CWS Case Manager - Foster Family & Licensing / 61014550

Job Responsibilities

Do you have a passion to provide meaningful work in the community? Would you like to be part of an organization whose central mission is helping to protect, stabilize and strengthen the lives of children, families, and vulnerable adults? Then the South Carolina Department of Social Services has the right job opportunity for you.

Job Duties:

• The CWS Case Manager for our Florence County ensures accountability of licensed foster homes by participating in case consultations, coaching, training, and providing support in accordance with DSS Policy, Agency Mission, and GPS Practice Model. Will be responsible for specialized case management and compliance of foster homes that are assigned in a timely manner and will track performances and outcomes for reporting purposes.

• Promotes safety, permanency and well-being by ensuring fidelity to policy and procedures and participating in case consultation and case reviews, reviewing data reports, monitoring policy changes, and ensuring attendance in mandatory trainings.

• Under limited supervision, performs specialized case management in the areas of foster family support and kinship family support. Ensures foster homes maintain compliance with state and federal regulations by conducting at minimum quarterly home visits, meeting with all household members, and addressing any concerns.

• Participates in afterhours FFALS recruitment and retention events as requested.

• Participates in FFALS after hours/holiday placement on can as assigned.

• Enters complete and accurate licensing information within the agency's database (CAPSS), to include uploading documents, for issuance of foster home license.

• Participates in case consultations with supervisors, county staff and/or state office staff as well as work groups, and trainings as appropriate.

• Provide support to foster families through regular responsive communication. Conducts re-licensing studies and prepares relicensing assessments. Works with foster families on an on-going basis during their re-licensing period to ensure they have met the standard for re-licensure and assess all needs prior to license expiration.

• Authentically engages providers, other professionals within the agency, and external partners (i.e. CPA's and Group Care Providers} with empathy and respect to include timely responses to telephone calls, emails, and texts. Participates in and/or facilitates child and family team meetings as requested. Responds timely and professionally to constituent inquiries.

• Maintains an active routine of self-care and pursues support when necessary to minimize the threat of secondary trauma to physical and mental health. Understands the impact of trauma on families and secondary trauma on Child welfare staff and applies principles to support families and staff.

• Perform Red Cross shelter duty or other emergency shelter duties/services as directed.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

Agency Requirements

A Bachelor's Degree and professional experience in human services or social services programs.

A Bachelor's Degree in any other field and one (1) year of professional experience in Human Services or Social Services programs.

A Bachelor's or Master's degree in a Social Work or Social Welfare program accredited by the Council on accredited institution, plus experience as a professional Social Worker.

Preferred Qualifications

This application for employment with the SC Department of Social Services must be completed in its entirety. A resume may be included; but shall not be substituted in lieu of the completion of this application in part or in whole. "See Resume" is not acceptable information for the completion of any part of the requirements of this application. If such is submitted, this employment application will be considered incomplete and may not be forwarded as eligible for consideration to hiring managers.

This position is office based but requires travel across the region to conduct home visits for foster family home assessment and licensure, trainings. and/or meetings. Must possess a valid diver's license. Must be able to lift files and meet with families in homes, as needed. This position requires participating in the on-call rotation for after hours and holidays.

If you certify, by completion and submission of this application, that you possess educational credentials that qualify you for the available DSS positions, you will be required to provide a certified official transcript, if you are selected for job offer.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vison, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children

• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year

• 15 days sick leave per year

• 13 paid holidays

• Paid Parental Leave

• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs

Division: CWS - Foster Family and Licensing / Florence County

Additional Comments

• Important Salary Information*

With the recent implementation of the Child Welfare salary plan funded by the General Assembly beginning in July 2021, front line case managers and team leaders (supervisors) will not only earn higher starting salaries when joining DSS than in previous years, but will also enjoy supplements to their starting salaries upon completion of training and competencies, attainment of BSW/MSW degrees for front line case managers, annual increases for years of continuous service, and salary increases upon attainment of established competencies/certifications for moving into Level 2 and Level 3 salaries.

New Child Welfare case managers will earn a starting salary of at least $43,700 during initial certification, depending on education level and degree type, with up-front starting salary supplements of 2.5% ($44,792) and 5% ($45,885) for candidates holding a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, and 10% ($48,070) for team leaders (supervisors), respectively. Following completion of training certification, assignment of caseloads with one year of completed experience, quarterly adjustments will be made to move successful trainees into the Level 1 salary bracket and will receive at least a 15% salary increase (adjusting their salary to $50,225, $51,510 or $52,769 depending on degree type), and $55,280 for team leaders (supervisors) at that time.

Annual salary increases of up to 0.50% per year will be awarded on a quarterly basis for each consecutive year a Level 1 case manager remains in his/her class/position.

In January of 2022, DSS rolled out additional opportunities for case managers to progress from Level 1 to Levels 2 and 3, with increases in salary averaging 2.5% for each increase in the case manager's level of expertise under the salary plan. Level 2 and 3 child welfare staff will also see accelerated annual increases of 1% to 1.5% per year awarded for each continuous year served in his/her class/position. Progression from Level 1 to Levels 2 and 3 requires completion of specified requirements in the Advancement Pathway which include additional training, skill development, and practice model aligned competencies that increase in complexity as the career path progresses. Case reviews, data compliance reviews, field observations and employee self-assessments are used by supervisors to evaluate eligible employees' demonstration of competencies and skills prior to approval to advance to the subsequent level.