DCS CASE MANAGER 1* - 10132026-81816

State of Tennessee; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Tennessee seeks a DCS Case Manager 1 in Nashville, TN. This trainee/entry-level role handles professional case management for children under state supervision or at risk of custody, with mandatory one-year training and possible reclassification after training.

Responsibilities include conducting home visits, interviews, and coordinating safety plans, while maintaining documentation and testifying in court as needed. Flexibility to work non-traditional hours is required.

Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.
• Experience/Qualities: Requires good moral character, no felony conviction, valid driver's license, ability to pass background checks and pre-employment drug screening.
• Candidate must be at least 21 years old and a U.S. citizen.

Responsibilities

• Determines if abuse or neglect has occurred and assesses risk to the child.
• Maintains case files and prepares for court proceedings.
• Conducts interviews, collects records, and assesses home conditions.
• Works flexible hours, including weekends and after hours; coordinates visits and transport.
• Communicates with families to support permanency and child safety.

Skills

Time Management

Active Learning and Listening

Complex Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Electronic Devices

Computers

Motor Vehicles

Job description

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 10/13/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Job Information

Opening Date/Time 10/13/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Closing Date/Time 10/26/2026 11:59PM Central Time

Salary (Monthly) $3,762.00 - $4,703.00

Salary (Annually) $45,144.00 - $56,436.00

Job Type Full-Time

City, State Location Nashville, TN Knoxville, TN Murfreesboro, TN Tullahoma, TN Manchester, TN Oak Ridge, TN Winchester, TN Shelbyville, TN LaFollette, TN Franklin, TN Clarksville, TN Chattanooga, TN Mt. Juliet, TN Maryville, TN Columbia, TN Sevierville, TN Morristown, TN Johnson City, TN Carthage, TN Cleveland, TN Athens, TN Kingsport, TN Lenior, TN Sweetwater, TN Oak Ridge, TN Oneida, TN Rutledge, TN Greeneville, TN Ripley, TN Ashland City, TN Jackson, TN Memphis, TN

Department Children's Services

LOCATION OF (200) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, DAVIDSON COUNTY

A Certified Transcript Is Required.

This classification, DCS Case Manager 1*, currently has an in-range salary of $4,217.00 monthly/$50,604.00 yearly.

A criminal background, drug, and motor vehicle records (MVR) screening will be conducted prior to employment. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.

Necessary Special Qualifications

• Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on the date of application;
• Be a citizen of the United States;
• Possess a valid driver's license prior to and during employment;
• Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation;
• Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
• Have no conviction for a felony;
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointment authority;
• Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check;
• Submit to and pass a pre-employment screening test for use of illegal drugs.

Overview

This classification is responsible for professional case management work of routine difficulty and performs related work as required. 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.

Responsibilities

• Determines if abuse or neglect has occurred, who the abuser is, the level of risk or harm to the child, determines the need for a safety plan, makes recommendations regarding permanency, monitors adoptive and foster families, recruits foster parents, conducts home visits, and coordinates/observes visitation.
• Maintains documentation for case files and other required documentation. Prepares for, participates and testifies in court proceedings.
• Conducts interviews with alleged child victims, individuals reporting alleged abuse or child neglect, child's family, and collateral contacts; gathers required information such as school records, demographic information, medical exam/psychological information, etc., identifies supports for children and families, administers client drug screens; and conducts required assessments/ assessments of home. Conducts face-to-face visits with children, resource families, providers, kinship homes, and other relevant entities.
• Works flexible hours including weekends, holidays, and after hours. Schedules appointments, meetings, visitation with children on caseload. Transports children to various appointments safely, assists children in preparing for placement, and sitting with children who are awaiting placement.
• Communicates effectively and timely with others, engages with children and families to build trustful relationships, encourages clients to overcome barriers and achieve permanency, explains parental rights and other relevant documents to families, responds timely to families, providers, co-workers and supervision.
• Convenes and identifies members for Child and Family Team Meetings to work collaboratively with all Child and Family Team Meeting participants. Develops action steps and goals to be accomplished by the Team.
• Works within communities by making referrals to service providers on behalf of clients; collaborates with law enforcement officials and multi-disciplinary teams; trains foster parents, adoptive parents and community.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies

• Decision Quality
• Action Oriented
• Customer Focus
• Manages Conflict
• Communicates Effectively

Knowledge

• Clerical
• Customer and Personal Service

Skills

• Time Management
• Active Learning and Listening
• Complex Problem Solving

Abilities

• Written Comprehension
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning

Tools & Equipment

• Electronic Devices
• Computers
• Motor Vehicles