Job Information
Department of Human Services DHS/DFCS/CW Social Services Specialist 1 - 00165970 in Swainsboro, Georgia
[Pay Grade: G [**[This position has designated special entry salary that is non-negotiable.[(With a Bachelors degree the special entry salary is $42,387.99; with a[Masters Degree in abehavioral sciencespecial entry salary is[$45,926.79[) [Under general supervision, the Social Services Specialist 1 provides investigative and comprehensive case management for a caseload involving child/adult abuse or neglect. Makes immediate and follow-up actions for at risk clients in need of protective services and/or placement.
Roles and Responsibilities]{helvetica="" neue",="" helvetica,="" arial,="" sans-serif"=""}]{helvetica="" neue",="" helvetica,="" arial,="" sans-serif="" !important"=""}]{helvetica="" neue",="" helvetica,="" arial,="" sans-serif="" !important"=""}]{helvetica="" neue",="" helvetica,="" arial,="" sans-serif="" !important"=""}]{helvetica="" neue",="" helvetica,="" arial,="" sans-serif="" !important"=""}]{helvetica="" neue",="" helvetica,="" arial,="" sans-serif="" !important"=""}**]{helvetica="" neue",="" helvetica,="" arial,="" sans-serif"=""}]{helvetica="" neue",="" helvetica,="" arial,="" sans-serif"=""}
- Initiates timely, face-to-face responses to screened-in reports of alleged child maltreatment and conducts assessments that identify and address safety concerns.
- Addresses identified safety concerns by immediately developing and implementing safety plans.
- Conducts diligent search efforts to locate the child/family when unable to make contact.
- Implements Solution Based Casework (SBC).
- Partners with child(ren) and parents in the development and utilization of the Family Functioning Agreement, Action Plan, and Family Plan to achieve desired individual and family-level outcomes.
- Completes genograms to identify available family support network.
- Collaborates with community partners to create systems of support for children and families.
- Ensures that frequency and quality of visits with children and families are adequate to ensure safety, permanency, and well-being.
- Identifies the physical, educational, and mental/behavioral health needs of children, parents, and foster parents and ensures identified needs were effectively addressed.
- Establishes permanency goals for the child(ren).
- Ensures foster care placements and/or living situations are stable and in the best interests of the child(ren) and are consistent with achieving established permanency goal(s).
- Makes concerted efforts to achieve permanency for children in a timely manner and consistent with regulations contained in the Adoptions and Safe Families Act.
- Ensures that siblings in foster care are placed together unless a separation is necessary to meet the needs of one of the siblings.
- Maintains child's connections to his or her neighborhood, community, faith, extended family, tribe, school, and friends.
- Promotes, supports, and otherwise maintains a positive and nurturing relationship between the child(ren) in care and their biological parents/caretakers by encouraging and facilitating activities and interactions beyond visitation.
- Documents case management activities within time frames established by policy.
- Celebrates positive outcomes with child(ren) and family.
- Utilizes privately owned vehicle for work-related travel and duties (including transportation of children).
- Routinely serves on after-hours on-call duty.
- Embraces ongoing learning and professional development opportunities.