CWS Regional Case Manager - Investigations / 61129932

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Long term disability

Life insurance

14 paid holidays

Job summary

The South Carolina Department of Social Services (Division: Child Welfare Services / Colleton County) is seeking a CWS Regional Case Manager - Investigations to perform critical case management for reports of child fatalities. You will assess safety, coordinate family engagement, and collaborate with law enforcement to safeguard children and families.

You will maintain comprehensive records, participate in CFT meetings, pursue required certifications, and handle on-call duties as needed,

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• The CWS Regional Case Manager - Investigations performs case management in the Child Welfare Investigations area for reports of child fatalities and supports contact with Foster Care staff to coordinate visits, search, engagement, and transportation.
• Investigates reports of child fatalities within identified time frames to conduct initial safety assessments using FAST and develops safety plans or recommends intervention services.
• Performs case management activities (contacts, visitation, transportation) to support safety, permanency and well-being of children and families.
• Authentically engages families and professionals with empathy and respect; responds to communications; collaborates with law enforcement and legal when safety concerns exist.
• Locates and engages absent parents, relatives, and fictive kin to join the child and family team and participates in initial CFT meetings.
• Maintains physical and electronic case records per policy and documents required elements in CAPSS; ensures quality documentation.
• Maintains child welfare certification and completes 20 hours of training yearly.
• Understands trauma impact and applies supportive principles to families and staff.
• Protects PII and safeguards agency networks and data.
• Performs Red Cross shelter or other emergency shelter duties as directed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education

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

Job description

Job Responsibilities

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 Regional Case Manager - Investigations, performs case management in the Child Welfare area of Investigations for reports of child fatalities in accordance with DSS Policy, Mission and GPS Practice Model and teams with Foster Care staff to support the occurrence of case manager contacts, family visitation, family search and engagement, and transportation needs. Engages and teams with the county staff to support other needs related to Child Welfare. Performs on-call duties as assigned.
• Investigates reports of child fatalities within identified time frames to conduct initial safety assessments of the family and home using the comprehensive Family Advocacy and Support Tool (FAST) and utilizes critical thinking skills to assess safety threats or a level of risk. Develops safety plan and recommends intervention services or activities to reduce safety concerns identified in FAST assessment. Participates in or coordinates child fatality reviews per policy.
• Performs specific case management activities (contacts, visitation, and transportation) as assigned to support the safety, permanency and well‑being of children and families.
• 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.
• 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. Documents recommended intervention services or activities on the Family Permanency Plan.
• 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.

Minimum And Additional Requirements

• 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.

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 / Colleton 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.

Benefits For State Employees

Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Insurance Benefits

Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits

State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits

State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time‑limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.