Social Services Specialist

Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services•STONE COUNTY, MS

11d

About The Position

The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) works to protect and nurture Mississippi's at-risk children and families. The agency offers positions statewide, including social work roles, supervisory roles, and agency support positions. Social Services Specialists work under the supervision of higher-level staff to create and/or maintain a service plan throughout a case. Their work includes performing assessments, coordinating services, potentially delivering direct services with community partners, and documenting relevant activities, actions, and contacts related to each case. The position typically requires a bachelor's degree and 0–2 years of experience. The appointing authority may require a social worker's license.

Requirements

Typically requires a bachelor's degree.
Typically requires 0–2 years of experience.
An appointing authority may require a social worker's license.
Professional commitment to and care for clients and the child welfare profession.
Personal resilience and strong self-efficacy in working with clients toward positive outcomes.
Efficient organizational and time-management skills.
Good oral and written communication skills.
Positive work morale.
Flexibility in thinking and problem solving.
Realistic expectations about the difficulty and challenges of the work.
Ability to handle an often-unpredictable work environment.

Responsibilities

Create and/or maintain a service plan throughout the duration of a case.
Perform assessments.
Coordinate services and, as needed, deliver direct services with community partners.
Document relevant activities, actions taken, and contacts involved with a case.

Benefits

Health and prescription insurance, with single or family coverage options.
Wellness and health promotion program with annual benefits for certain services and no deductible.
Term life insurance coverage equal to two times annual salary, up to $100,000.
Optional discounted dental, vision, and cancer insurance through many agencies.
Flexible spending accounts for childcare and unreimbursed medical expenses through many agencies.
Paid personal leave and sick leave for full-time employees.
15 days of military leave per year for military training, in accordance with federal law.
Up to 10 paid holidays.
Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Retirement Program; employees become vested after 8 years of employment, with contributions from the employee and employing agency.
Voluntary deferred compensation retirement savings plan.
Access to the Mississippi Public Employees’ Credit Union.
Tuition reimbursement opportunities through many agencies.
Career development training and professional development courses.
Promotional opportunities for employees with at least 6 months of service, subject to minimum qualifications.
Career-ladder opportunities based on competencies, potentially increasing salary if agency funds are available.