Child Protection SW/CM

Responsibilities

• Provides court intake and ongoing responsibilities as outlined in Chapter 48 of the Wisconsin Children’s Code.
• Investigates reports of alleged child maltreatment and unborn child abuse.
• Provides emergency child protection services which may include a referral to Juvenile Court and/or temporary out‑of‑home placement.
• Provides case management responsibility for intake assignments, including prioritization for action when necessary, to assure that safety and service needs are addressed in an effective and timely manner.
• Provides short‑term counseling in physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, emotional damage and unborn child abuse cases when appropriate.
• Handles phone coverage and walk‑in clients during regular business hours to accept referrals of child maltreatment and unborn child abuse.
• Participates in the substantiation appeal process, as required.
• Shares the responsibility for after‑hour coverage on child protection emergencies by being on call on a rotating basis.
• Provides ongoing treatment planning and intervention, including counseling and case management to families where child abuse/neglect exists.
• Plans, prepares and presents pre‑disposition investigative, court review, guardianship and termination of parental rights reports for juvenile court.
• Provides court testimony and supervises dispositional and consent decree orders.
• Completes and maintains necessary documentation according to applicable requirements, codes and policies.
• Follows established initial assessment protocols entering information into the EWISACWIS system by utilizing a computer.
• Attends staff meetings, in‑service and outside‑agency training sessions.
• Performs networking of appropriate and necessary services for families in an efficient and effective manner.
• Maintains and documents diligent efforts to reunite or establish alternative permanency plans.
• Maintains the confidential nature of client and business information.
• Complies with all local, state, and federal laws governing clients and rendering of services.
• Provides ongoing services to children who have been removed from their parental homes and placed in foster care, relative care, or specialized alternate care.
• Contacts are to be on a weekly basis or as defined by treatment plan.
• Provides counseling, instruction, direction and support to relatives, foster families, or private agencies providing alternate care placement for children who have been removed from their parental homes.
• Serves as liaison with care providers, schools, medical and other service providers to assist the care providers in obtaining needed services for children.
• Assesses capabilities of foster parents and other care providers to deal with particular individuals and client groups.
• Assesses, coordinates, and provides Independent Living Services.
• Provides job duties associated with HFS 56, Foster Home Care for Children.
• Provides job duties associated with Kinship Care.
• Participates in public‑relations activities about child protection, e.g., speeches to school and community groups.
• Performs related functions as assigned.

Other Necessary Requirements

• Lifting 25 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Lifting and transporting small children.
• Frequent standing, sitting, walking and driving.
• Using hands/feet for repetitive single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing and pulling, and operating controls.
• Occasional bending, twisting, squatting and grappling; frequent climbing and reaching.
• Communicating orally in a clear manner.
• Distinguishing sounds at various frequencies and volumes.
• Distinguishing people or objects at varied distances under a variety of light conditions.
• Distinguishing physical living conditions at varied distances under a variety of light conditions.

Experience and Qualifications

• Knowledge of casework principles and methods, social systems, family dynamics, group and individual behavior.
• Knowledge of dynamics of child maltreatment.
• Knowledge of professional social work interviewing principles and techniques.
• Knowledge of Wisconsin Children’s Code, Indian Child Welfare Act, and Juvenile Court policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of community resources and ways in which they may be made available to the client.
• Knowledge of child development and child‑rearing skills.
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize a computer and the required software.
• Ability to diagnose and assess human problem situations, specifically in the area of child maltreatment, to set priorities for solutions, and to consider alternative treatment plans.
• Ability to use authority constructively.
• Ability to be decisive and make constructive decisions, under the pressure of crises or emergencies, with the appropriate knowledge and timing.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with a wide variety of collateral resources: law enforcement, Juvenile Court, hospitals, attorneys, schools, etc.
• Ability to plan and organize work and to make effective use of time; ability to understand human behavior and to relate sensitively and effectively with physically abused, physically neglected, sexually abused and emotionally damaged children and their families.
• Ability to establish an effective working relationship with clients who may be resistive, have limited motivation and limited ability to follow through.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with staff and the public.
• Ability to work the required hours of the position.

Brown