Social Worker II

Job Summary

Performs highly responsible and professional social work involving a wide variety of responsibilities. Assignments may involve foster care or childcare licensing. Provides a full range of social work services to clients of a particular program area. Tasks involve evaluating and monitoring care facilities, ensuring the safety of children and vulnerable adults, and facilitating out of home placements. The incumbent represents the needs of clients through active participation in community and collaborative groups.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Recruitment and Intake for Licensing Programs
• Acts on behalf of the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services to assess applicants, recommending licensure or denial of licensure for foster care and family or group family childcare program applicants.
• Coordinates and conducts orientation to review program requirements, rules, statutes, and provides guidance through the licensing process.
• For foster care, works with both traditional and relative/kin applicants.
• Initial Licensing and Re-Licensing
• Provides education, skill development problem solving ideas, support, and resources to licensed programs assisting them to advocate for themselves and their program.
• Supports, educates, and assists licensed providers in meeting the licensing requirements and obtaining optimum quality through the provision of ongoing technical assistance and consultation when caring for children or vulnerable adults.
• Monitors ongoing compliance with state and federal requirements for childcare and foster care programs.
• Verifies licensed programs that care for children and vulnerable adults have required backup plans, safety plans, and emergency plans to assist in times of crisis to influence positive outcomes.
• Licensing Support and Monitoring
• Performs professional-level licensing support and monitoring by establishing trusting, helpful,  and supportive relationships with clients/providers to assist development in programs that want to deliver services above and beyond minimal standards while assuring minimum health and safety standards are met.
• Performs ongoing licensing support and monitoring to include client/provider visits, review of statutes and rules including identifying noncompliance with the statute and/or rules and monitoring follow through by provider coming back into compliance. 
• Investigation of Complaints, Corrective Action and Negative Licensing
• Performs intake and screening when a complaint is received to determine potential rule violations.
• Investigates allegations regarding noncompliance with licensing statutes and/or rules. These investigations could include completing a joint investigation with Child Protection and/or law enforcement.
• During the investigation, assesses the risk of harm to children in care, determines if any corrective actions or negative licensing recommendations are needed. Reviews investigation findings with the Department of Human Services and County Attorney.
• Documents investigation findings and submits detailed licensing action recommendations to the Department of Human Services.
• Represents the county or state licensing agency when testifying at appeal hearings in front of an Administrative Law Judge.
• Performs ongoing monitoring of licensed programs that are under a negative licensing action.
• Collaborates with Child Protection Investigator to develop safety plans for children in licensed programs to ensure safety after an investigation and/or in current child protection/child welfare cases as requested.
• Placement Coordination
• Receives placement requests for children and vulnerable adults and conducts a search of in-county and out-of-county potential placement options.
• Uses knowledge of available and appropriate homes to make placement matches for children and vulnerable adults requiring out-of-home placement for safety.
• Works in collaboration with Child Protection or Adoption worker to determine the most appropriate home for children in need of a permanent family and works to facilitate and support those placements.
• Addresses placement complaints, concerns, or crisis situations when engaging with providers and uses communication skills to de-escalate high emotions.
• Maintains working knowledge of federal and dtate laws and regulations related to social work.
• Accesses multiple county and state databases or systems to gather information and record licensing activities.
• Participates in local collaborative and inter-agency meetings and community events.
• Demonstrates an understanding of and respect for the diversity of customers, co-workers, and supervisors, including individuals with a disability or whose first language may be other than English.   
• Works the days and hours necessary to perform all assigned responsibilities and tasks. Must be available (especially during regular business hours or shifts) to communicate with other employees, supervisors, providers and any other person or organization with whom interaction is required to accomplish the work and employer goals.
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Requires equivalency of a Bachelor's Degree in a human service-related field and one year of social work experience. BSW is preferred. Preference given for knowledge and experience in licensing programs. Bi-lingual skills are desirable. One must possess a valid driver's license and a reliable means of transportation for the performance of work responsibilities.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The employee is under general guidance and direction from the Licensing Supervisor. Work is performed according to established professional guidelines and procedures, as well standards and procedures which are determined by county, state, or federal regulations. The employee exercises considerable independent judgment in implementing new work methods and procedures. Work may be reviewed by the Social Services Manager for overall standard of performance.

CORE COMPETENCIES AND ABILITIES

• Customer Service - Delivers government services in a respectful, responsive, and solution-oriented manner.
• Communication - Is always clear about what we're doing and why we're doing it.
• Collaboration - Works with partners – communities, schools, faith groups, private business, and non-profit agencies – to see that services are not duplicated but rather are complimentary, aligned, and provided by the partners who can deliver the service most effectively.
• Stewardship - Works proactively to make investments, guided by resident input, which will transform lives, communities, and government.
• Empowerment - Works with individuals and families to affirm strengths, develop skills, restore hope, and promote self-reliance.
• Resiliency - Fosters public preparedness and responds when families and communities face health and safety emergencies.
• Innovation - Takes informed risks to deliver services more effectively and learns from successes and failures.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of social work.
• Knowledge of agency programs, operations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to conduct interviews.
• Ability to communicate effectively via written documentation, in person or over the telephone.
• Ability to analyze complex case situations to evaluate the needs for support services.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in making decisions and determining when additional case review or action is needed.
• Ability to follow complex verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to use MS Office software for the performance of essential duties.
• Ability to use appropriate discretion in dealing with matters of a confidential nature.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Typical characteristics of the regular, ongoing work environment of this position requires inside work, occurring both in an office and in the field in community-based settings. The position is multi-task oriented and includes periods of stress when balancing the needs/demands of multiple clients. One may be exposed to agitated, upset, aggressive, hostile clients; out of control children and pets; and unknown conditions in office, home-based and community settings. Evening and weekend hours may be required for accomplishing this work.

Physical activities include sedentary to light work: Reaching, sitting, standing, walking, pushing, lifting, pulling, fingering, grasping, feeling, stooping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. Lifts and/or navigates up to 35 pounds on a routine basis in handling files, equipment, and items related to client care necessary for performing the essential duties of the job.

SELECTION PROCESS

Selection for this position will be based on a minimum qualifications screening and rating of training and experience. Top candidates will be forwarded to hiring manager or supervisor for consideration for interview and/or additional assessments. Final selection will include a background check and approval by the County Board.