Foster Care Licensing Worker

Foster Care Licensing Worker (Social Worker 2)

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of Family Well-Being and Protection, Bureau of Child Protective Services, is seeking a Foster Care Licensing Worker (Social Worker 2) to join our team!

This position will be located in one of the full-time offices in the Northern Iowa Service Area (Waterloo, Allison, Mason City, Adel, Charles City, Webster City, Marshalltown, Ames, or Ft. Dodge).

This is a full-time opportunity, Monday – Friday with typical hours being from 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM with paid overtime as needed. All paid overtime must be pre-approved by leadership.

The primary purpose for this position is to determine resource home eligibility and for the continued assessment of licensed and approved resource families according to the rules and policies as outlined in the Iowa Health and Human Services (Department) Social Services Manual. Timely, accurate, meticulous documentation, reliability and organization is extremely crucial for this position.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Ensure licensing and other activities are in compliance with HHS policies and procedures, State of Iowa Code and administrative rules and Federal rules and regulations
• Determine compliance with licensing/approval requirements at the time of initial application, renewal, changes and throughout the licensing period
• Issuance of the Notice of Action, Notice of Decision, and Foster Care License when the home is in compliance
• Process denial, suspension or revocation of the license when serious non-compliance issues exist
• Represent the Department at Licensing Appeal Hearings
• Participate in local Record Check Committee as needed
• Serve as the licensing resource to Department staff, foster care recruitment and retention contractor, and the community regarding foster care inquiries
• Assess and complete Variance Requests as needed
• Assess and process Waivers of Pre-service Training or Non Safety Licensing Standards
• Maintain current listing of renewal dates for resource families and track timeliness of renewal
• Prepare information and participate in State and Federal Audits
• Develop and implement corrective action plans to resolve compliance issues
• Participate in ongoing training and workgroups relating to the licensing and approval processes as requested
• Participate and collaborate with peers and stakeholders and attend regular local, statewide and external meetings as required.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong observational and analytical skills, as well the ability to respectfully engage families as partners in planning for safety and establish a working relationship with families
• Excellent judgment and communication skills and the ability to provide good written documentation in a timely manner
• The ability to use critical thinking skills, prioritize work and work under pressure
• The ability to use independent judgement to make sound decisions, demonstrate integrity and confidentiality and a strong work ethic.

To ensure the Service Area is providing the best service to the residents of Iowa, applicants should demonstrate exceptional customer service skills, integrity, and a strong work ethic.

Preference will be given for education or experience which correlates directly with the requirements and duties of the position.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
• Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
• Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
• Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

Background Checks

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with "lived experience" and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa View phone number on click.appcast.io TDD).

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees' rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university; OR the equivalent of four years of full-time technical work experience involving direct contact with people in overcoming their social, economic, psychological, or health problems; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time qualifying work experience for one year (thirty semester or equivalent hours) of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years.

Additional Qualification Requirements

Designated positions in this job class require applicants to obtain the required Chauffeurs License and endorsements within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.