Caseworker I/Social Service Worker – DCFS Salt Lake & Tooele Counties

Full Job Description
Job Description
If you want to make a difference for children and families in the State of Utah, you should apply for this opening. The Salt Lake Valley Region, Division of Child & Family Services (DCFS) is seeking applicants to fill Caseworker I/Social Service Worker (SSW) positions in Salt Lake and Tooele counties. These positions are filled as a Caseworker I or SSW depending upon the qualifications of the applicant.

CASEWORKER I: Pay: $20.00. A Bachelor’s Degree, or higher, in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Family and Human Development, Criminal Justice or a closely related field is preferred. A Bachelor’s degree, or higher, in Health Education and Promotion is also preferred.

SOCIAL SERVICE WORKER (SSW): Pay: $22.21. Requires an active Social Service Worker License or a higher, related license (Certified Social Worker, LCSW, etc.) from the State of Utah.

Principal Duties
DCFS Caseworkers and SSWs work to keep children with their own families whenever safely possible by assessing their and their families’ needs, getting them connected to available resources, and conducting in-home services of appropriate intensity and duration. They work to reunify children who have been removed from their homes whenever possible or find enduring safety and permanency for them through alternative options. To accomplish this, caseworkers work closely with the subject matter experts, are provided with regular professional supervision, and complete DCFS Practice Model Training while performing the following tasks:

Investigating reports of abuse, exploitation, and/or neglect; assessing risks, strengths, barriers and determining appropriate actions governing a client’s situation.
Writing and implementing child and family service plans.
Coordinating and referring services to children and families offered by community resources, placement providers, collateral agencies, the courts, and community partners.
Presiding over visits between parents and children, monitoring behavior, reporting observational notes and concerns to appropriate professional/clinical staff, and updating case files.
Conducting in-home visits and performing field investigations.
Testifying in court or hearings regarding actions, findings, procedures, and protocols.
Preparing detailed case documentation that includes intake records, investigation summaries, risk assessment social summaries, needs assessments, service plans, case history, and activity logs.
Preference
Preference may be given to applicants having worked for the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS).

The Ideal Candidate
The model candidate for this position is someone who:

Holds a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, family and human development, human services, criminal justice or degree closely related to social work.
Possesses a current valid driver’s license.
Why You Should Join Our Team
Become an integral part of a Utah Division working together to keep children safe and strengthen families in our communities. Experience a sense of achievement for a job well done and enjoy work/life balance! We offer great health benefits and retirement plans, generous paid time off, and a balanced work schedule to afford quality time spent with your family. Click here for a listing of the State of Utah’s great benefits.

The Division
The goal of Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is to have communities where children grow up safe from abuse, neglect and dependency, where adults are protected from domestic violence, and where parents can be strengthened in their capacity to keep their family safe. For more information about DCFS click here.
 

Example of Duties
 

The following duties are performed in addition to the tasks listed in the Job Description section.

Receives information from referent to determine priority and assess client’s needs for services.
Provides clients with information concerning rights, options, benefits, services, goals and expectations.
Attends staffing meetings and change-of-shift meetings, to obtain progress reports, case specific instructions and mentoring, etc.
May be required to provide 24 hour on call services.
 

Typical Qualifications
 

This list contains requirements, knowledge, skills and abilities associated with these jobs.

principles theories and practices of case management and practices of human growth and development
use State or agency-specific software application program(s)
provide consultation and/or expert advice or testimony
use computer word processing software
court hearings, rules, records, procedures and protocol
enter, transcribe, record, store, or maintain information in either written or electronic form.
follow written and/or verbal instructions
human behavior and performance, mental processes, psychological research, or assessment, methods, and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders
compose and produce reports, documents and related material
investigative techniques and processes and interviewing techniques skills
applicable laws, rules, regulations and/or policies and procedures
read, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures
identify signs and symptoms of maltreatment and neglect
agency and community resources and services
 

Supplemental Information
This recruitment is for available positions in Salt Lake and Tooele counties.

All DCFS job offers are contingent upon passing a Background Screening Application (BSA).

All applications must be submitted online. Resumes emailed or faxed will not be accepted as an application.

Only applicants invited to interview will be notified.

Travel required, may require on-call time. Response time to be determined by agency.

Department of Human Resource Management rules regarding promotions and transfers apply to current employees.

Must have a valid driver’s license. May require you to use your personal vehicle to perform the duties of this position. All approved mileage driven by using a personal vehicle is reimbursable by State Finance. The reimbursement rate is determined by State Finance.

Working conditions: High Risks: Risks found in potentially dangerous or unusual environmental stress situations, e.g. working at great heights, working in extreme outdoor weather conditions, being subject to possible physical attack, etc.

Physical Requirements: Moderate – Work may require some physical exertion. May require the ability to stand; walk over rough surfaces; bend, crouch, stoop, stretch, reach, lift moderately heavy items (up to 50 lbs.) (lifting a small child) in a recurring manner and/or for long periods of time.