Child Protective Services Worker | Social Service Specialist 1 | Multiple Openings & Locations!

Oregon Inc; Hermiston (OR); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Resource Groups

COLA adjustments

Annual salary increases

Benefits package

Job summary

Oregon Department of Human Services seeks a Child Protective Services Worker to assess reports of abuse or neglect, conduct family interviews, and coordinate safety plans. You will document findings, gather collateral information, and arrange child welfare services.

The role involves court testimony, travel across offices, and working in diverse communities, with on-call rotations and potential overtime. A state benefits package is provided.

Qualifications

• Degree completed before start.
• Driver's license and clean driving record required.
• Bachelor’s in Human Services or related field.
• Non-HS BA with 1 year HS experience or equivalent coursework.
• Associate degree with HS experience or related training/certification.

Responsibilities

• Respond to referrals and determine whether child abuse or neglect has occurred.
• Gather information through interviews with parents and children.
• Observe and analyze the safety of home environments.
• Gather collateral information from school personnel, doctors, therapists, and law enforcement officers.
• Fulfill documentation requirements and enter info into databases.
• Arrange medical evaluations and substitute care placement for children.
• Present and testify in court.

Skills

Verbal and written communication

Record keeping

Client needs assessment

Partnership development

Time management

Computer proficiency

Assess safety of children

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Services or related field

Bachelor's degree unrelated to Human Services + 1 year HS experience or equivalent

Associate degree + 2 years HS experience or 1 year + related training/certification

Job description

Child Protective Services Worker | Social Service Specialist 1 | Multiple Openings & Locations!

Salary Range: $4,954.00 - $7,592.00

Position Type: Employee Position

These positions work in the Hermiston and/or Pendleton offices and communities daily. You will discuss location preference if selected to interview. A Hermiston position will be primarily located at the Child Welfare Hermiston Office. A Pendleton position will be primarily located at the Child Welfare Pendleton Office. A Hermiston Floater position designated as a floater to support both the Hermiston and Pendleton offices with the Hermiston office as the base location. A Pendleton Floater position designated as a floater to support both the Pendleton and Hermiston offices with the Pendleton office as the base location.

Summary of Duties

• Respond to referrals and determine whether child abuse or neglect has occurred.
• Gather information through interviews with parents and children.
• Observe and analyze the safety of home environments.
• Gather collateral information from school personnel, doctors, therapists, and law enforcement officers.
• Fulfill documentation requirements and enter info into databases.
• Arrange medical evaluations and substitute care placement for children.
• Present and testify in court.

Minimum Qualifications

• Degree must be completed, not in progress.
• A valid driver's license and acceptable driving record are required for this position.
• A bachelor's degree in Human Services or a field related to human service.
• OR a bachelor's degree unrelated to Human Services and either: One year of Human Services related experience. Or Completion of coursework equivalent to certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency.
• OR an associate degree and either: Two years of Human Services related experience. Or One year of Human Services related experience and related training, coursework, or certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency.

Essential Attributes

• Demonstrated proficient verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write in plain language and communicate clearly.
• Experience preparing and maintaining thorough records, such as reports, narratives, and observations.
• Experience screening and assessing client's needs to determine appropriate community and culturally responsive resources, as well as partnering agency programs or services.
• Experience engaging and building partnerships with clients (parents & children), community organizations, agency staff, and affected communities.
• Experience organizing tasks, prioritizing responsibilities, and managing time to meet deadlines.
• Experience demonstrating computer proficiency.
• Prior experience assessing safety of children, assessing protective capacities of parents/care givers, and developing case plans.

Working Conditions

Employees work will be conducted in offices, participant's homes, and other community sites. The Floater roles support both the Hermiston and Pendleton offices, travel around the district is part of the assigned job duties. Employee work schedule will be Monday - Friday from 8 am - 5 pm PT; hours may fluctuate based on service needs. Occasional compensated overtime during evening and weekend work may be required. The position will be required to participate in an on-call rotation for mandatory on call for child protective services. Frequent travel is required. Some travel may be hours away. Some travel may be in hazardous weather conditions. You may interact with a wide range of people including some who have experienced trauma and may exhibit challenges in controlling their emotions. Walking into stressful situations that may require quick decision-making skills to ensure safety of those being serviced and own physical safety. This may also be trauma inducing.

Background Checks and Requirements

The Oregon Department of Human Services does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODHS will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States. If selected as a finalist, we will conduct a criminal history and background check. Adverse criminal history or background check may lead to disqualification. Finalists must be cleared by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) through a fingerprint-based criminal records check. Resume and job history will be used to determine your starting salary range. The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process. The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited unless otherwise stated by the hiring agency. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in disqualification.

Benefits

• ODHS Employee Resource Group communities that promote shared learning.
• Cost of Living Adjustments.
• Annual salary increases (until you reach the top of the listed salary range).
• Amazing benefits package.
• Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Employment Preference Veterans' and Oregon National Guard preference: Eligible Veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference.

General Information

This is a permanent, full-time position and is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The salary range listed is the non-PERS monthly salary range. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6.95%. This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification.

Contact Information

Contact Yvette Medford for accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), application questions or job-specific questions. The recruiter for this position is Yvette Medford. Please include the REQ# when corresponding. Email: [e-mail] Phone (call or text): 541-709-0306

About Oregon

Oregon state government is a large organization by nearly any standard. With over 40,000 employees working all over the state, in small communities and large, we are proving that government can be innovative. We work as a team, challenging ourselves to be better, faster and more efficient with taxpayer dollars. After all, when every day we are responsible for caring for the needs of a diverse population and thriving business community, we simply must have the best and brightest workforce. If you take responsibility for your actions, are passionate about helping others succeed, and have a reputation for excellence and honesty, why not make Oregon state government your next career move? Joining our team means you open the door to many possibilities. From entry level to executive, outdoor work to policy setting, we have a role for nearly every calling, expertise and background. If you’re looking at us from across the country (or beyond!), know that Oregon is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Made up of seven diverse regions, Oregon has the ocean, mountains, valleys, high desert, cities, small towns, and almost everything in between. Oregon "flies with her own wings."