GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK:

Provides responsible and equitable protection for abused, neglected, abandoned, and at-risk children and their families. Performs specialized, complex professional investigations and assessments for families in Child Protective Services in an inclusive team environment in accordance with Va. Law and Policy and established investigative, casework, and counseling principles. Uses and asset-based approach to engage with the client system to support and assist them with safety, personal, family, social, health, and economic needs. Empowers the client/family to attain their highest level of self-sufficiency.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Ascertains validity of reports of child abuse and neglect applying Va. Law and policy.
• Assesses the situation with regard to the presence of imminent threat to the child's life, health and/or safety to determine urgency of response.
• Analyzes complex human behavior in initial contact with families.
• Selects the optimal crisis intervention method to de-escalate violent or volatile situations when they arise.
• Sets clear boundaries for clients who are intimidating, defiant, and possibly dangerous.
• Observes and documents the effects of family behavior and environmental factors on the child.
• Balances the use of CPS statutory authority with the need to determine the least invasive intervention to protect the child and enhance family functioning.
• Demonstrates attentiveness, reassurance, empathy, and congruence in thinking, feeling, and acting to create a stable, rational atmosphere conducive to cooperation and engagement.
• Communicates the CPS complaint and the agency's role in child protection clearly and honestly to the alleged abuser and the family.
• Interviews family members to assess and document information regarding strengths, mental and physical development, abuse history, parenting skills, perceptions of reported incident, violence, and family and community support .
• Assesses the role of drug or alcohol abuse in individual and family dysfunction and intervenes for the protection of children and the rehabilitation of chemically dependent individuals and their codependent family systems when applicable .
• Evaluates the reliability and accuracy of information gathered from family members and determines level of risk after the initial period of crisis intervention .
• Continues to revise safety assessment of the child throughout the investigative/assessment period.
• Gathers, assess, and/or disseminates sensitive, collateral information about the family from a variety of sources according to Va. Confidentiality law and policy and respecting family privacy.
• Analyzes and interprets pertinent professional reports and other data.
• Refers clients for services to other human service agencies such as substance abuse services, mental and physical health providers, employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, etc.
• Mediates among involved legal, medical, law enforcement, educational and mental health professionals.
• Makes determination regarding conditions of abuse, neglect, and/or safety of the child at 45-60 days. Determines future risk to the child and makes decisions as to the course of action to ensure the child's future safety, which may include recommendations for removal and the actual removal of the child from the parent(s) when necessary according to Va. Law and policy.
• Provides coverage after hours and on weekends, on an on-call basis, for emergencies involving abuse or neglect of children and adolescents, and for situations requiring immediate attention regarding children in the legal custody of the Department of Social Services.
• Performs other duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of child and adolescent growth and development, family structure and dynamics, the impact of handicapping physical and mental conditions on families, and crisis intervention. Knowledge of social, economic, and health problems and needs. Knowledge of individual and group behavior. Ability to understand and interpret laws, regulations and policies. Ability to develop rapport with clients from diverse backgrounds and ages through complex interviewing techniques, using a variety of skills. Ability to handle a high level of responsibility in making decisions about children and their families' lives. Thorough knowledge of goals, pertinent terminology and issues of other professions, including medical, mental health, legal, educational and law enforcement. Ability to assess the individual's and families' capability to utilize services. Ability to recognized and accept the rights, responsibilities, and differences of others. Ability to work effectively using a variety of modalities in helping families solve their problems. Ability to plan and organize work; ability to communicate and establish effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, other professional and technical staff, social agencies, and the general public; ability to prepare reports and maintain records.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Required: Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field; or minimum of a bachelor’s degree in any field and minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area.

Preferred: Experience in assigned program area and completion of required training programs or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Possession of a BSW or MSW degree, or other master’s degree, and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Work license are preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents. Ability to make appropriate recommendations. Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints orally and in writing. Ability to make effective presentations to management, employees, public groups, and/or boards of directors. Ability to resolve conflicts.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Commonwealth of Virginia Social Work License is preferred.
Must possess a valid appropriate driver's permit license by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit, stand and walk. