Child & Family Services Case Manager

Child & Family Services Case Manager

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of Family Well-Being and Protection, Bureau of Child Protective Services, is seeking a Child & Family Services Case Manager to join our team! Do you have experience/education in Social Work; Social/Human/Community Services; Case Management; or experience closely related to these fields? If so, this may be a great opportunity for you! The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has a current opening for a team member in the Family Well-Being and Protection Division. This position plays a key role in preparing and supporting children and families to be successful. The primary purpose for this position is to work with families in which child abuse and/or neglect has occurred. The focus is to decrease the likelihood of continued abuse while preserving families. We do our best to keep families together, however, there are times in which this is not possible. In these circumstances, children may have to be removed from parental custody and placed in another home, preferably still with family. As a Social Work Case Manager, there will be times in which you will have to remove children. This can be a difficult and challenging process. The work you do has a significant impact on families, both positive and negative. The families we serve are often struggling with addiction, mental health concerns, poverty, and their own trauma history. It is not uncommon for you to be an unwelcome guest in their life. While you are in the process of engaging parents and establishing a respectful relationship, there can be escalated emotions and responses. In this work, it is important to be mindful of your surroundings, recognize others' responses are not personal to you, empathize with the stress parents feel, and implement de-escalation techniques when having difficult conversations. If the Juvenile Court is involved, parents are assigned an attorney who has the ethical responsibility to zealously represent their client. Attorneys will and should challenge the work you are doing, and this can feel uncomfortable at times. This job can be very busy and challenging. There are many deadlines to adhere to. Crisis do occur which must be addressed. Organization and clear work planning will help you meet deadlines while still addressing unplanned events. You are expected to work a 40-hour week, but there are times you may be required to work overtime. This is infrequent. However, because we are meeting with families, you would be often required to work outside the normal business hours of HHS (8-4:30) to meet the requirements of the job while trying to meet the needs of the family. You will need to be able to be flexible with your schedule to meet the requirements of the job, but this will also allow you the flexibility to meet any personal requirements you have. During your first year, there is upwards of 200 hours of training, some classroom and some "on-the-job". When you start, much of your formal training is held in Des Moines. There are two courses which require you to stay overnight (4 nights and 3 nights). For the extended courses, the hotel costs are direct billed to the state. There is a reimbursement for meals (only when there is an overnight stay) and mileage if a state car is not available. Other shorter training courses which require an overnight stay will require you to cover the cost of a hotel and then you submit for reimbursement. Telework may be an option upon successful completion of the training period and will travel on a regular basis to meet with families in which child abuse and/or neglect has occurred within the assigned Service Area. Mileage is paid at $0.50/mile travelled according to the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) State Accounting Enterprise Procedures. A valid driver's license is required. This position will be domiciled (work location) in Carroll. Telework may be an option for this position if requested by the employee and approved by management. but the position is based in the assigned county and will serve clients in that and surrounding counties. The ideal candidate will:

This position provides case management for children and families, including but not limited to:

• Manage a diverse caseload of children and families that require ongoing service provision to ensure safety. These cases may include children placed in foster care and/or oversight by juvenile court.
• Address the needs of children and families including safety, basic needs such as food, hygiene, education, health, and mental health.
• Evaluate the on-going safety and risk of children by conducting home visits with the children and parents, foster parents, relatives, and others involved while providing timely professional documentation of these contacts and reports.
• Upload/e-file timely, accurate and detailed documentation for court involved cases and manage your schedule to accommodate your caseload.
• Respond to situations decisively and effectively (within policy) as family needs change which would include supervisory consultation as needed.
• Be a good team player with your co-workers and be willing to ask for and provide help.
• Engage the family in creating a family-centered plan in accordance to policy that analyze and assess the strengths and needs of the child and family and address on-going danger and risk concerns.
• Assess the ongoing risk to the children, while developing safety plans and make recommendations to various county attorneys and courts.
• Collaborate with medical/mental health community partners, schools, legal partners, law enforcement, local community resources and others based on case needs.
• Professional and timely documentation of referred and provided services.
• Attend court hearings and provide professional testimony on behalf of the Iowa Health and Human Services.
• Attend and participate in various training sessions offered by HHS and other partner agencies.
• Understand and use multiple computer programs and data systems.

To ensure the Service Area provides the best service to the residents of Iowa, applicants should demonstrate exceptional customer service skills, integrity, and a strong work ethic. The following experience/skills are preferred:

• Experience/education in Social Work; Social Services/Human Services; Case Management; Community Services; or experience related to these fields.
• Critical thinking skills and plan development.
• Customer service including de-escalation of conflictual or adversarial situations.
• Excellent oral and written communication and report composition.
• Teamwork, collaboration, and consultation.
• Ability to multitask.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines.

Preference will be given for education or experience which correlates directly with the requirements and duties of the position. (IE experience in "child welfare" programs is greatly desirable).

Benefits Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
• Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
• Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
• Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

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Background Checks Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position. The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer HHS values those with "lived experience" and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the HHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.e-verify.gov

Minimum Qualification Requirements Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university; OR the equivalent of four years of full-time technical work experience involving direct contact with people in overcoming their social, economic, psychological, or health problems; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time qualifying work experience for one year (thirty semester or equivalent hours) of the required