DCS CASE MANAGER 4 - 08032026-79828

Location: Department of Children's Services, Lauderdale County, Ripley, TN

One full-time position available. A Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) screening and criminal background check will be conducted prior to employment.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in social work or a related behavioral science field with a child or family focus and experience equivalent to three years of full-time professional child welfare case work, including but not limited to:
  • Social, psychological, or correctional counseling or case management;
  • Volunteer services coordination for a children's service program; and/or
  • Juvenile classification coordination.
• OR Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and experience equivalent to five years of full-time professional child welfare case work, including but not limited to:
  • Social, psychological, or correctional counseling or case management;
  • Volunteer services coordination for a children's service program; and/or
  • Juvenile classification coordination.

Necessary Special Qualifications:

• Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on the date of application;
• Be a citizen of the United States;
• Possess a valid driver's license prior to and during employment;
• Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation;
• Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
• Have no conviction for a felony;
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointment authority;
• Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint-based criminal history records check;
• Submit to and pass a pre-employment screening test for use of illegal drugs.

About the Role

This classification is responsible for professional case management supervisory work of average difficulty. This is the first full supervisory class in the DCS Case Manager job series. An employee in this class supervises staff providing case management services for children under the State's supervision, in State custody, or at risk of State custody, and their families.

Responsibilities

• Assists case managers in determining if abuse or neglect has occurred, the level of risk or harm to the child, and the need for a safety plan. Makes recommendations regarding permanency, reunification, and/or termination of parental rights.
• Assesses underlying needs and core family concerns to address key issues ensuring safety.
• Reviews and assesses cases for closure or transfer based on knowledge and policy requirements.
• Assigns cases and work assignments through TFACTS, providing feedback on performance to subordinates, including professional development opportunities and/or corrective action.
• Analyzes data, response times, overdue reports, Child and Family Team Meetings, placement reports, resource home reports, EPSDT and dental, face-to-face visits, and utilizes SharePoint and Excel to track child welfare outcomes.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary teams including Child Protective Services Investigative Team, Foster Care Review Board, and Community Advisory Board to gain a global perspective about case planning decisions.
• Interprets the meaning and intent of policies and procedures for staff, community partners, and clients.
• Discusses case information with subordinates to guide the decision-making process regarding case needs, resource allocation, and outcomes.
• Coaches subordinates on understanding underlying needs and core family concerns to ensure client safety.
• Conducts case conferences with subordinates to provide guidance, feedback, direction, and next steps to promote safety, permanency, and well-being for DCS clients.
• Ensures subordinates follow policy guidelines for entering case documentation and meet policy requirements for expected completion.
• Reviews and monitors ongoing assessments of subordinates to ensure quality case management.
• Documents discussions with staff including Employee Performance Briefings (EPBs) and case conferences.
• Tracks, creates, and communicates reports on regional data to ensure state and federal compliance.
• Ensures information provided to internal and external entities is accurate with needed and required details for decision-makers such as courts.
• Works flexible hours including weekends, holidays, and after hours.
• Schedules appointments, meetings, and visitations with children on caseload.
• Transports children to various appointments safely, assists children in preparing for placement, and sits with children awaiting placement.
• Communicates effectively and timely with others, engages with children and families to build trustful relationships, encourages clients to overcome barriers and achieve permanency.
• Explains parental rights and other relevant documents to families, responds timely to families, providers, co-workers, and supervision.
• Works within communities by making referrals to service providers on behalf of clients, collaborates with law enforcement officials and multi-disciplinary teams, and trains foster parents, adoptive parents, and the community.

Skills

Competencies:

• Decision Quality
• Directs Work
• Drives Results
• Develops Talent
• Communicates Effectively

Knowledge:

• Clerical
• Customer and Personal Service
• Personnel and Human Resources

Skills:

• Time Management
• Active Learning and Listening
• Complex Problem Solving
• Coordination
• Critical Thinking

Abilities:

• Written Comprehension
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning

Tools & Equipment:

• Electronic devices
• Computers
• Motor vehicle

Pay

Monthly Salary: $4,672.00 - $7,015.00

Annual Salary: $56,064.00 - $84,180.00

Schedule

Full-time. Flexible hours including weekends, holidays, and after hours.