Family Case Manager

About the role

The Family Case Manager position within the Department of Child Services focuses on protecting families and children from abuse and neglect, maintaining or reunifying families, and ensuring a permanent home for children when necessary.

Responsibilities

• Investigate reported incidents of child abuse, neglect, or dependency, determine if substantiated, and develop recommendations for Juvenile Court or County Director.
• Assess the level of risk to the child and remove them from the family if necessary, placing them in a protected environment.
• Perform needs assessments to determine treatment options for families and children.
• Testify and prepare pre-dispositional and progress reports, maintain case files, and develop briefing reports for the community child protection team.
• Develop informal adjustment plans with families and children to divert them from the juvenile justice system.
• Develop case plans to assist families and children to become more self-sufficient and ensure a permanent home for the child.
• Develop discharge/transition programming to assist families and children to attain and maintain self-sufficiency.
• Maintain data to help management evaluate trends in family and child needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, or a related field, or Associate degree with at least two (2) years of human services job experience, or Completion of thirty (30) college credit hours from an accredited institution with at least four (4) years of human services job experience, or A minimum of five (5) years of human services job experience.
• Advanced knowledge of principles and practices of social work, casework, sociology, and group and individual counseling.
• Thorough knowledge of state and/or federal laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards affecting child protection services, foster care, family preservation, and adoption.
• Specialized knowledge of the interrelationships of the various behavioral sciences as they affect care and treatment of patients/clients and/or objectives of social work projects.
• Ability to investigate and interview alleged victims and perpetrators of child abuse or neglect.
• Ability to formulate and monitor project guidelines or treatment plans.
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate reports.
• Ability to work with families of diverse cultural/ethnic backgrounds with sensitivity to differences in child rearing practices, relationships, and needs.
• Ability to work with children with special needs such as mental or emotional conditions, foster families, and professionals providing services to them.
• Able to exercise sound judgment while managing crises situations including those involving confrontational, aggressive adults being investigated for child abuse or neglect.

Qualifications

• Must maintain a valid driver's license.

Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

Benefits

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage), vision, and dental plans.
• Wellness Rewards Program.
• Health savings account with employer match.
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plans.
• Comprehensive leave policies.
• Group life insurance.
• Free parking for most positions.
• Free LinkedIn Learning access.

Pay

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $47,320.00 but may be commensurate with education or work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.

Schedule

This role is based in South Bend, Indiana, and will serve St. Joseph County and surrounding counties as needed.