Child Welfare Specialist

Child Protection Services Position

Under the direct supervision of the Child Protection and Licensing Supervisor, this position supports the Nicollet County Health and Human Services department. This position primarily provides child welfare assessments and child welfare case management to ensure the safety, protection, and well-being of children throughout the community. This position completes duties related to judicial process and participates in regular contact with children, parents, extended family, and community resources. This position also provides documentation to establish professional accountability, provides on call services, performs guardianship duties, and participates in professional staff development.

Responsibilities include:

• Assesses the needs of youth alleged to have committed a delinquent act before the age of 13. Gathers additional information and collaborates with law enforcement, family members, and community resources to develop a plan of services to provide for child and community safety
• Assesses the needs of children that have been adopted or are in the permanent custody of a relative/kin after the permanency action
• Assesses child welfare needs of children experiencing school attendance difficulties, runaways, family conflict, minor parents, or other needs that do not require child protective service involvement
• Assesses child safety and imminent danger on an ongoing basis, and implements required safety interventions
• Collaborates with family members as well as community partners including law enforcement, corrections agencies, attorneys, therapists, medical providers, chemical dependency services, housing services, domestic violence services, employment services, schools, and residential treatment providers to assess child and family needs, develop and implement a case plan, and monitor ongoing progress
• Prepares information in connection with court cases, writes court affidavits for Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) petitions and any required court review letters. Testifies in court proceedings, interprets and implements judicial and court findings. Develops and implements placement of children out of the home, when children are in imminent danger
• Participates in regular contact with children and parents. Completes at least monthly visits with all children and parents on the caseload and documents accordingly. Coordinates services with school, other providers, and relatives. Completes structured decision-making tools as required. Consults with the County Attorney and others for court-involved cases
• Meets with children and families in the field to assess safety, risk and family needs
• Provides case management to families with child welfare or child protection needs, including but not limited to the first response to reports of educational neglect, children placed in Minnesota through the Interstate Compact on Children, and children alleged to have committed a delinquent act before the age of 13. Completes assessments of child and family needs. Creates, implements, and monitors case plans with families. Makes referrals and reviews effectiveness of selected services. Identifies, selects, coordinates, and monitors out-of-home placement for children to ensure child and community safety. Acts as legal guardian/custodian for children in foster care or state wards. Provides reasonable or active efforts to prevent placement of children or reunify children with caregivers
• Promotes safety, permanency, and wellbeing of children by offering and coordinating services to prevent future maltreatment, meet the needs of the child, and support family life. Provides information on social services programs
• Performs guardianship duties. Acts as guardian for children who have been declared wards of the State
• Provides after-hour response for emergency and urgent child protection situations. Additionally, provides general intake and emergency on-call social services as assigned
• Demonstrates working knowledge of and follows all County, State, and Federal policies, rules, and regulations. This includes the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA)
• Maintains accounting of time using the Social Services Information System (SSIS) and maintains case records that meet Federal, State, and local guidelines
• Other administrative tasks include staff meetings, staff training, and reflective supervision

Qualifications include:

• Valid MN Driver's license, and
• A bachelor's degree in one (1) of the behavioral sciences or related fields including, but not limited to, social work or psychology, from an accredited college or university

Additional skills and knowledge required:

• Ability to complete Minnesota Child Welfare Foundations training prior to employment, or within first six (6) months of employment
• Ability to identify, address and effectively resolve conflict
• Ability to perform mathematical computations
• Ability to prepare operational records and reports
• Ability to use a computer and related software applications
• Ability to listen, comprehend, and effectively communicate information both written and orally to all individuals.
• Ability to demonstrate by personal example: initiative, integrity, ethics, and excellence in work performance.
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to make critical observations while under stressful circumstances
• Ability to complete thorough documentation and maintain client files
• Ability to comply with data practices policies and standards
• Ability to conduct reports, analyze findings, and prepare documents
• Ability to analyze problems, troubleshoot issues and offer and implement solutions based on research, analysis, experience, and judgment
• Knowledge of and experience with data management systems
• Knowledge of community resources
• Knowledge of recordkeeping principles
• Knowledge of computers and related software applications
• Knowledge and experience of computer hardware, technology, programs and software, and systems generally used in an office environment and specific to the department's operations (i.e. Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat) or similar software
• Knowledge of counseling and education methods and concepts
• Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations
• Skill in using a computer, Microsoft Office and related software applications
• Skill in communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction

Nicollet County offers a competitive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, vision
• Pension plan for retirement
• Employer-paid long-term disability and life insurance
• 11.5 paid holidays
• Generous leave plans
• Public Sector Loan Forgiveness
• Free employee assistance plan service