CWS Team Leader - Permanency / 61129422

State of South Carolina; South Carolina; On-site; USD 42,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision, long-term &amp

Life Insurance

15 days annual leave

15 days sick leave

13 paid holidays

Paid Parental Leave

State retirement plan

Deferred compensation

Job summary

South Carolina Department of Social Services (York County) seeks a CWS Team Leader - Permanency to supervise and coach adoptions staff, ensuring policy fidelity and timely permanency outcomes. You will drive team readiness, supervise documentation, and collaborate with external partners such as GAL and DJJ.

Responsibilities include overseeing CANS assessments, family team meetings, and court-related processes, while maintaining trauma-informed approaches and safeguarding data.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Social Work, Behavioral Science or Social Science.
• BA in related field + 1 year professional human services experience.
• MSW or higher may substitute for work experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervise front line case managers and ensure policy fidelity.
• Lead team meetings and coach staff to improve performance.
• Oversee adoption-related case planning and required documentation.
• Ensure CANS assessments, Family Permanency Plans, and court packets are completed.
• Engage families and partners with empathy and timely communication.
• Administer EPMS planning and evaluation for staff.
• Maintain ongoing training, certifications, and trauma-informed practice.
• Protect PII and safeguard agency data.

Skills

Case management

Leadership

Coaching

Staff development

Education

BSW/BSW equivalent

MSW or related master’s degree

Tools

Training programs

Job description

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 Team Leader - Permanency provides direct supervision to case managers in Child Welfare Service area of Adoptions. Ensures accountability of case managers by conducting case consultations, coaching, training and providing support in accordance with DSS Policy, Agency Mission and GPS Practice Model.
• Supervises front line case managers. Promotes fidelity to policy and procedures by facilitating weekly and monthly meetings. Reviews data reports, monitors policy changes, ensures staff attendance in mandatory trainings, and conducts case reviews to ensure CAPSS reflects up to date case information and quality documentation.
• Ensures completion of a Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment, Child and Family Team meeting, Family Permanency Plan, timely referrals, and all required documents for adoption preparation and finalization in accordance with DSS Policy.
• Promotes timely permanency by providing case consultation per policy to assess ongoing risks and safety concerns and family engagement; works with case managers to identify adoptive resources at the onset of concurrent planning until positive permanency is achieved. Monitors adherence to court orders, identifies and addresses legal barriers that impact timely permanency and legal proceedings, and ensures court packets are submitted timely. Monitors the adherence to federal and state statutes and regulations specific to foster home licensing and adoption.
• Authentically engages families, other professionals within the agency, and external partners (i.e. GAL, Foster Care Review Board, DJJ) with empathy and respect; to include timely responses to telephone calls, emails, and texts. Participates in and/or facilitates child and family team meetings. Responds timely and professionally to constituent inquiries.
• Provides case managers with EPMS planning and evaluation plans. Participates in hiring and training of all new employees. Completes performance and practice evaluations on direct reports biannually and upon request for level ascension. Timely submits evaluations for level ascension.
• Maintains child welfare certification. Completes 20 hours of training yearly to include certifications that are required yearly. Obtains (6 months from date of hire) and maintains Certified Investigator certification. Completes 10 hours of training (of the 20 required annually for child welfare) that are specific to adoption.
• 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 and staff.
• Ensures 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 related field and one (1) year of professional experience in human services or social service programs

A Master's Degree or higher may be substituted for 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.

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 / York 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.