supervision, may perform the following duties based upon program assignment:

• Foster Care Participates in developing case plans and objectives in family team conferences and agency staffings, and prepares cases for presentation to the multi-disciplinary team for consultation. Provides supportive counseling and other supportive services for clients and arranges for the provision of services from community resources based on the case plan. Interviews clients and families and composes correspondence to compile social histories and psychosocial assessments. Prepares and submits appropriate reports to the court and the district attorney on cases in compliance with state laws and agency policy, prepares and submits necessary affidavits, and testifies in court proceedings. Conducts regular home visits to assess safety factors and works with the family toward reunification or some other permanent placement for the child. Searches for relatives and locates, selects, and oversees the most appropriate placement or change of placement for a child.
• Child Protection Investigation Obtains identifying information, determines if the report meets intake requirements as established by state law, determines the current status of the child and/or adult to evaluate extent of danger/risk, determines priority level of report, and prepares complaint form. Investigate allegations of abuse and/or neglect of children and/or adults in accordance with agency policy and state law. Provides those services required for the child's immediate safety. May serve on 24-hour on-call duty to respond to child abuse and/or neglect reports.
• Family Services Assesses needs in response to identified problems with particular focus on those affecting the parent/child relationship, parenting ability, or other factors contributing to the abusive and/or neglectful environment in the family. Conducts regular home visits with the family to assess safety and risk factors and determine further treatment needs. Develops a case plan with the family to address identified issues and to link the family to community resources.

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career. As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:

• Insurance Coverage More information can be found at
• Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave More information can be found at
• Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:
• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor State employees earn sick