Children'S Social Worker II Stipend Program/Dcfs Interns Only

• Investigates referrals alleging child abuse neglect and/or exploitation by observing the childs wellbeing and living environment (e.g. body appearance and hygiene which may require disrobing a child); interviewing clients* privately inperson; interviewing various individuals (e.g. reporting parties; suspected perpetrators; other adults with immediate access to the child; collaterals such as teachers doctors counselors neighbors and clergy; etc.) through oral and written communication; consulting with other individuals/sources (e.g. peers supervisors service providers medical/mental health professionals law enforcement personnel school officials attorneys including County Counsel court officials liaisons involved in specialized programs etc.); conducting home inspections and assessing prospective caregivers; monitoring visitations; researching existing information in hardcopy filing systems (e.g. case history files; court reports; official personal records such as birth certificate; etc.) and on various computer databases (e.g. CWS/CMS LRS SDM JAI DOJ Live Scan CLETS etc.); transporting clients which includes lifting of children or car seats; and/or taking photographs of the child or the living environment (as necessary) in order to determine appropriate course of action (e.g. initiating preventative measures so that the child remains in the home developing with the client a plan that resolves the situation removing a child from the home if necessary etc.) and assess a familys strengths and needs in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations the Core Practice Model (CPM) and department policies and procedures and within established response times or time intervals.

• Determines the validity of an allegation by reviewing and analyzing the relevant information (e.g. case history/court reports: patterns indicators of abuse and recommendations; school reports: absenteeism attendance history reporting party; medical/mental health reports: behavior indicators) gathered from numerous sources (e.g. observations of the child and his/her living environment; interviews with various individuals; case history files plans and records; monitored visit reports; medical/mental health information; criminal records; school reports; court reports; official personal records such as birth certificates; computergenerated reports including SDM and CWS/CMS; FCI etc.); and collaborating with others in analyzing information (e.g. clients peers supervisors law enforcement care givers medical/mental health professionals Regional Center representatives etc.) in order to establish whether to promote a referral to a case assess a childs and/or familys strengths and needs and determine an appropriate service or course of action (e.g. making an emergency placement decision placing a child into a suitable placement transporting a child outofstate or outofcountry with a vehicle requesting a comprehensive psychological evaluation obtaining medical information and/or a medical procedure if necessary; voluntarily hospitalizing a child within a medical or mental health system; administering prescription drugs; etc.) that is in the childs and/or familys best interest consistent and compliant with Federal and California State laws and regulations the Core Practice Model department policies and procedures and within established response times or time intervals.

• Ensures clients are provided welfare and protective services by driving to clients location and conducting monthly face to face visits with child family and caregivers; collaborating with the Child and Family Team (CFT) and others as appropriate (e.g. clients supervisors coworkers law enforcement personnel medical/mental health professionals court officials school officials community resources etc.) and following the most appropriate steps as prescribed by Federal and California State laws and regulations the Core Practice Model and Department policies and procedures in order to ensure the child is safe and the child and/or family receives the most appropriate and culturally relevant client services that is in the childs and familys best interest and within established response times or time intervals.

• Enters clientrelated data into various computerized systems that maintain client information by operating a computer system (e.g. CWS/CMS) reviewing client documents (e.g. personal identifications medical/dental/psychological information school information birth certificates marriage certificates photographs etc.) and/or computergenerated documents and forms and following Department policy and procedures to ensure that client data is accurate current and entered within established response times or time intervals.

• Prepares a wide variety of documents (e.g. standardized forms and templates legal notices and court reports written reports numerical log reports memoranda correspondence referrals mental health screening tool (MHST) cross reports to law enforcement warrants etc.) by using a personal computer with appropriate software programs (e.g. word processing); operating a computerized system (e.g. CWS/CMS Referral Portal and Structured Decision Making (SDM)); and/or filling out standard forms consisting of narrative fillin blanks and/or checkmark boxes in order to accomplish a variety of activities (e.g. document information; communicate pertinent information to others; notice parents relatives lawyers etc.; initiate a process or course of action such as a resource family home search; send information to community providers Medical Hubs etc.) in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures and within established response times or time intervals.

• Maintains a variety of confidential information (e.g. completed standards forms; records of communication; contact information; certificates; determinations referrals and requests made; agreements reached; court documents; caseload logs; photographs; protected passwords; etc.) by organizing hardcopy data using a Departmental case management format and electronic data using a computerized system (e.g. CWS/CMS the SITE tablets and smart phone) in order document information and ensure the security and confidentiality of the documents in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and Department policies and procedures.

