FULL-TIME JOB OPPORTUNITY

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Position:  Social Service Worker 2

Full time – minimum starting wage: $16.40 per hour                      

Division:  Child & Adult Protective Services                           

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Ashland County DJFS is seeking highly motivated, compassionate, and dedicated individuals to join our team in ensuring child safety while promoting family growth and accountability.

Primary Duties (non-exclusive):  Duties include: receiving and investigating allegations of child or adult abuse or neglect; maintaining a caseload of abuse/neglect cases; preparing cases for judicial or administrative reviews; providing court testimony; preparing and maintaining forms and correspondence; meeting deadlines; and ensuring compliance with state and federal mandates for children and adult protective services.

Position Description / Job Duties in order of Importance 

65%
Investigates allegations of abuse and neglect of children and/or older adults and/or maintains a caseload of children and families who have previously been determined to require the protective assistance service of the agency (on-going clients) as determined to be appropriate by the Court or Agency; Manages caseload of foster care and/or adoption assessments and placements; Makes regular monthly visits as required; Meets procedural deadlines governing the management of social services cases set by the State of Ohio and ensures that this documentation is complete; Serves as on-call social service worker (e.g on weekends, holidays and after business hours). 

20%
Prepares assigned cases for administrative or judicial procedures as required; Participates in legal actions and testifies in court; Performs Day Care licensing duties; Works with law enforcement to process cases as needed; Plans, develops and/or implements comprehensive agency service programs (e.g. drug abuse, prevention, elder care, homemaker skills, social skills, anger management and hospital after care programs).

15%
Assists with the determination of eligibility, of the child or the child's caretakes, for Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) services by providing information and gathering documents from clients; Screening or assessment of needed services, providing program information and gathering documents from clients; Screening or assessment of needed services, providing program information, referral and linking to services such as family preservation services, domestic violence services, parenting, training, substance abuse treatment and counseling; Serves on internal and/or external committees and attends various agency meetings.  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

Knowledge
Abuse and neglect fo children and older adults; Federal/State and local laws regarding child/older adult abuse and neglect and/or foster care and/or adoption assessments and placements; Agency or State computer systems (e.g. SACWIS, Ohio Benefits, etc.); Community services available; Case plans; Counseling practices; Police procedures regarding remvoing a child or older adult from a home; Writing legal documents; Filing legal documents; Intake procedures; Interviewing practices; Office practices and procedures; Administrative practices; Placement procedures for clients; Agency filing systems; Practices and procedures involving the removal of a child or older adult from a home (paperwork, notification of parents, etc.); Procedures for placing a child in a foster home (e.g. paperwork, preparing child for placement, etc.); Visitation rules and regulations, Typing principles; Investigation procedures applicable to case assignments (e.g. completing appropriate documentation of case and court documents, investigation reports of abuse/neglect etc.) Writing/documentation (e.g. inspections and correspondence): Adjudication Hearings; Preparing court witnesses; Administrative and semi-annual reviews to monitor progress toward case plan; Filing documentation of cases; Compiling evidence for permanent custody hearings; Paperwork for adoption proceedings; Expert witness testimony (e.g. serving as case representative during trials, assists lawyers, etc.) Court procedures; Training and development practices (e.g. provider training) Legal guardianship actions related to older adults; Geriatric and/or adoption and/or foster care assessments; Guardian and/or adoption and/or foster care processes and procedures; Procedural deadlines governing the management of Social Services cases set by the State of Ohio; Documentation required to meet procedural deadlines; Report writing and requirements; On-call status and procedures; Evaluation methods involving children, adults and families; Court orders and procedures; Foster care procedures and policies; Internal or external committees; Public education programs related to the abuse or neglect of children and older adults; Social Service Programs basic eligibility; Automobile operation.  

Skills
Organization; Writing (e.g. legal documents); Computer operation; Interviewing; Advising; Public speaking; Public relations; Typing; Oral communication; Driving.

