Response Worker

Montech Inc; Minnesota; On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Montech Inc. is seeking a Response Worker to support the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Human Services, Red Lake Nation.

The role conducts child protection investigations from intake through findings, employing trauma-informed practices and coordinating with Tribal and federal partners. On-site at Red Lake Agency with satellite offices; travel across the reservation and to off-reservation placements, courts and trainings.

Qualifications

• Education: degree in social work, psychology, or related field.
• Experience: at least two years in CPS investigations or child protection.
• Ability to conduct interviews with children and families using trauma-informed approaches.

Responsibilities

• Responds to investigations within SOP priority timeframes.
• Interviews the child victim, other children, non-offending caregiver, and alleged perpetrator; coordinates collateral contacts.
• Completes safety risk assessments and identifies imminent danger.
• Initiates immediate safety actions and notifies supervisors when needed.
• Conducts joint investigations with tribal law enforcement and other partners.
• Drafts investigation summaries and recommended outcomes for federal approval within 15 days.
• Leads complex court work and testifies as required.

Education

Associate degree or higher in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, human services, criminal justice, or related field

Tools

FASS-CMS Cloud

Job description

Montech Inc. is a leader in business support solutions, offering professional and technical services for federal and state clients, tribal governments, and commercial customers. Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Montech Inc. has employees who perform work in multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington and Texas. Established in 2011, we are a U.S. SBA 8(a) Program Graduate, a Minority Owned Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE), and Woman-Owned Small Business.

Montech Inc. currently recruits for over 90 different labor categories. Montech Inc. has established strict screening, hiring and retention processes to provide our customers with the best technical support staff. Our team is passionate about the work we do and the important missions we support. We pride ourselves on being a responsible partner our customers can count on for reliable performance and outstanding customer service.

Overview

Montech Inc. is seeking a highly qualified Response Worker to provide support to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Division of Human Services, Red Lake Nation. This position investigates suspected child abuse or neglect, assesses safety and risk, recommends protective actions, documents cases in FASS-CMS Cloud, and supports Tribal Court proceedings using culturally responsive, trauma-informed practices.

Place of Performance

On-site at BIA Red Lake Agency in Red Lake, Minnesota. Personnel will also work from satellite offices on the Red Lake Reservation and in the field throughout the Reservation. Personnel travel to off reservation placements, courts and trainings as required.

Hours of Operation

Personnel shall perform between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week. Each shift is eight (8) paid hours with a 30-minute unpaid lunch. On-call support on weeknights and weekends as needed.

Summary of Responsibilities and Measuring Success

The Response Worker conducts timely, thorough child protective services investigations from intake through findings and case transfer. Success is measured by meeting required response timelines, completing accurate safety and risk assessments, protecting children through appropriate field actions, maintaining complete documentation in FASS-CMS Cloud, coordinating effectively with Tribal, federal, law enforcement, court, and community partners, and supporting legally sound Tribal Court proceedings using culturally responsive, trauma-informed practices.

Daily Tasks/Responsibilities

• Timely Response: Starts each assigned investigation within the SOP priority timeframes: for Priority 1, face-to-face contact with the child within 2 hours of the Priority 1 assignment and a home visit on the same calendar day; for Priority 2, face-to-face contact and a home visit within 3 calendar days; for Priority 3, investigation started within 7 calendar days.
• Interviews: Interviews the alleged child victim, the other children in the home, the non-offending parent or caregiver, and the alleged perpetrator, in that order, and then collateral contacts. Uses developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed techniques. Coordinates forensic interviews with law enforcement and the MDT so that children are not interviewed more often than necessary.
• Assessment: Completes the safety risk assessment and the protective capacities review and identifies imminent and impending danger.
• Immediate Safety Action: When a child faces imminent danger, puts an immediate safety plan in place with the family in the field and notifies the BIA Social Services Program Manager right away. When a child is in a life-threatening situation, contacts law enforcement.
• Emergency Placement Items: When a child is placed in an emergency and lacks essentials, buys what the child needs right away, such as clothing, diapers or a toothbrush.
• Joint Investigations: Conducts joint investigations with Red Lake tribal law enforcement, the BIA Office of Justice Services and the FBI, as applicable. Preserves information needed for criminal proceedings without compromising the child protection assessment.
• Findings: Drafts the investigation summary and a recommended outcome of substantiated, unsubstantiated or indicated, for federal approval within 15 days. Recommends whether to close, refer to services, or open a case. Where a case opens, works alongside the assigned Child Welfare Case Worker and prepares a transfer summary when the Child Welfare Case Worker is assigned.
• Court: Leads the court work through the EPC hearing, which the Red Lake Nation Tribal Court holds within 72 hours of a removal, not counting weekends and federal and tribal holidays. Drafts the facts for the petition and the supporting affidavit. Attends later hearings as needed and testifies on the investigation until the court rules on the petition. Testifies as a fact witness in Red Lake Nation Tribal Court and, where required, federal court.
• Specialized Cases: Investigates cases involving substance-exposed infants, including coordination of 72-hour holds for infants born off the reservation; sexual abuse; serious physical injury; child fatalities and near-fatalities; and allegations in foster homes.
• Coordination: Presents cases at the CPT and the U.S. Attorney's Office MDT.
• Field Safety: Works in pairs on field visits when feasible, carries naloxone, and follows the Field Safety Plan.

Qualifications

The Response Worker shall possess the following qualifications:

Education: Associate degree or higher in social work, sociology, psychology, counseling, human services, criminal justice, or another behavioral or social science from a recognized accredited institution.

Experience: At least two years of CPS investigative work or child protection casework, including joint law-enforcement investigations and court testimony.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Montech Inc. is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity (EEO) in any term, condition, or privilege of employment. The Company prohibits unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age (40 and over), race, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, sexual identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws.

This job description is not all inclusive of the tasks that may be assigned to the Response Worker.