• Communicates information to a variety of individuals (e.g. the client(s) law enforcement personnel attorneys representatives from County and outside agencies and the caregivers or service providers; etc.) on numerous issues (e.g. reasons for placement availability of relinquishment transracial adoptions legal rights and responsibilities court processes noncase related general information etc.) by explaining information in a patient and clear manner both over the phone and inperson (i.e. driving to clients location); providing written information (e.g. instructions and pamphlets in their primary language as necessary); defusing a hostile or high stress situation (as appropriate); using active listening skills with the person; and/or applying motivational techniques in order to promote the emotional wellbeing of the child; encourage clients to utilize services that promote and cultivate a safe and stable environment for the child; ensure individuals are properly informed about any requests processes or actions taken; and ensure that any information provided is understood complete accurate and in accordance with California State laws and regulations the Core Practice Model and Department policies and procedures related to confidentiality.

• Provides client(s) with various services from the Department of Children and Family Services and/or other community resources (e.g. Upfront Assessment CSAT Independent Living Program Adoption Assistance Program Family Preservation Program Alternative Response Services (ARS) Prevention and aftercare services AB12 drug testing and rehabilitation programs Department of Mental Health immediate and ongoing assessments and referrals etc.) by identifying the clients need for other services and by either providing the client pertinent information to obtain the assistance or coordinating with a County department or other agency/community resource to arrange for service delivery (e.g. scheduling appointments for the client directing the client for drug testing transporting a child in a vehicle to a counseling session etc.) in order to address the clients or the familys immediate or longterm basic needs (e.g. in physical/mental health emancipation substance abuse housing food employment child care transportation and education); monitor compliance with DCFSs case plan and/or courtordered activities; or report and respond to incidents of suspected child abuse.

• Resolves daytoday issues and challenges (e.g. unable to find placement scheduling visitation monitors for visitation tracking and adapting case plans and/or action plans crisis management etc.) presented by a variety of individuals (e.g. clients the courts coworkers supervisors administrators etc.) by gathering and analyzing relevant information (e.g. placement search results drug test results criminal background checks progress letters from service providers minute orders incident reports medical needs and diagnosis police reports new referrals etc.); temporarily caring for children which may require physical lifting and transportation; collaborating with other public and private agencies social services programs and community agencies (including law enforcement juvenile justice probation group and resource family homes medical personnel school personnel public health nurses the courts other emergency services etc.); handling and mediating conflict among relevant parties; and communicating consulting and interacting with the appropriate individuals in order to ensure prompt and efficient delivery of client services in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations the Core Practice Model and Department policies and procedures.

• Performs various courtrelated activities related to client services by examining case history and preparing court reports for hearings; filing petitions; obtaining/reviewing/following court orders; referencing the California Welfare & Institutions Code; preparing and serving warrants; obtaining information from attorneys and County Counsel; reviewing and requesting changes in court orders; coordinating transportation; transporting clients including lifting children and car seats; providing notice to appropriate parties; completing and obtaining appropriate courtrelated paperwork (e.g. family law orders medical reports toxicology reports pictures historical documents progress letters and certificates of completions of courtordered programs etc.); obtaining authorizations for various purposes; and testifying in court etc. in order to ensure the protection of a child and the rights of the family; initiate a process related to client services (e.g. termination of parental rights protective custody warrants dependency hearings inand out/removal of incarcerated parents delinquency hearings legal guardianships etc.); make recommendations to the court; and ensure that all court documents are legally sufficient in accordance with Federal and California State laws and regulations and are completed within established response times or time intervals.

• Stays current with knowledge related to children and family social services (e.g. Core Practice Model; changes in Federal and California State laws and regulations; changes in Department policies and procedures; developments in best practices; etc.) by attending professional conferences training sessions workshops and facilitator certification; reviewing information obtained from Department memoranda policy updates staff meetings the Internet magazines journals newspapers professional publications etc. in order to determine its impact on providing effective client services and adapt to changes in Federal and State laws.

• Represents the Department/program/unit at various meetings (e.g. CFTs staff meetings; training sessions; conferences; community events; court hearings meetings with specific groups such as IEP MCPC Regional Center; etc.) by consulting with supervisor and other appropriate parties driving to various locations facilitating Child Family Team meetings and collaborating with community resources/partners in order to orally communicate information to others; educate others and oneself on various topics; address concerns raised by relevant groups; and/or advocate for the child/family during the meeting to identify and address their underlying needs.

• Drives a motor vehicle to perform most of the essential job functions listed above.
  *Clients include any individual who receives uses or is eligible for the services or offerings produced by the work unit including a child custodial and noncustodial parent(s) relative(s) significant other(s) legal guardian(s) caregiver(s) and prospective adoptive parent(s).

A Masters**degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Social Work AND the successful completion of internship with Department of Children and Family Services DCFS Title IVE MSW Stipend Internship Program*** or TheCalifornia Title IVE Education Programwith the Department of Children and Family Services during theacademic year.