Lead Social Worker – Initial Assessment

About the role

The Wood County Human Services Department, River Block location, has an opening for a full-time (.97 FTE) Initial Assessment Lead Social Worker position. The Initial Assessment Lead Social Worker will serve as a specialist in Child Protective Services and will provide consultation and support to Initial Assessment social workers and case managers in making critical case determinations within the statutory time frame for children and families. This position will also carry a reduced Initial Assessment caseload as compared to other members of the Initial Assessment Team. The position will ensure safety while upholding statutes, standards and the Wisconsin Child Welfare Model of Practice. The work is performed under the immediate direction of the Access and Initial Assessment Supervisor with additional oversight.

Responsibilities

• Use Social Work methods, principles, strengths-based approaches, and interviewing techniques to assess for safety in cases of alleged maltreatment; establish rapport with parents and family to obtain adequate information to identify safety threats or risk factors and determine if formal interventions are warranted.
• Develop cooperative working relationships with community systems involved with treatment of the child and family; assist the family in obtaining needed services.
• Provide services to children at risk of abuse and neglect and their families; prepare court reports and provide testimony.
• Manage workload to ensure compliance with required paperwork through Court Reports and eWiSACWIS documentation per Wisconsin State Statutes, Child Protective Services Access and Initial Assessment Standards, Child Protective Services Safety Intervention Standards and internal processes.
• Function as a team member with staff throughout Human Services, school personnel, placement providers, court officials, volunteers, law enforcement, and treatment and service providers.
• Participate in a rotating paid on-call system to respond to emergent situations outside of traditional business hours, including weekends and holidays.
• Know and practice the Safety policies of the County; perform all job tasks in a safe and prescribed manner.
• Exemplify the Wood County Core Values and serve with courtesy and respect in accordance with the Wood County Code of Conduct.
• Train and coach new and existing staff and interns; provide individual field training including consultations and training on abuse or neglect of children and adolescents, documentation, interviewing, court, maltreatment and effects of maltreatment, safety, protocols and procedures, navigating Child Protective Services Access and Initial Assessment Standards, Safety Standards, Ongoing Services Standards, Wisconsin Statutes, and the initial assessment process.
• Provide backup access screening and approvals for supervisor.
• Provide technical guidance around investigative and assessment activities; cover court hearings as needed; assist in supervising safety in case consultation; monitor revisions of Protective Plans as required; review case records and provide feedback to social workers/case managers.
• Assist the supervisor with developing administrative issuances and protocols, performance measures, and other strategic process improvements.
• Conduct community education training for outside agencies; create PowerPoint presentations, organize and facilitate trainings.
• Attend Department staff meetings, appropriate training and education, and supervisory conferences; represent the County in a professional manner to all clients, professionals and community members.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Master’s Degree preferred for field supervision of Title IV-E MSW students, or a directly related field.
• Possession of, or eligibility for, Social Work Certification in accordance with Wisconsin Chapter 457.08.
• Five years of experience working with children and families in an area related to child welfare preferred.
• Ability and proficiency in the use of a ten-key calculator and entering data into a computer terminal, consistent with established Department standards.
• Basic everyday living skills; ability to understand and follow oral and written directions; reading, writing, adding and subtracting for maintaining files and budgeting procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with the public in a professional and courteous manner and to work with professional staff as part of a team.
• This position requires travel to and from off-campus sites and the transport of clients; individuals may use personal vehicles or other reliable transportation.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with individuals and groups.

Benefits

• Health Insurance with low premiums and low deductibles, with excellent coverage.
• Dental Insurance.
• Vision Insurance.
• Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) with consistently recognized top public retirement plan.
• 457 deferred compensation plan.
• On-Site Training and Continuing Education Credits.
• Vacation and Sick Time accrued from first day.
• Paid Holidays.
• Flexible Spending Account to set aside pre-tax dollars for childcare and medical expenses.
• Life Insurance.
• Short and Long-Term Disability.
• Wellness Incentive Plan.
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program eligibility.

Pay

$69,033.90 to $78,101.40 annually.