Family Services Specialist

State of South Dakota; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 31,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Annual leave and holidays

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The Department of Social Services / Child Protection Services in Sioux Falls, SD is seeking a full-time case worker to perform safety assessments, intervention services, and placement planning for children in out-of-home care or in-home safety plans. Expect collaboration with courts and relatives to secure safe, stable outcomes.

Qualifications include a preferred bachelor's degree in a human service field, strong communication, and the ability to handle high-stress situations with sensitivity

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a human service-related field preferred.
• Ability to work with families from diverse backgrounds and manage safety assessments.
• Background check and abuse/neglect screening required.

Responsibilities

• Complete assessments with families alleged to have maltreated children.
• Provide intervention services after safety determinations.
• Arrange out-of-home or in-home safety plans as needed.
• Work with the court system and testify when required.
• Identify and locate relatives for placement resources.
• Respond to emergencies on a 24-hour basis.

Skills

Relationship building

Active listening

Data systems usage

Documentation

Time management

Initiative / critical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job ID: 38499

Agency: Department of Social Services / Child Protection Services

Location: Sioux Falls, SD

Salary: $27.00 Hourly, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: I

Closing Date: 11.30.26

This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the Department of Social Services. For more information on the DSS, please visit https://dss.sd.gov .

Summary

The Division of Child Protection Services impacts children and families’ lives every day by assessing safety, providing intervention, and securing stability for children. If you are committed to helping children and families; have excellent customer service, communication, and problem-solving skills; and are dedicated to achieving positive outcomes for children and families, this may be an opportunity for you to make a difference in a child’s life.

This position is responsible for completing assessments with families from diverse economic, educational, and cultural backgrounds alleged to have maltreated their children including analysis of danger threats to children; providing intervention services with families after a determination has occurred that conditions in the home threaten child safety; providing ongoing safety management through out of home placement of child or an in home safety plan when children remain in the home; working with the court system including testifying when children are placed in the custody of the state; finding foster and adoptive homes for children; recommending placements; monitoring children placed in out of home care; case planning; assessing needs of resource families and providing support services; identifying and locating relatives for possible placement resources for children placed in out of home care; responding to emergencies regarding reports of alleged child abuse and/or neglect on a 24 hour basis.

Working Conditions

Duties are performed in a variety of settings ranging from departmental offices to client homes to courtrooms. An applicant may encounter high-level stress and emotional situations, strong differences of opinion, and exposure to physical danger and contagious diseases. This position works with families who have been traumatized by sexual abuse, neglect, physical abuse, and/or emotional maltreatment. This position requires lifting up to 30 pounds in a safe manner. Applicants may be required to work a flexible schedule which may include evening, night, holiday, and weekend hours. Crisis or case situations can occur at any time which may require evening and weekend responses. Considerable field travel may be required to include overnight travel. This position requires a valid driver's license.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

• a bachelor's degree in a human service-related field is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Of

• establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships and demonstrate compassion, respect, courtesy, and tact when interacting with others;
• actively listen, elicit needed information and communicate information effectively and accurately, both orally and in writing;
• utilize computerized data and technology systems;
• prepare clear and concise documentation, reports, and correspondence that reflect relevant facts;
• utilize time management skills and prioritization of multiple demands in a fast-paced environment;
• assume initiative with minimal supervision while utilizing critical thinking skills.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment.

Successful applicant(s) will undergo an abuse and neglect screening.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration

Telephone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"