CASE MANAGEMENT WORKER

REGULAR/FT

NON EXEMPT - LEVEL 6

SALARY: $16.07

GENERAL DEFINITION: The primary responsibility of this position will be to provide general case management to Child Protective Service Workers in cases involving alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child by the parent(s), guardian or custodian as defined in the New Mexico Children’s Code and the Zuni Children's Codes. Incumbent may also provide direct services to such clients.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Work is performed under the direction of the Social Services Director.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: No supervisory duties.

DUTIES:

Provides general case management direction.

Documents and maintains all contacts made with families to ensure adequate record keeping, documentation, notes, court orders, petitions, and court reports.

Provides general case management direction to Child Protective Service workers.

Guides and assists Child Protective Services staff with coordination and processing of all cases.

Encourages staff to employ a family strategy concept in the delivery of social services.

Oversees the investigation of home conditions to protect children from harmful environment.

Assures quality service and timeliness of case coordination in accordance with tribal, federal and state protection codes.

Coordinates Child Protection Team Meetings and provides case management to child abuse/neglect cases referred to Child Protection Team

Attend tribal court hearings and provide testimonies when necessary.

Complete weekly, monthly, quarterly and/or annual statistical narrative reports.

Evaluates reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children, and assigns reports to CPS workers, as needed.

Provide protective services to adults, children, and families to improve and strengthen family functioning.

Follows it through each agency to solidify the evidence base needed to provide authoritative testimony that ensures that children are properly evaluated.

Conduct individual and family assessments to determine the strengths and needs of children and their parents/custodians.

Prepares pre-placement services including assessments, psychological evaluation reports, medical/immunization records, school placements and supportive counseling documentation for children placed in group homes and/or licensed facilities.

Provides evaluation and approval of new foster homes and monitors compliance within foster homes, including personal characteristics to determine suitability.

Provides intervention, coordination, and protective services as necessary for children experiencing alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Coordinates evaluation of children's physical and psychological makeup to determine needs.

Refers child and parent or guardian to community resources according to needs of child.

Oversees the placements, and is responsible for, children and their well-being in foster or adoptive homes, institutions, and medical treatment centers

Coordinates the counseling of children and parents, guardians, foster parents, and staff concerning adjustment to foster home situation, plans for child’s care, inter-actional behavior modifications needed, or rehabilitation.

Oversees the placements of children in adoptive homes.

Works with the Social Services Director in overseeing the counseling of adoptive parents pending legal adoption.

Develop family service plans designed to reunify children with their families and conduct follow-up services to ensure clients are compliant with service/case plans.

Works closely with other service providers to ensure quality compliance.

Aids parents with child rearing problems.

Conduct monthly visits to children placed in foster care placements and/or licensed facilities to observe improvements, adjustments, provide guidance support and access of additional services as needed.

Performs other duties as assigned by Program Manager.

Conducts daily briefing with program staff.

Participates in programmatic improvements.

Attends multi-disciplinary team meetings, treatment team meetings and other meetings when required.

Transport children to foster care placements, medical appointments, visitations, etc.

Participates in 24-hour on-call duty.

Provides education/presentations/community outreach to community, schools, tribal programs, and outside agencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Considerable knowledge of crisis intervention and counseling techniques. Knowledge of Zuni and New Mexico codes and laws concerning/governing child protective services, elder protective services and the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Good knowledge of child rearing practices and Zuni tradition relating to family structure, including human behavior. Ability to write reports and complete forms as may be required. Sensitivity to the Zuni culture. Zuni language fluency preferred, but not required. Skilled in interviewing techniques. Experienced in case management procedures and maintenance of records and documents. Good public speaking skills. Ability to work with children, families, and other service providers. Good written and oral communication skills. Good organizational skills, including the ability to prepare and present material for judicial proceedings. Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other tribal employees, other agencies, and the general public.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: Associates Degree in Social Work, Human Services, or another closely related field, and a minimum of two (2) years experience with child protective services.

OR

High School Diploma or GED with postsecondary related classes, with a minimum of five (5) years experience with child protective services.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES: Must have a valid New Mexico Driver's License with no DWI/DUI convictions within the past three (3) years. Driving is an essential part of the duties. Must be insurable for liability purposes.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items, driving an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform work. Regular exposure to favorable conditions such as those found in a normal office.

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Position is subject to Pre-Employment drug testing. Position is Safety Sensitive and will be subject to random drug screening for duration of employment. Must have an operative home telephone or mobile phone service. Must be willing and able to work evenings and weekends as needed with on-call duty. Must undergo and successfully pass a thorough character background check and FBI Fingerprint check. Must be able to handle stressful situations.