Child and Family Service Specialist Trainee-Overnight Hotline

State of Nebraska • Omaha, NE

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Health & Human Services is hiring Child and Family Service Specialist Trainees for its Hotline team in Omaha, Nebraska. Hotline Specialists answer and receive abuse and neglect calls and reports submitted by phone, mail, eFax, website, and email, and ensure information reaches the appropriate departments. There are two full-time openings. Work hours will be daytime for at least the first few months, followed by an overnight schedule of 11:00 PM–7:30 AM, Monday through Friday, with alternate weekends and some holidays.

The hiring rate is $22.327 per hour, increasing to $26.183 after training. The role involves gathering information from callers and collateral contacts, assessing urgency and immediate safety needs, using the SDM Intake tool to make screening and priority decisions, and coordinating with law enforcement and local DHHS offices. Specialists may also provide de-escalation, referrals, technical assistance, and support. Promotion to the Child and Family Services classification depends on completing degree requirements and required training.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, human development, mental health care, education, criminal justice, or another closely related area; applicants in the final semester of a bachelor's degree may be considered.
• Successful completion of degree requirements and required training is necessary for promotion to the Child and Family Services classification.
• Ability to provide independent travel to occasional training.
• Knowledge of principles and practices in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, human development, mental health, education, criminal justice, or a related applied social or behavioral science area.
• Ability to protect confidential information and listen to and understand communications.
• Ability to communicate electronically, on paper, or in person to exchange case information and assessments.
• Ability to learn and apply direct case management principles and practices, including assessment and analysis of critical information.
• Ability to work effectively with families and individuals, community service providers, law enforcement, courts, legal systems, and advocates.
• Ability to work overnight hours, participate in weekend rotation, and work holidays.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of child support experience.
• Training in SDM IA and Intake.
• Knowledge of NFOCUS.
• At least one year of experience working with children and families.
• Experience in child welfare or case management; internships with human services or child welfare agencies are also considered.
• Demonstrated ability to handle high levels of stress and emotionally volatile situations.
• Problem-solving skills and resiliency.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively manage time and deadlines.
• Experience with Structured Decision Making (SDM) and Safety Organized Practice (SOP).

Responsibilities

• Answer and receive abuse and neglect hotline calls and reports submitted by mail, eFax, website, and email.
• Gather necessary information from callers using professional interviewing skills and seek collateral information from others.
• Provide customer service to callers, collateral contacts, professionals, law enforcement, and other stakeholders.
• Assess the urgency of calls and ensure appropriate law enforcement and HHS response to immediate safety concerns for children and vulnerable adults.
• Provide phone-based de-escalation and assessment, and make referrals to community agencies, resources, or other information as needed.
• Assess child, youth, and vulnerable adult safety, permanency, and well-being while making reasonable efforts to preserve, strengthen, and maintain family unity.
• Review accessible information in NFOCUS and other data sources to assess history and risk factors associated with abuse and neglect reports.
• Analyze gathered information and apply the SDM Intake tool to make screening and priority decisions and determine immediate safety actions.
• Contact law enforcement as needed and distribute intakes to the appropriate law enforcement agency and local DHHS office.
• Make required contacts for priority 1 intakes and ensure law enforcement is informed of community crime and immediate safety issues.
• Provide technical assistance and support.
• Organize and maintain case records and communicate case information and assessments with customers, coworkers, supervisors, and staff.
• Work effectively with community service providers, law enforcement, courts and legal systems, and families or advocates of vulnerable adults.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package, with eligibility varying by position, agency, and employment status.
• Paid time off.
• Retirement benefits.
• Professional development opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level