Centralized Intake and Emergency Services Family Services Worker - Interim

About the Role

DCF Family Services is recruiting for an Interim Family Services Worker position at the Central Intake & Emergency Services Unit (CIES). CIES is a statewide child protection hotline that operates twenty-four hours a day, every day of the week, including holidays. The unit serves as the child abuse reporting system for the State of Vermont and handles after-hour emergencies related to child abuse and neglect, children in the state's custody, delinquency, and youth with behaviors beyond the control of their caretakers, including coordination of HESOC work.

Duties are performed in an office setting with minimal travel required. Incumbents must have a private means of transportation to the office. CIES is an essential service that functions twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. Incumbents predictably encounter high levels of stress, strong differences of opinion, and potentially exposure to threats of harm. Class incumbents may be required to be on standby status to answer the hotline during night, weekend, and holiday hours.

Responsibilities

• Answer the child protection hotline and gather information from callers about alleged abuse or neglect.
• Document reports of abuse and neglect in the state's reporting system.
• Coordinate the division's after-hour emergency responses.
• Provide guidance and support to District Family Services Workers deployed after-hours to conduct investigations and other responses to emergencies in the community.
• Inform law enforcement about the laws, policies, and procedures that govern child protection and youth justice.
• Coordinate foster care and other placements for children in DCF custody.
• Provide information and referral to foster parents and community agencies.

All employees of the AHS perform their respective functions adhering to four key practices: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships, and results orientation. Work is under the supervision of supervisory staff but with opportunity for individual discretion and judgment.

Schedule

Once trained, the schedule will be:

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: day shift
• Thursday: 4 p.m. to midnight
• Every Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Some regular business-hour shifts may be done remotely after a training period and in accordance with the state's telework policies. Applicants must be willing to work some holidays as needed. This is an interim position with an end date of May 2028.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in social work or a related field.
• OR Associate's degree in human services or a related field AND twelve (12) or more months of experience in human services that includes any combination of the following: casework, crisis intervention, call center information, and referral.
• OR Twelve (12) or more months working in the Family Services Division for the State of Vermont.

Candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position, including Vermont and/or national criminal record checks, DMV checks, and adult and child abuse registry checks, as appropriate.

Benefits

The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation, including:

• 80% State-paid medical premium and a dental plan at no cost for employees and their families.
• Work/Life balance: 12 paid holidays each year and a generous leave plan.
• State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI).
• Two ways to save for retirement: A State-defined benefit pension plan and a deferred compensation 457(b) plan.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Flexible spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts.
• Low-cost group life insurance.
• Incentive-based Wellness Program.
• Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program.