Child Welfare Caseworker 1-3 - After Hours

Montgomery County•Dayton, OH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under supervision and using a team approach, the Child Welfare Caseworker provides direct casework services to children, birth families, kinship caregivers, foster families, and community providers in situations involving abuse, neglect, dependency, risk of harm, or families in need of services. Depending on assignment, the role may involve investigations, child risk and safety assessments, or ongoing casework to support children’s well-being and permanency. Employees exercise independent judgment within established policies, procedures, and legal guidelines and conduct face-to-face work with children, families, caregivers, and community partners, including in complex and high-risk situations. Caseworkers develop and implement service plans, coordinate resources, and monitor progress toward safety and permanency goals. Work takes place in office and field settings and is subject to regulatory, legal, and documentation requirements. Assignments may include Intake/Ongoing, Rapid Response, Adolescent Services, Adoptions, After Hours, CANS, CARE House, Education, Family Treatment Court, FINS, Foster Care, Health Services, Home Assessment & Training, Human Trafficking Intervention, Independent Living, Phone Unit, Placement Unit, or SACWIS Help. Duties vary by assignment and can include responding to after-hours crises and hotline calls, conducting investigations and home visits, arranging placements, supporting families and youth, coordinating with courts and community providers, completing assessments and reports, and maintaining records in SACWIS. Minimum qualifications vary by classification level. CWC 1 requires a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Education, or a related field, or equivalent evidence. CWC 2 requires a master’s degree in one of those fields; alternatively, candidates may qualify with a related bachelor’s degree and at least two years of related experience, preferably in Child Welfare, or equivalent evidence. Preference is given to candidates with field placements or volunteer experience involving casework responsibility with families and children. CWC 3 requires a master’s degree in a listed or closely related field and two years of Child Welfare experience, or a bachelor’s degree in a listed or closely related field and five years of Social Work experience in Child Welfare, or equivalent evidence. A current, valid U.S. driver’s license with an acceptable driving record and proof of valid auto insurance are required. Training includes First Aid, Defensive Driving, and Car Seat Installation & Safety.

Requirements

CWC 1: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Education, or a related field, or equivalent evidence of the Minimum Class Requirements.
CWC 2: Master’s degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Education, or a related field; alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in one of these fields and at least two years of related experience, preferably in Child Welfare, or equivalent evidence.
CWC 3: Master’s degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Education, or a closely related field and two years of Child Welfare experience; alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in one of these fields and five years of Social Work experience in Child Welfare, or equivalent evidence.
Maintain a current, valid United States driver’s license, an acceptable driving record, and proof of valid auto insurance.
Complete required training in First Aid, Defensive Driving, and Car Seat Installation & Safety.

Nice To Haves

Field placement or volunteer experience involving casework responsibility with families and children is preferred.
For CWC 2, related experience, preferably in Child Welfare, is an alternate qualification pathway.

Responsibilities

Provide direct casework services to children, families, caregivers, and community providers in cases involving abuse, neglect, dependency, risk of harm, or other family service needs.
Investigate referrals and assess child safety, risk factors, family functioning, placement needs, and available supports.
Develop and implement service, safety, permanency, independent living, or emancipation plans as applicable to the assignment.
Conduct home visits and maintain direct contact with children, families, caregivers, providers, and agency personnel.
Coordinate referrals, services, community resources, placements, and pre-placement or post-placement activities.
Support child safety, well-being, placement stability, family preservation, reunification, and permanency.
Prepare and maintain case records, assessments, reports, referrals, and other documentation, including data entry in SACWIS or other required systems.
Collaborate with agency staff, courts, schools, medical and behavioral health professionals, law enforcement, service providers, and community partners.
Attend court hearings, meetings, case conferences, trainings, and other required proceedings.
Ensure compliance with agency policies, state regulations, legal requirements, and applicable procedures.
Depending on assignment, respond to after-hours crisis situations, answer child abuse hotline calls, review urgent referrals, coordinate emergency responses, and locate placements.
Depending on assignment, provide specialized services such as adoption preparation, foster home certification and monitoring, youth independent living support, CANS assessments, educational coordination, health services coordination, placement searches, or SACWIS support.
Perform other related duties as required and assigned.