Child Protective Services (Social Service Specialist 1)

State of Oregon•Portland, OR

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Oregon Department of Human Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are guided by our Equity North Star and our vision for a positive RiSE organizational culture that advances equity and diversity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA2S+ community members, and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. Opportunity awaits! Are you passionate about engaging with families and communities? Are you committed to ensuring the well-being of others and offering them support? Would you enjoy working with a team that is dedicated to serving children, families, and communities? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Summary of Duties As a Child Protective Services, you will: Respond to assigned referrals regarding alleged child abuse or neglect when a field assessment is necessary. The CPS worker determines whether or not abuse or neglect has occurred, identifies child safety threats and develops protective actions and ongoing safety plans when children would be unsafe without intervention of the agency. CPS Assessment Workers respond to assigned referrals of alleged child abuse/neglect in which children are alleged to be unsafe. Assessment activities as outlined in the procedure manual include the following: Conduct child interviews Conduct parent interviews Gather collateral interviews including review of pertinent documents Observation of the home environment Make determination whether abuse or neglect has occurred and take protection when appropriate. Additional assessment-related activities that include but are not limited to: Arrange medical evaluation of children Arrange substitute care placement of children Attend court hearings related to CPS assessments Conduct documentation activities including but not limited to: Entering assessment information in the FACIS system Completing referral information for assessment evaluations Completing necessary court related information including petition work sheets, court reports, affidavits, etc. Completing Protective Action documentation

Requirements

A valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record are required for this position.
A bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a field related to human services; OR A bachelor’s degree unrelated to Human Services AND either One year of Human Services related experience; OR Completion of coursework equivalent to certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency; OR An associate degree AND either: Two years of Human Services related experience; OR One year of Human Services related experience and related training, coursework, or certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency.
Experience screening & assessing clients appropriate community referral or eligibility for programs related to human services.
Experience preparing and maintaining narrative documentation of the activities concerning individual client cases.
Experience working with diverse populations and ability to adapt communication and service approaches to meet the varied needs of individuals, families, and communities.
Experience communicating effectively with people over the telephone, in writing and in person.
Experience using computer systems and software to complete work accurately and efficiently, while managing competing priorities, maintaining attention to detail, and meeting established deadlines.
A COVER LETTER IS REQUIRED. Clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials.
Finalists must be cleared by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) through a fingerprint-based criminal records check.
Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States.
ODHS will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Degree must be completed, not in progress.

Responsibilities

Respond to assigned referrals regarding alleged child abuse or neglect when a field assessment is necessary.
Determine whether or not abuse or neglect has occurred.
Identify child safety threats.
Develop protective actions and ongoing safety plans when children would be unsafe without intervention of the agency.
Conduct child interviews.
Conduct parent interviews.
Gather collateral interviews including review of pertinent documents.
Observe the home environment.
Make determination whether abuse or neglect has occurred and take protection when appropriate.
Arrange medical evaluation of children.
Arrange substitute care placement of children.
Attend court hearings related to CPS assessments.
Enter assessment information in the FACIS system.
Complete referral information for assessment evaluations.
Complete necessary court related information including petition work sheets, court reports, affidavits, etc.
Complete Protective Action documentation.