Social Services Unit Supervisor

State of Missouri; Sikeston (MO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined pension plan

Generous leave and holidays

Health insurance eligibility

Job summary

The State of Missouri seeks a foster care case manager to support child welfare, advocate for safety, reunification, and access to services across counties with a base in Sikeston, MO.

The role involves developing individualized plans, coordinating with schools and healthcare, documenting cases, and assisting in court processes to secure safe, permanent homes for children.

Qualifications

• Minimum 9+ years of professional experience in protective services or related fields.
• Experience in casework, child welfare, foster care, adoptions, or family-centered services.
• Ability to pursue and maintain a valid vehicle operator’s license.

Responsibilities

• Assess the needs of children and connect them to services.
• Develop and implement individualized case plans with a multidisciplinary team.
• Assist biological parents with reunification goals.
• Ensure foster placements comply with guidelines and court requirements.
• Conduct in-home visits to monitor safety and well-being.
• Provide routine support and crisis intervention for foster families.
• Coordinate family support team meetings among schools, healthcare providers, and legal reps.
• Maintain confidential client records and specialized reports.
• Prepare legal documents, attend court hearings, and provide testimony.
• Assist in ensuring safety of children across program areas as designated.

Skills

Public agency experience

Case management

Investigation of abuse/neglect

Foster care coordination

Family reunification

Court testimony

In-home family crisis intervention

Driving license

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Documentation & records

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field

Job description

Job Location: For Scott and Mississippi Counties, with home base location being in Sikeston, MO. 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 yearsof 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

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

OR

Five 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. (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.

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