Child Protection Specialist (Region 2 - North Central)

State of Montana • Great Falls, MT

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Child and Family Services Division, is hiring a Child Protection Specialist to support Region 2. The specialist engages directly with families facing a range of challenges, investigates child abuse, and provides support, advocacy, and connections to resources. The work can involve complex and sometimes hostile situations requiring empathy, resiliency, and an understanding of social systems.

The role requires frequent travel, in-home visits, and interviews; travel may include out-of-state trips, so the employee must be willing to obtain appropriate travel documents. Although the position has a standard schedule, critical business needs may require evening, weekend, or holiday work. The employee will also participate in a rotating on-call schedule. Partial telework within Montana may be available under conditions set by the supervisor and state policy. Region 2 includes Great Falls, Conrad, Cut Bank, and Havre; work locations vary according to availability and community needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, psychology, or a related field.
• Two years of social services or directly related work experience with children and families in difficult and sometimes volatile situations.
• Ability to make critical decisions by integrating information from multiple sources, including discrepant information, in high-stress situations.
• Ability to engage children and families under difficult circumstances to gather enough information for accurate and precise decisions.
• Ability to remain calm when confronted and to develop and maintain constructive, cooperative working relationships, including with people who may be angry or violent or hold differing views.
• Ability to operate a personal computer and general office equipment, including spreadsheet, word-processing, database, email, internet, and other computer programs.
• Willingness to obtain appropriate travel documents for work-related travel, which may include out-of-state travel.
• Must submit a state application, cover letter, resume, and references; successful applicants must pass relevant background and reference checks before an offer is extended.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with tribal government entities and/or other organizations of Native peoples.
• Knowledge of child development, child maltreatment prevention and treatment, and family-centered social work practice.
• Demonstrated stress tolerance, including the ability to deal calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
• Self-management skills, including setting realistic goals, showing initiative and commitment, working with minimal supervision, and completing assignments in a timely manner.
• Sound, well-informed, and objective decision-making, including understanding the impact of decisions and taking action in uncertain situations to achieve organizational goals.
• Advocacy skills, including presenting clients’, youths’, and/or customers’ interests.
• Teamwork skills, including encouraging cooperation, trust, and commitment toward shared goals.

Responsibilities

• Conduct timely assessments of child maltreatment reports in accordance with state and federal statutes and agency policy, using standardized safety assessment tools and decision-making guides.
• Carry a caseload and keep case-file documentation current.
• Work collaboratively with law enforcement, other welfare professionals, and agencies.
• Prepare for and testify in court, preliminary hearings, multidisciplinary team meetings, family partnership meetings, and court hearings.
• Place children in out-of-home care when necessary, ensuring placements are safe, comply with statutory and policy preferences, and serve the children's best interests.
• Identify available resources and connect families and children to them.
• Ensure children are evaluated and assessed to determine medical and psychological needs throughout the case.
• Prepare assessments and case plans, evaluate participants' progress, and make and monitor appropriate placements.
• Conduct in-home visits and interviews and travel as required.
• Participate in a rotating on-call schedule.

Benefits

• Healthcare coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation
• Sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Work/life balance
• Eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
• Advancement opportunities

What This Job Offers

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