Child Protective Services Caseworker

Job Code: 21-1021 Salary: $37,003.20 - $71,344.00

Status: Full-time, Non-exempt Location: Adult/Child Protective Services

Department: Social Services Division Reports To: ACPS Manager

Summary: Under the direction of the Protective Program Manager, the incumbents will provide protective services on behalf of children and families in instances of abuse and/or neglect. The incumbents join with families and the community to promote long-term safety and well-being. Demonstrated abilities will include assessing: safety; abuse/neglect; client strengths and capability;

family functions; case planning; and petitioning for protective custody and placement.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities:

• Abide by OCFS regulations in conducting timely Protective Services investigations, determining whether abuse/neglect allegations can be substantiated.
• Perform a range of duties concerned with receiving suspected cases of abuse and maltreatment in accordance with OCFS regulations in conducting timely Protective Services
• investigations, assessing for safety and/or risk regarding abuse including physical or sexual abuse and neglect.
• Write and file petitions for neglect, abuse, orders of supervision/protection, and violations.
• Works diligently to meet Tribal Policy and Procedures, State mandates and timeframes.
• Develop and implement appropriate service plans and provide ongoing casework with the goal of preventing abuse/neglect.  Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
• Address legal issues, assist in hearings and provide testimony in court when necessary, to include writing and filing petitions for neglect, abuse, orders of supervision and/or protection, and violations. Monitor and/or supervise cases per Family Court Orders.
• Family Court ordered cases requiring additional services, CPS caseworker will progress case to an (FSI), then to an FSS to complete the necessary service plan before transferring case to Preventive/Foster Care, including obtaining documentation and records for Preventive referrals.
• Provide, find, and arrange for support services to include, but not limited to: childcare, homemaker service, prenatal care, substance abuse treatment, employment training, counseling, or parenting classes, to prevent more serious issues from developing.
• Refer clients to community resources for services such as job placement, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and where to apply.
• Provide ongoing casework counseling and support to children and families.
• Attend case conferences and other meetings designed to ensure adequate services to individuals, children and families.
• Enter, record, and maintain Progress Notes in CONNECTIONS recording systems, in a timely manner.
• Maintain case files for all Child Protective Cases in accordance with OCFS standards and Agency policies, to include maintaining accurate case records of assessment, activities, and plans; writes summaries, reports, letters, and memos.
• To complete all required training, including but not limited to: Child Welfare/Child Protective Services Common Core Training for Caseworkers, and Child Protective Services Response Training.
• Required to carry the DSS On-Call Pager to respond to after-hours reports from the New York State Center Registry and other crisis calls relating to program mandates as scheduled on a rotating basis, including weekends and some holidays.  Accept other duties as programming needs develop.
• Will always Promote SRMT in a positive manner.

Protective Services- Child

• Engages families to assess child safety and to make plans that best meet the safety, wellbeing,

and permanency needs of their children.

• Creates a team for each family consisting of family, staff, and community members to find safe solutions for children.
• Reaches factually supported conclusions in a timely and through manner with input from parents, children extended family, and relevant community stakeholders to assure safety.
• Separates dangerous caregivers from children in need of protection. When court action is necessary to make child safe, uses authority with sensitivity and respect.
• Facilitates family teams to develop and implement creative, culturally specific, individualized solutions that build on the strengths of families to meet their needs.
• Assist in arranging foster placements, including emergency removals, and to provide on-going follow-up.

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, we must always maintain strict confidentiality.

Education And /Or Experience: Bachelor’s degree required; Salary to be commensurate with education and/or experience; previous casework experience preferred; Basic understanding of

computer storage and retrieval.

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.

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 successful candidate must pass a drug 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.

Applicants must submit letter of interest, resume, and supporting documents (certificates, degrees, licenses). Applicants that are eligible for native preference must include Tribal Identification Card, Status Card or letter to be eligible for Native Preference. All submissions can be emailed to human.resources@srmt-nsn.gov or by mail to Human Resources, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, 71 Margaret Terrance Memorial Way, Akwesasne, NY 13655. Due to our network security, we are unable to open hyperlinks. Applicants will need to attach their documents as a PDF or WORD files if emailing. Applicants must clearly outline that they meet the qualification requirements on their resume.

NATIVE PREFERENCE 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. Among qualified applicants, the SRMT will give preference to the qualified native applicant.

DRUG TESTING POLICY

All positions require the successful candidate to pass a drug test for illegal substances prior to employment being confirmed.

BACKGROUND CHECK

Some positions require candidate(s) to successfully pass a criminal background check prior to beginning employment, used solely for employment related purposes. Depending on the position there maybe multiple background checks.

ELIGIBILITY LIST

A list of qualified candidates is created from interviews that may be used for Emergency Hire individuals to similar positions within the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe for a period of six months.

INTERVIEW

Testing in the applicable skills may be required as part of the interview process.

EMPLOYEE COVID VACCINATION POLICY

Effective July 3, 2023, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe no longer requires the COVID-19 Vaccination for any positions within the organization, to include Health Services.