Objectives

Knox County Children Services is seeking a full-time Social Services Worker II - Intake Investigator. This individual is responsible for investigating allegations of child abuse, neglect and/or dependency. Individual completes assessments of safety and overall family functioning to determine the need for immediate and/or ongoing protective services involvement. Individual works closely with families and community partners to assist in ensuring the safety and well-being of all children.  

Knox County provides competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, holiday pay, medical insurance, life insurance, educational assistance programs, and more.

Knox County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Essential Functions

• Evaluate safety and risk of all children being served in all interactions. 
• Conduct individual interviews of children and adults to complete investigations of child abuse and neglect. 
• Complete safety assessments and family assessments to determine need for community resources and/or ongoing case management services. 
• Remove children from unsafe situations if safety cannot be arranged with a less restrictive option.  
• May maintain a caseload of alternative response ongoing cases for families in need limited case management services. 
• Visits with all children and their caregivers as required by Ohio Administrative Code, agency policy and/or as directed by chain of command. These visits may include in-home, in the community and/or in the office. 
• Attends and participates in supervision meetings as established by the employee’s chain of command and based on the needs of the worker/caseload; attends and participates in all agency meetings including unit, department, division, and all-staff meetings.
• Make referrals to community resources. 
• Testify in Court as required.  
• Consult with Agency attorney for court involved cases or situations of a child being imminent risk of serious harm. 
• Prepare accurate and detailed written reports for Agency attorney and legal assistant.
• Serves as on-call caseworker as assigned on on-call yearly schedule.  
• Attends trainings as identified by the chain of command regarding child welfare and meets the annual requirements for working as a Caseworker in the State of Ohio. 
• Completes documentation in the SACWIS and Traverse systems pursuant to agency and departmental guidelines. 
• Attends and participates in placement staffing, administrative case conferences, family team meetings (FTM) and all other meetings related to the families on their caseload. 
• Reports suspected child abuse or elder abuse as required. 
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance. 
• Provides culturally competent service to all clients, the public and colleagues.
• Performs related non-essential functions as needed.

Job Standards

Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science, Social Services, Early Childhood Development Technology or education in a Social Services or a related field. Must have 101 hours of CORE training within the first year of employment and continuing education of 36 hours per year required thereafter.  
Must possess a valid Ohio Driver ’s License and acceptable driving record. Must meet and maintain qualifications for driving on county business as a continued condition of employment. All required licenses and certificates must be maintained as a condition of continued employment.

Supplemental Information

Equipment:
Ability to operate a variety of office equipment such as computer, copier, scanner, telephone, calculator, FAX machine, VCR/TV, DVR, camcorder, camera, recorder/tape player, and other equipment necessary to perform duties. Individual uses appropriate personal protective equipment when necessary. Ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.
Critical Skills/Expertise:

• Commits to adhere to KCDJFS’ Social Services mission, vision, and values at all times. 
• Knowledge of basic social work principles, community resources, and flexible in daily activities to meet customer’s needs. 
• Committed to practicing cultural competency by working respectfully and effectively with people of all cultures, classes, races, genders, ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexual orientations, mental and physical abilities ages and appearances in a manner that respects and preserves the dignity of all.
• Ability to interview and elicit and analyze necessary information and practice sound and effective social work.
• Ability to effectively mediate conflict.
• Ability to utilize varied interviewing skills necessary to eliciting information from parents, children, elderly, and other parties who may have knowledge relevant to a case or investigation.
• Knowledge of Federal, State and department policies, procedures, guidelines and methods. Includes, but is not limited to Ohio Revised Code, Ohio Administrative Code, and statewide child welfare information system.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply statewide child welfare computer system and its software to complete jobs and aid staff in using the system. 
• Communicates professionally and effectively with internal and external customers, both orally and in writing.
• Organizes and prioritizes work assignments, multi-task with accurate focus and refocus in a fast-paced environment.
• Delivers excellent customer service, externally and internally.
• Efficiently operate computer programs such as, but not limited to, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and agency specific programs.
• Ability to apply critical thinking skills, define and solve problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions using judgment, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in grammar, writing, mathematical skills, spelling, and punctuation.
• Thorough knowledge, adherence, and aptitude to follow safety policies, procedures and practices; and
• Thorough knowledge, adherence, and aptitude to follow federal, state, county, and department policies and procedures, laws, and regulations.

II. DIFFICULTY OF WORK
Work consisting of complex, varied, standardized and non-standardized tasks requiring application of numerous laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Individual must be able to professionally address and work with potentially irate customers.
 
III. RESPONSIBILITY
Individual must demonstrate multi-tasking and organizational skills.   Individual must adhere to departmental rules and procedures regarding confidentiality due to the nature of information that is accessed.  Individual makes choices or decisions without supervisory input on most daily activities, such as establishing priorities or making referrals to other agencies.   Supervisor does provide general guidance but allows the individual the ability to plan the procedures and methods to accomplish objectives.  Individual must perform as a team player.  Errors in work may cause inaccuracies in reports, records, or technical data resulting in inaccurate or incomplete information. Errors could result in disruptions in the work of others, may cause substantial inconvenience to the client, and negatively affect the agency's credibility. Errors may also lead to lawsuits against the County.

 IV. PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS
 Individual has direct contact with clients, management, co-workers, other county partners, law enforcement, employer representatives, and other county children services agencies. The purpose of these contacts is to guide and direct, check on progress of work assigned, coordinating services, and referrals, make recommendations and handle questions about department, programs and client concerns.
 
V. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
Physical Requirements:  Individual performs light work, which may require lifting to fifty (50) pounds occasionally. Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state, and local standards.
Physical Activity:  Individual performs the following physical activities: crouching, reaching, lifting, pulling, standing, walking, manual dexterity, grasping, talking, sitting and hearing.
Visual Activity:  Individual may perform computer work for long periods of time, where the seeing job is close to the eyes.
Job Location:  The minimum work conditions for the position indicate that the individual is exposed to both inside and outside.  Individual is also exposed to noise.