Soc Case Worker II

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management•Cranston, RI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

To perform casework duties and responsibilities of a specialized nature; and/or to be assigned to a special area of service in child and family services and family preservation, family support and/or family reintegration. These assignments can be considered unique for various reasons such as geographical location, irregular hours of work, and the nature of the work which could include: to appear and present material at Court hearings and trials; to exercise basic computer skills; to maintain and improve skill level through ongoing relevant training and education; and to do related work as required. The position involves providing social services to a culturally diverse population of children and their families, requiring a high degree of social work skill in the identification and analysis of social problems and treatment of individuals and families towards the goals of self-help, rehabilitation, preserving family life, the protection of children, and the development of substitute care including permanency of children. Responsibilities include providing culturally sensitive specialized child welfare and family preservation services, which may include intensive services to children and families in their own home, foster care placement, services to the physically, behaviorally, and/or emotionally challenged, and protective services, or other related services such as adoption and transportation of clients. The role also involves participating in special projects to study and evaluate special problem areas and/or agency practice and policy to improve agency service. Securing relevant information accurately and completely through the social study process to form a psycho-social history and case plan is crucial, as is making creative use of available resources and enlisting the cooperation of other social agencies. The position requires a wide degree of independent judgment, decision, and action on an ongoing, regular basis, and re-evaluating the level of safety, needs, and services provided to clients to ensure their effectiveness and cultural sensitivity. Instituting and revising assistance or services plans promptly as needed, or changing treatment plans and goals for children and their families, and maintaining case records and documentation according to Department standards and policies are also key duties.

Requirements

Thorough knowledge of social casework principles, practices, and techniques and the ability to apply these effectively.
Thorough knowledge of individual physical emotional and behavior patterns as well as the social, cultural, ethnic, and economic factors that contribute to personal maladjustment and dependency and the forces that effect interpersonal and interfamilial relationships and impair parental functions.
Thorough knowledge of the wide variety of the diverse population (i.e.: cultural, ethnic, socio-economic, and alternative lifestyles) serviced by state agencies and departments and the ability to apply this knowledge effectively.
Working knowledge of the provisions of federal and state laws relating to the performance of caseworker duties and responsibilities of an extraordinary nature; and/or to be assigned to children and family preservation services.
Knowledge of resources in the community offering specialized services to children and their families, particularly the voluntary services.
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with individuals and groups within and outside the agency.
Basic computer skills including keyboarding, use of a mouse device, and word processing.
Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education in sociology, or psychology, social work, child development, or a related field.
Two years experience in the field of family and children services.
Maintain a valid driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual candidates strongly encouraged to apply.
Demonstrated proficiency in SIS-A training and certification upon hire and annually thereafter.

Responsibilities

Perform casework duties and responsibilities of a specialized nature.
Be assigned to a special area of service in child and family services and family preservation, family support and/or family reintegration.
Appear and present material at Court hearings and trials.
Exercise basic computer skills.
Maintain and improve skill level through ongoing relevant training and education.
Provide social services to a culturally diverse population of children and their families.
Be responsible for family and children services, requiring a high degree of social work skill in the identification and analysis of social problems and treatment of individuals and families towards the goals of self-help, rehabilitation and preserving family life, the protection of children and the development of substitute care including permanency of children.
Provide culturally sensitive specialized child welfare and family preservation services which may include intensive services to children and families in their own home, foster care placement, to the physically, behaviorally, and/or emotionally challenged, and protective services, or other related services such as adoption and transportation of clients.
Participate in special projects which are developed by the agency for the purpose of studying and evaluating special problem areas and/or agency practice and policy in order to improve agency service.
Secure relevant information accurately and completely through the social study process in order to form a psycho-social history and case plan so that the client is helped to become engaged in an examination and solution of his/her problems, or to determine the appropriate and culturally sensitive plan for care and treatment for the child and the family.
Make creative use of available resources and enlist the cooperation and understanding of other social agencies for the meeting of unusual, unique and/or special needs or individual care.
Exercise a wide degree of independent judgment, decision, and action on an ongoing, regular basis.
Re-evaluate the level of safety, the needs of and services being provided to clients in order to ensure their effectiveness and cultural sensitivity.
Institute and revise assistance or services plans promptly as needed, or to change treatment plan(s) and goals for children and their families.
Maintain case records and documentation according to Department standards and policies.