DCS Case Worker 1 & 2 & 3 - Several Counties
Job Overview
Summary: Under general supervision, is responsible for professional case management work of routine difficulty, and performs related work as required.
Distinguishing Features: This is the trainee/entry level class in the DCS Case Manager job series. An employee in this class learns to perform a variety of case management duties for children under State supervision, in State custody, or at risk of State custody, and their families. This class differs from DCS Case Manager 2* in that an incumbent of the latter is fully trained and functions at the working level.
* An applicant appointed to this flexibly staffed class will be reclassified to the next higher class in the series after successful completion of a mandatory one-year training period; inadequate or marginal performance during the training period will result in automatic demotion or termination.
Work Activities
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:
- Learns and adheres to departmental policy.
- Learns to complete all training hours as required by the Department.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems:
- Learns to determine if abuse or neglect has occurred, who the abuser is, the level of risk or harm to the child, and the need for a safety plan.
- Learns to make recommendations for reunification or termination of parental rights.
- Learns to monitor adoptive and foster families to check the compatibility of the child with the family.
- Learns to actively listen to concerns to make appropriate referrals.
- Learns to coordinate and observe visitations for children in and out-of-home placements to ensure meaningful visitations.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:
- Learns to prepare to participate and testify in court proceedings.
- Learns to recruit adoptive/foster parents.
Getting Information:
- Learns to conduct intake interviews with individuals reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.
- Learns to conduct interviews with child's family and collateral contacts (e.g. principals, neighbors, doctors, etc.).
- Learns to gather demographic information on the child and family (e.g. Genogram, Ecomap, Lexus Nexus, etc.).
- Learns to gather complete and accurate information (e.g. child's school records, psychological evaluation report or medical examination results.).
- Learns to locate and identify natural, formal, and informal supports.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:
- Learns to recognize and acknowledge the rights of families.
Documenting/Recording Information:
- Learns to document accurate information from an interview.
- Learns to prepare reports for court.
Analyzing Data or Information:
- Learns to conduct ongoing assessments of all incoming information.
- Learns to complete required assessments in a timely manner (e.g. Family Functional, CANS, YLS, FAST, etc.).
Scheduling Work and Activities:
- Works flexible hours including weekends, holidays, and after hours.
- Learns to regularly conduct home visits to assess the safety of homes.
- Learns to conduct multiple and on-going face-to-face visits with children, resources families, providers, kinship home and other relevant entities.
- Learns to schedule appointments as necessary and needed.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:
- Learns to communicate effectively what the issues are to build solutions.
- Learns to engage with children and families to build a trustful relationship.
- Learns to encourage clients to be self-sufficient to overcome barriers and achieve permanency.
- Learns to regularly conduct home visits to assess the safety of homes.
- Learns to conduct multiple and on-going face-to-face visits with children, resource families, providers kinship homes and other relevant entities.
- Learns to arrive on time and prepared for meetings.
- Learns to respond timely, appropriately and respectfully with families, providers, and co-workers.
- Learns to respond timely to fill-up with action steps.
Assisting and Caring for Others:
- Learns to transport children to various appointments, safely and securely.
- Learns to assist child in preparing for placement (e.g. adoption, reunification, permanent guardianship, etc.).
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiation with Others:
- Learns to address inappropriate behaviors and/or actions with clients, service providers, resource parents, etc.
Developing and Building Teams:
- Learns to convene and identify members for a Child and Family Team Meetings that will work collaboratively with the Case Manager to develop action steps and goals to be accomplished by the child and family.
- Learns to participate as an active member of a team; support and rely on team members for additional knowledge and help when needed.
Interacting with Computers:
- Learns to operate computer programs (e.g. Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, departmental systems for entering child welfare information (TFACTS), etc.).
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:
- Learns to review and explain relevant documents to clients.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment:
- Learns to operate office machinery.
- Learns how to scan documents, operate a camera.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public:
- Learns to make referrals for service providers.
- Learns to work collaboratively with law enforcement officials and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Learns to train adoptive/foster parents and community.
- Learns to work with service providers to receive information.
Performing General Physical Activities:
- Learns to administer drug screens analysis.
Performing Administrative Activities:
- Learns to maintain and update case files.
- Learns to obtain appropriate signatures on required documents.
- Learns to answer and return all correspondence in a timely manner.
Location: Several counties such as Overton, Davidson, Cumberland, Putnam, Macon, Warren, Sevier, Monroe, Anderson, Knox, Henry, Dickson, Sumner, Montgomery, Robertson, and Rutherford