Preventive Foster Care Caseworker

Job Code: 21-1021 Salary: $17.79 - $34.30

Status: Non-exempt, Full-time, Permanent Location: PFC Bldg.

Department: Social Services Division Reports To: PFC Program Manager

Telecommute: Yes Fleet: Yes

SUMMARY: Under the direction of the Program Manager, the Caseworker will be responsible for the progress and monitoring of their Mandated and Non-Mandated cases. Caseworkers will perform a range of duties concerned with their assigned workload. Incumbent may be expected to perform job-related duties other than those contained in this document and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge and skills. Salary will be commensurate to education and experience.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

· Abide by OCFS regulations in conducting Preventive/Foster Care/Adoption Services.

· Prepare intake for preventive/foster care/adoption cases and process according to deadlines.

· Explains agency and program rules, regulations and procedures; assists clients in completing required forms and in gathering necessary documentation.

· Perform a range of duties concerned with families in need or at risk of their children being placed into foster care.

· Refer, coordinate, and collaborate with support services such as childcare, homemaker service, prenatal care, mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, employment training, counseling, or parenting classes to prevent more serious issues from developing, based on identified service needs.

· Refer clients to community resources for services such as job placement, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, transportation, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and where to apply.

· Provides ongoing case management services by conducting home visits, attending educational planning meetings, monitoring delivery of services and quality of care, and reassessing client needs including ongoing eligibility for services; tracks client progress and well-being, evaluates case plan effectiveness, and effectively manages resources; prevents conflicting case plans and duplication of services.

· Develop and implement appropriate service plans and provide ongoing casework with the goal of preventing abuse/neglect.

· Conducts casework interviews with clients, family members, service providers, employers and others to obtain information for formulating program/service eligibility and case status.

· Oversee and accurately report the progress of their cases, to ensure that all parties are adhering to all agency and/or court ordered recommendations.

· Collaborate with family and service providers to develop their Family Assessment Service Plan (FASP) according to the scheduled due date.

· Schedule Service Plan Reviews for each case.

· Complete all Permanency Hearing, Compliance, and relevant court reports.

· Provide transportation/supervise visitation when necessary.

· Provide legal, health and placement dates and activities for CCRS entry to the LANS Administrator.

· Write and file petitions for violations, extensions of placements, and other petitions as required.

· Prepare and submit Adoption and/or Kinship Guardianship reports which may include adoption subsidies, medical records, etc.

· Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the department by offering suggestions and directing or participating as an active member of a case management team.

· When necessitated seek legal intervention and/or criminal charges against any perpetrator of abuse/neglect of any at-risk clients.

· Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.

· Prepare and enter accurate case notes; relevant written correspondence to necessary parties.

· Administer and document drug and alcohol tests to clients, in accordance to SRMT policy.

· Maintain case files for all Preventive/Foster/Adoption Cases.

· Ensure all necessary forms and documents are in the case file.

· To complete all required training, including but not limited to: Child Welfare/Child Protective Services Common Core Training for Caseworkers, Child Protective Services Response Training, and Basic FAD.

· Required to carry & respond to the DSS On-Call Pager as scheduled on a rotating basis, including weekends and some holidays.

· Travel on behalf of the program when necessary.

· Provide Monthly Reports to Program Manager.

· Accept other duties as programming needs develop or as assigned.

· Will comply with ALL SRMT policies, upon hire.

· Will Promote SRMT in a positive manner always.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: There are no supervisor requirements for this position.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Due to the sensitive nature of information and personal files maintained within Social Service Division, SSD staff must maintain strict confidentiality always.

EDUCATION and /or EXPERIENCE:

· Bachelor’s degree required.

· One (1) year previous casework experience preferred

OTHER SKILLS and/or ABILITIES Strong communication skills, both oral and written; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other Directors, staff, community groups, and other related agencies; Extensive knowledge of asset management including financial resources and property, Must have the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; Shall have ability to quickly acquire or have working knowledge of grants and contracts; Must have skill to learn and apply federal and state statutes and regulations impacting the Programs of the Division; experience in the development, implementation, and monitoring of specialized social and developmental programs. Basic understanding of computer storage and retrieval.

Required to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment when reasonable cause to suspect that a child is an abused or maltreated child where the parent or guardian, custodian, or other person legally responsible for such child, information come before you, facts, condition, or circumstance which if correct, work render the child an abused or maltreated child. (SSL 415) Mandated Reporters in New York State – certain professionals are required by law to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment to the New York State Central Registry the law also assigns civil and criminal liability to those professionals who do not comply with their mandated reporter responsibilities.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to express ideas and use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Must be at least 18 years of age, have and maintain a valid driver’s license with a clean driver abstract in accordance with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Fleet Policy.

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe strives to be an equal opportunity employer dedicated to the policy of nondiscrimination based on race, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, physical disability, veteran status or any other non-job related factor.

The successful candidate must pass a test for illegal substances prior to employment being confirmed.

The successful candidate must pass a criminal background check, as well as, a State Central Registry Clearance prior to employment.