Child and Family Service Specialist Trainee-Hotline -Overnight Shift

About the role

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hiring outstanding individuals to join our Hotline team. Hotline Specialists are essential to getting information sent to the correct departments. Hours will be days for at least the first few months and then will transition to an overnight shift (11:00 PM–7:30 AM), including some weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Answer and receive all abuse and neglect hotline calls and reports via mail, eFax, website, and email.
• Gather necessary information from incoming callers using professional interviewing skills and seek collateral information from others.
• Provide customer service to callers, collateral contacts, professionals, law enforcement, and other stakeholders.
• Use critical analysis to determine the urgency of calls and ensure proper law enforcement and HHS response for immediate safety of children and vulnerable adults.
• Provide de-escalation, assessment over the phone, and referrals to community agencies or resources as needed.
• Assess and ensure child, youth, and vulnerable adult safety, permanency, and well-being while making reasonable efforts to preserve and strengthen family unity.
• Review accessible information in NFOCUS and other data sources to assess history and risk factors involved with abuse and neglect reports.
• Analyze gathered information and apply the SDM Intake tool to make screening and priority decisions, including determining immediate safety actions.
• Contact law enforcement as needed and distribute intakes to proper law enforcement and local DHHS offices.
• Make all necessary contacts for priority 1 intakes and ensure law enforcement is informed of community crime and immediate safety issues.
• Provide technical assistance and support.
• Work non-traditional hours, shifts, and holidays as required.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, human development, mental health care, education, criminal justice, or another closely related area. Consideration will be given to applicants enrolled in the final semester of their Bachelor's degree.
• Promotion to the Child and Family Services Classification is contingent on successful completion of degree requirements and required training.
• Ability to provide independent travel to occasional training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of child support experience, SDM IA and Intake trained, or knowledge of NFocus.
• At least one year of experience working with children and families.
• Experience in child welfare and/or case management; internships with human services/child welfare agencies will also be considered.
• Demonstrated ability to handle high levels of stress and emotionally volatile situations, problem-solving skills, and resiliency.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to effectively manage time and deadlines.
• Experience with SDM (Structured Decision Making) and SOP (Safety Organized Practice) is a plus.

Skills

• Knowledge of principles and practices of social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, human development, mental health, education, criminal justice, or related areas of applied social/behavioral sciences.
• Ability to learn the importance of commitment to individuals and families, and the value of families/individuals having normal life experiences consistent with age, gender, culture, and community setting.
• Ability to protect confidential information and communicate effectively (electronically, on paper, or in person) with customers, co-workers, supervisors, and staff.
• Ability to work effectively with community service providers, law enforcement, the court and legal systems, and vulnerable adults’ families and/or advocates.
• Ability to organize and maintain case records, and apply principles and practices of direct case management, including assessment and analysis of critical information.

Pay

Starting rate is $22.327 per hour and will increase to $26.183 per hour after training.

Schedule

• Initial training period: Daytime hours.
• Permanent shift: 11:00 PM–7:30 AM, including weekends and holidays.

Benefits

The State of Nebraska offers a comprehensive package including pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement, and professional development opportunities. Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency, and employment status. For more information, visit the State of Nebraska benefits page.