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Children's Service Worker III

This information is for reference only. These classifications are no longer valid and were replaced 7/1/2020.

  • Children's Service Worker III
  • What will I be doing?
  • Do I qualify?
  • Can I be successful?
  • Benefits
  • How do I apply?
Class Number: 
5182
Annual Salary Range:
$36,360.00 – $57,792.00
Twice-a-Month Salary Range:
$1,515.00 – $2,408.00
Pay Grade: 
06

View Class Specification Document

Definition

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

Job Duties

Serves as lead worker and mentor to other Children’s Service Workers through training and providing advice on case management and interpretation of policies and procedures.

Acts as team lead in case staff meetings; provides ongoing case consultation.

Evaluates children’s needs and eligibility for social services for assigned complex or difficult cases through personal and collateral interviews.

Independently conducts counseling sessions with and/or coordinates services to parents, families, or individuals who experience issues with family functioning, neglect, abuse, employment/career, or a variety of mental health challenges such as substance abuse or mental illness.

Effectively develops community resources and supports that increase safety and provide opportunities for family strengthening, permanency, and well-being.

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

Evaluates the necessity for and facilitates placement of children away from their family 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.

Records initial case activity, maintains case records and ongoing case activity, and completes all required reports.

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

Conducts extensive field work including traveling to client homes, hospitals, alternative placements, court, and transportation of children.

Assigned on-call duty to handle after hours and weekend child abuse and neglect investigations.

Assists supervisor in assigning and directing the work of staff, approving leave, participating in the selection of new workers, and orienting new employees in children’s services.

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

Performs other related work as assigned.

View Class Specification Document

(The following minimum qualifications apply to applicant eligibility. Allowable experience and education substitutions are provided in italics below the corresponding minimum qualification statement. These minimum qualifications may also be used to evaluate employees for Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System positions.) (More specific qualifications may be required for particular positions allocated to this class depending on assigned duties and responsibilities.)

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. A degree in Social Work or comparable human services field is preferred; however, applicants with an unrelated Bachelor’s degree, but possessing direct relevant experience and/or competencies may be allowed substitutions on a case-by-case basis; and,

Three or more years of professional experience with a public or private agency in the delivery of protective children's services including casework/case management in: investigation of abuse or neglect of children; coordination of child foster care, adoptions, and family centered services; juvenile treatment/rehabilitation; and/or providing in-home family crisis intervention services, and possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license.

(A combination of graduate education from an accredited college or university in the preferred fields and experience described may substitute for the stated qualifications.)

 

Special Requirements

The operation of a motor vehicle is an essential function of this classification.  Must be able to legally operate a motor vehicle in the performance of assigned duties upon the date of hire and throughout employment.

Please note that documentation that supports your eligibility (i.e. transcripts, employment records, etc.) may be required at any time during the application and hiring process. If you do not possess the minimum qualifications, please consider one of many other employment opportunities with the State of Missouri.

View Class Specification Document

Key Skills

Do you possess the key skills which are considered essential for successful employment in this classification?

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

Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and methods of social casework.

Comprehensive knowledge of individual and group behavior.

Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and methods of interviewing.

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

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

Comprehensive knowledge of court procedures as they apply to the provision of children’s services.

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

Comprehensive 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 following established rules and procedures with minimal supervision.

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 operate a motor vehicle in the performance of assigned duties.

Ability to use automated office equipment and computer systems including child welfare/case management system, databases, and other personal computer applications.

Ability to communicate effectively.

View Class Specification Document

The following link will provide you with general information about State of Missouri employee benefits.

View benefits

View Class Specification Document