Abilities
Perform Intake duties; Evaluate children, adults and families; Work with other; Give or exchange facts and information regarding the abuse and neglect of children and/or older adults; Maintain and update accurate records; Develop case plans; Write and file court documents; Interview families and/or medical personnel in the course of an investigation; Notify police department in the event of a crime; Comprehend written materials (e.g. reviewing file histories); Consult team members concerning situations and possible courses of action; Answer routine questions/inquiries; Explain situations, processes, etc., to others; Complete forms (e.g. verification requests); Work independently; Work with mentally or physically challenged individuals; Work with children and older adults; Prepare paperwork for placement of a child or older adult; Evaluate situations for potential dangers; Arrange for visitations between children and family members; Monitor visitations between children and family members; Write up case notes; Modify case plans; Remove a child from a home with order from police; Bring child to facility for assessment; Remove and older adult from a home; Work with mentally and/or physically challenged individuals; Determine client eligibility for services; Document and file case investigations; Protect other from injury (e.g. ensure children and older adults are properly care for); Ensure all required paperwork, visits, et., are filed or completed to meet state or agency deadlines; Operate computer including specialized software; Write reports; Prepare paperwork and witnesses for court; Compile evidence; Participate in legal actions; Serve as an expert witness; Serve as case representative during trials; Answer questions/inquiries; Make referrals to other agencies; Recruit and certify new providers or foster/adoptive parents; Arrange for an provide various training sessions for new providers or foster/adoptive parents; Serve as an on-call worker; Respond to calls from Law Enforcement, Medical Providers; Foster Parents, et., relating to child or older adult issues; Arrange for foster care; Listen, participate or chair at internal or external committees or meetings; Develop and administer public education programs related to abuse and neglect of children and older adults; Operate a motor vehicle. 

Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Social Services or a related field. 
- A valid Ohio Driver's License / acceptable driving record, negative drug test and appropriate criminal background check. 

Ohio Revised Code/ Section 5153.122 requires each Social Service Worker 2 to complete at least ninety hours of in-service training during the first year of continuous employment/consisting of courses in recognizing and preventing child abuse and neglect/ assessing risks/interviewing persons/investigating cases, Intervening/providing services to children and their families/ and other topics relevant to child abuse and neglect.  After the first year of continuous employment, each Social Service Worker 2 annually shall complete thirty-six hours of training in areas relevant to the assigned duties.  

Unusual Working Conditions / Hazards
This position possesses responsibility for the safety of children or adults by requiring the incumbent to make determinations as to whether these children or adults are in an "Imminent risk of harm."  These children and adults are incapable of protecting themselves from physical, mental, and/or sexual abuse.  Injuries, if they do occur are likely to involve temporary disabilities such as bruises or cuts.  Serious mistakes in terms of failing to remove children or adults from homes could conceivably, although extremely infrequent case death (e.g. suicide) or a permanent disability.

Additionally, the position involves performing duties which require taking some special safety precautions, such as when contacting and negotiating with a family suspected of child abuse or neglect.  Exposure to these situations is likely to result in threats of injury, which are rarely acted upon.  However, the position involves regular exposure to environmental factors (e.g. cold, excessive heat, noise, fumes, vibration, dirt) during interviews and meetings conducted outside of the office.  The position may involve lifting or carrying children, and exposure to contagious disease. 

Additional Qualifications: (1) Bachelor's degree in social work or a related field (2) A valid Ohio driver's license (3) All positions are subject to employment verification, criminal background check, fingerprinting, alcohol and drug screening, motor vehicle report check, and approval by the Ashland County Commissioners.

WHY WORK FOR ACDJFS???

• Health Care Benefits
• Flexible Scheduling
• Educational Incentives
• Generous Leave - personal leave available for immediate use; compensatory time; vacation time; sick leave incentive program allowing accrual of additional leave or pay every 90 days.
• Longevity Pay Increases
• OPERS
• Positive and supportive environment

How to Apply: 
Interested candidates should submit: (1) a cover letter (2) a resume (3) a list with three professional references (4) and a completed civil service application to Dawn Souslin via email:  Dawn.Souslin2@jfs.ohio.gov
OR by mail at: 15 West Fourth St., Ashland, Oh 44805.

www.ashlandjfs.org

Ashland County JFS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, religion, age, disability, or military status in employment or the provision of services.