CHILDREN'S SERVICE WORKER II

DEFINITION

This is professional social service work in the Children's Division of the Department of Social Services in the application of direct social work methods with, or on behalf of, children and families in instances of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

This description may not include all of the duties, knowledge, skills, or abilities associated with this classification.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

Evaluates children's needs and eligibility for social services through personal and collateral interviews.

Assists individuals in utilizing available agency and community resources.

Delivers and/or coordinates protective services involving neglected, abused, or exploited children, foster care, parent services, and/or adoptions.

Delivers and/or coordinates services in the child's home or in an alternative placement.

Cooperates with other agencies in serving children and families.

Assists families to attain and maintain their stability through appropriate casework and home management or referral for more skilled counseling treatment.

Provides services which promote healthful child development.

Answers child abuse hotline, takes initial reports, and relays information.

Performs studies of proposed foster and adoptive homes.

Investigates reports of neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children.

Remains available during non-office hours to handle emergency foster care placements.

Serves as the primary case manager when families are served by more than one departmental resource.

Maintains liaison with volunteers at the county level in coordinating the operation of a volunteer program.

Receives referrals from juvenile courts, Family Support Division staff, or other professional or private individuals in the community for protection and care of neglected, abused, or exploited children.

Conducts counseling sessions with and/or coordinates services to parents or individuals who have a variety of psychological and/or behavioral problems including substance abuse, self-destructive behavior, or neglect, abuse, and/or exploitation of children.

Conducts studies and provides treatment services ordered by a court or after referral by agency staff.

Evaluates the necessity for placement of children away from their natural home.

Evaluates the necessity for and facilitates placement of children from their home into temporary foster care when neglect, abuse, or exploitation situations make this necessary.

Provides and/or coordinates skilled supervision and visitation to children in foster, adoptive, relative or family care, or other placements.

Provides consultation to foster parents, and provides advanced continuous casework services to the biological parents in an effort to return the child to the family home.

Interacts with law enforcement and juvenile officers, other public officials, and community organizations regarding family and children issues.

Attends court hearings and meetings related to assigned casework.

Maintains case records and completes all required reports.

Provides skilled casework services to parents to assist them in their personal adjustment and planning for their child.

Exercises significant independence and initiative in the performance of responsibilities; receives general administrative direction.

Performs other related work as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

Intermediate knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to social service programs.

Intermediate knowledge of the principles and methods of social casework.

Intermediate knowledge of individual and group behavior.

Intermediate knowledge of the principles and methods of interviewing.

Intermediate knowledge of the general provisions, objectives, and philosophy of child welfare programs.

Intermediate knowledge of current social, economic, and community health problems.

Intermediate knowledge of court procedures as they apply to the provision of children's services.

Intermediate knowledge of community resources used in the provision of social services.

Intermediate knowledge of the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics for the service population.

Ability to plan and organize time effectively.

Ability to work in a variety of situations and all types of community environments.

Ability to satisfactorily complete an agency training course in the protective service areas to which the employee is assigned.

Ability to interact with and complete assignments in a manner sensitive to the service population's cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

Ability to provide advanced protective services to child welfare clients with a minimum of supervision following established rules and procedures.

Ability to apply principles and methods of social casework to the area of child welfare.

Ability to work effectively with employees, applicants, recipients, other agencies, and the general public.

Ability to exercise good judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions.

Ability to interpret laws and regulations.

Ability to communicate effectively.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

(The following requirements will determine merit system eligibility, experience and education ratings, and may be used to evaluate applicants for Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System positions not requiring selection from merit registers.)

One or more years of experience as a Children's Service Worker I with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System.

OR

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work/Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Psychiatric Nursing, Education, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Family and Child Development, Criminal Justice, Juvenile Justice, or Human Services related fields (e.g., child welfare, mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities); and,

One or more years of professional experience in the delivery of protective children's services (investigation of abuse or neglect of children, child foster care, adoptions, family centered services, and intensive in-home services) in a public or private agency.

OR

A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work/Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Psychiatric Nursing, Education, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Family and Child Development, Criminal Justice, Juvenile Justice, or Human Services related fields (e.g., child welfare, mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities).

(Minor Revision 4/1/09)