Child Welfare Case Worker (Social Service Specialist 1) Bilingual Preferred English/Spanish

About the role

The Oregon Department of Human Services seeks two (2) openings for Child Welfare Case Workers (Social Service Specialist 1) in The Dalles office. Positions include a Permanency Worker and a Combined Permanency/Child Protective Service Worker.

Responsibilities

• Support families by helping them achieve their goals while ensuring child safety.
• Work with diverse families, including American Indian/Alaskan Native communities, collaborating with tribal entities and community partners.
• Engage effectively with children, families, resource parents, and caregivers using a trauma-informed and antiracist approach to achieve safety and optimal outcomes.
• Create and implement strategies that leverage family strengths and address areas needing improvement.
• Conduct home visits, complete legal documentation, attend court hearings, and address child safety issues.
• Balance the needs of the child and family while adhering to legal requirements.
• Establish meaningful relationships with families to understand their dynamics and support their unique needs.
• Respond to referrals and determine whether child abuse or neglect has occurred.
• Gather information through interviews with parents and children.
• Observe and analyze the safety of home environments.
• Gather collateral information from school personnel, doctors, therapists, and law enforcement officers.
• Fulfill documentation requirements and enter information into databases.
• Arrange medical evaluations and substitute care placement for children.
• Present and testify in court.

Requirements

• Minimum qualifications as per ORS 419B.021.
• A bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a related field, or an associate degree with relevant experience and training.
• Experience collaborating with diverse individuals and groups to identify solutions that support child safety and meet policy requirements.
• Experience applying trauma-informed practices and building effective partnerships with children, parents, community organizations, agency staff, and affected communities.
• Demonstrated ability to use time-management, organizational, and prioritization skills to consistently meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of child development principles and the impact of parental actions and choices.
• Prior transferrable experience assessing the safety of children, assessing the protective capabilities of parents/caregivers, and developing service and concurrent plans.

Qualifications

• Bilingual in Spanish and English (preferred).

Skills

• Collaboration with diverse individuals and groups.
• Application of trauma-informed practices.
• Development of analytical documents.
• Time-management and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of child development principles.
• Assessment of child safety and protective capabilities.

Benefits

• Cost of Living Adjustments.
• Annual salary increases (until reaching the top of the salary range).
• Amazing benefits package.
• Possibility of eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Pay

$4,954.00 - $7,592.00 per month.

Schedule

Monday - Friday from 8 am - 5 pm PT; hours may fluctuate based on service needs. Occasional compensated overtime during evening and weekend work may be required. The Combined CPS/Perm position will be required to participate in an on-call rotation for mandatory on-call for child protective services. Frequent travel is required. Some travel may be hours away and in hazardous weather conditions. You may interact with a wide range of people including some who have experienced trauma and may exhibit challenges in controlling their emotions. Walking into stressful situations that may require quick decision-making skills to ensure safety of those being serviced and own physical safety. This may also be trauma-inducing.

Contact Information

We invite you to contact the recruiter for accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), application questions or job-specific questions. The recruiter for this position is Yvette Medford. Please include the REQ# when corresponding. Email: yvette.c.medford@odhs.oregon.gov Phone (call or text): 541-709-0306