2nd Shift CWS Case Manager - Investigations / 61069738

State of South Carolina; West Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 47,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

South Carolina Department of Social Services is seeking a CWS Case Manager for the 2nd shift in the Child Welfare Investigations unit. The role involves conducting initial investigations of reports of child abuse/neglect and providing services to at-risk children and families.

You will perform case management, safety assessments, and develop safety plans as needed. You will collaborate with law enforcement and legal teams, engage families with empathy, and maintain comprehensive documentation in

Qualifications

• Uses critical thinking to assess safety and risk.
• Engages families with empathy and respect during investigations.
• Maintains and documents case activity per DSS policy.

Responsibilities

• Conducts timely initial investigations of child abuse/neglect.
• Performs case management to ensure safety, permanency and well-being.
• Responds to intakes and conducts initial safety assessments.
• Engages absent parents/relatives in the Child Welfare Team (CFT).
• Recommends services and documents on the Family Permanency Plan.
• Maintains case records in CAPSS with timely updates.
• Completes required child welfare training (20 hours yearly).
• Performs on-call duties and emergency shelter duties as assigned.

Skills

Critical thinking

Empathy

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work/Behavioral Science/Social Science

Bachelor's degree in any field + 1 year experience

Master's degree may substitute for experience

Tools

FAST assessment

CAPSS system

Job description

SPECIAL NOTICE: This is a 2nd shift position

Do you have a passion to provide meaningful work in the community?

Would you like to be part of an organization whose central mission is helping to protect, stabilize and strengthen the lives of children, families, and vulnerable adults? Then the South Carolina Department of Social Services has the right job opportunity for you.

Job Duties:

• The CWS Case Manager- Investigations performs case management in the Child Welfare area of Investigations (2nd Shift) in accordance with DSS Policy, Mission and GPS Practice Model. Conducting timely initial investigations of reports of child abuse and neglect and offering services to children and families who may have experienced or are at risk of experiencing child maltreatment. Performs on-call duties as assigned.
• Performs case management (i.e., contacts, visitation, case planning) to a caseload of children and families to ensure safety, permanency and well-being. Responds to assigned intakes within identified time frames to conduct initial safety assessments of the family and home using the comprehensive Family Advocacy and Support Tool (FAST). Utilizes critical thinking skills to determine whether there are safety threats or a level of risk that constitutes child abuse or neglect under South Carolina Law. Develops safety plan when appropriate to reduce safety concerns identified in FAST assessment.
• Authentically engages families, other professionals within the agency, and external partners with empathy and respect; to include timely responses to telephone calls, emails, and texts. Collaborates closely with law enforcement and legal when safety concerns are present. Completes legal packets when case has been identified as needing legal action or an EPC has occurred.
• Makes concerted efforts to locate and engage absent parents, relatives and fictive kin to support and join the child and family team (CFT). Participates in initial CFT meetings and ensures youth and families feel heard and have a voice in the teaming process.
• Recommends intervention services or activities to strengthen the family and safely maintain the child(ren) in the home based on the initial assessment of safety and makes timely service referrals. Documents recommended intervention services or activities on the Family Permanency Plan.
• Maintains physical and electronic case record by composing clear, objective, and thorough documentation covering pertinent details of case activities per DSS policy and the GPS Practice Model. Ensures all case management activities are documented in CAPSS system according to time frames established by DSS policy. Ensures documentation meets quality standards and captures necessary elements pertinent to safety, permanency, well-being, and case planning.
• Maintains child welfare certification. Completes 20 hours of training yearly to include certifications that are required yearly.
• Maintains an active routine of self-care and pursues support when necessary to minimize the threat of secondary trauma to physical and mental health. Understands the impact of trauma on families and secondary trauma on child welfare staff and applies principles to support families.
• Ensures that personal identifying information (PII) is properly used, accessed, gathered, shared and disposed. Protects the agency networks and applications by safeguarding systems, equipment and data.
• Performs Red Cross shelter duty or other emergency shelter duties/services as directed.
• Other duties as assigned.

A Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Behavioral Science, or Social Science.

A Bachelor's Degree in any other field and one (1) year experience in a related field.

A Master's Degree or higher may be substituted for the required work experience.

Must possess a valid driver's license and have access to and be able to operate a motor vehicle. Individuals must comply with necessary field work assignments. This is a second shift position: Monday - Friday: 1:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

If you certify, by completion and submission of this application, that you possess educational credentials that qualify you for the available DSS positions, you will be required to provide a certified official transcript, if you are selected for job offer.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs

DIVISION: Child Welfare Services / Lexington County

*Important Salary Information*

With the recent implementation of the Child Welfare salary plan funded by the General Assembly beginning in July 2021, front line case managers and team leaders (supervisors) will not only earn higher starting salaries when joining DSS than in previous years, but will also enjoy supplements to their starting salaries upon completion of training and competencies, attainment of BSW/MSW degrees for front line case managers, annual increases for years of continuous service, and salary increases upon attainment of established competencies/certifications for moving into Level 2 and Level 3 salaries.

New Child Welfare case managers will earn a starting salary of at least $46,635 during initial certification, depending on education level and degree type, with up-front starting salary supplements of 2.5% ($47,802) and 5% ($48,966) for candidates holding a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, and 10% ($51,298) for team leaders (supervisors), respectively. Following completion of training certification, assignment of caseloads with one year of completed experience, quarterly adjustments will be made to move successful trainees into the Level 1 salary bracket and will receive at least a 15% salary increase (adjusting their salary to $53,899, $55,248 or $56,508 depending on degree type), and $59,287 for team leaders (supervisors) at that time.

Annual salary increases of up to 0.50% per year will be awarded on a quarterly basis for each consecutive year a Level 1 case manager remains in his/her class/position.

In January of 2022, DSS rolled out additional opportunities for case managers to progress from Level 1 to Levels 2 and 3, with increases in salary averaging 2.5% for each increase in the case manager’s level of expertise under the salary plan. Level 2 and 3 child welfare staff will also see accelerated annual increases of 1% to 1.5% per year awarded for each continuous year served in his/her class/position. Progression from Level 1 to Levels 2 and 3 requires completion of specified requirements in the Advancement Pathway which include additional training, skill development, and practice model aligned competencies that increase in complexity as the career path progresses. Case reviews, data compliance reviews, field observations and employee self-assessments are used by supervisors to evaluate eligible employees’ demonstration of competencies and skills prior to approval to advance to the subsequent level.