Social Services Unit Supervisor

State-of-Missour; Cape Girardeau (MO); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Missouri Department of Social Services seeks a foster care case manager based in Cape Girardeau County to advocate for safety, reunification, and stable homes for children in care.

Key duties include assessing needs, developing case plans, coordinating services, and maintaining confidential records, with possible travel within Missouri and participation in court proceedings. On-call duties may apply as part of the rotation.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent with 9+ years of professional experience in protective services.
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field preferred; substitutions allowed; professional experience may substitute for education.

Responsibilities

• Assess the needs of children and connect them to services.
• Develop and implement individualized case plans for children and parents with a multidisciplinary team.
• Assist biological parents with reunification goals and coordinate foster care, adoptions, and family-centered services.
• Ensure placements comply with guidelines and conduct in-home visits to monitor safety and well-being.
• Provide routine support and crisis intervention for foster families during placement challenges.
• Coordinate family support team meetings and liaise with schools, healthcare providers, and legal representatives.
• Maintain detailed, confidential client records and prepare legal documents and testimony for court hearings.

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field

Job description

Job Location: The position will be based in the 32nd Circuit - Cape Girardeau County

Individual(s) selected for this position may receive a higher rate based on a pay differential (e.g. shift, or time-of-service pay).

The Department of Social Services partners with families and communities to protect children, rehabilitate youth and move families to self-sufficiency so that Missourians can lead safe, healthy and productive lives.

A foster care case manager performs many essential functions within the child welfare system. They advocate for and assure safety of children, guide biological parents, support relative and foster families, connect people to services, and participate in the court process. They play a critical role in promoting family reunification or securing other safe, permanent homes when needed.

• Assess the needs of children and connect them to services.
• Develop and implement individualized case plans for children and parents in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.
• Assist biological parents with achieving reunification goals.

• Ensure children’s placements comply with child welfare guidelines, best-interest principles, and court requirements. Conduct in-home visits to monitor a child's safety and well-being.
• Provide routine support and crisis intervention for foster families when placement challenges arise.

• Facilitate communication and visitation between children in foster care and their biological families.
• Coordinate and facilitate family support team meetings, liaising between schools, community and healthcare providers, and legal representatives.

• Maintain accurate, detailed, and confidential client records, case notes, and specialized reports.
• Prepare legal documents, attend court hearings, and provide testimony regarding the child and family status.
• Assist in assuring safety of children served in other program areas as designated by agency leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or High School Equivalent and Nine or more years of professional experience with a public or private agency in the delivery of protective services, including casework/case management in: investigation of abuse or neglect; coordination of foster care, adoptions, and family centered services; treatment/rehabilitation; and/or providing in-home family crisis intervention services, and possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license.

OR

• One or more years of experience as a Social Services Specialist (III) or Senior Social Services Specialist with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System.

OR

• Three or more years of experience as an Associate Social Services Specialist and/or Social Services Specialist (II) with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System.

OR

• ABachelor’sdegree from an accredited college or university preferably a degree in Social Work or comparable human services field (Substitutions allowed);and,

Five or more yearsof professional experience with a public or private agency in the delivery of protective services, including casework/case management in: investigation of abuse or neglect; coordination of foster care, adoptions, and family centered services; treatment/rehabilitation; and/or providing in-home family crisis intervention services, and possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license.

(A combination of earned credit hours from an accredited college or university in the preferred fields such as social work, family and child development, special education, psychology, sociology, or related behavioral sciences and experience described may substitute for the stated qualifications. 30 credit hours are equivalent to 1 year of experience. Professional experience as described must be of a substantial period of time (over 50% of time)).

(Lack of post-secondary education will not be used as the sole basis denying consideration to any applicant)

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to travel throughout the State of Missouri as needed
• Availability to be in the "on call" rotation one weekend a month.
• Training, certification, and/or education in leadership and continuous process improvement programs (e.g. Lean Six Sigma) is preferred.

The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here.