Family Services Worker - Central Intake & Emergency Services Unit

Central Intake & Emergency Services Worker

Central Intake & Emergency Services (CIES) Worker position: Cies is a statewide child protection hotline that operates twenty-four hours a day, every day of the week, including holidays. The unit serves as child abuse reporting system for the State of Vermont and also handles after-hour emergencies related to child abuse and neglect, children in state’s custody, delinquency and youth with behaviors beyond the control of their caretakers.

Duties include:

• Answer the child protection hotline and gather information from callers about alleged abuse or neglect
• Document reports of abuse and neglect in the state’s reporting system
• Coordinate the division’s after-hour emergency responses
• Provide guidance and support to Family Services Workers deployed after-hours to conduct investigations and other emergency responses in the community
• Inform law enforcement about the laws, policies and procedures that govern child protection and youth justice
• Coordinate foster care and other placements for children in DCF custody
• Provide phone support to foster parents
• Provide information and referral to community agencies

All employees of the AHS perform their respective functions adhering to four key practices: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships and results orientation. Work is under the supervision of an administrative superior, but with opportunity for individual discretion and judgment. The hours will include one regular weekend shift, one evening shift (until midnight) and regular business hour shifts. The specific shifts will be discussed at pre-interviews. Applicant must be willing to work some holidays as needed and standby duty may be required as needed. Duties are performed in the office and minimal travel is required.

Duties are performed in a variety of setting ranging from departmental offices to client homes to courtrooms. Considerable field travel is required, for which private means of transportation must be available. Crisis situations may arise at any hour and may require evening or weekend responses. Incumbents predictably encounter high levels of stress and emotional situations, strong differences of opinion, and potentially exposure to physical danger. Class incumbents may be required to be on available or standby status during night, weekend, and holiday hours.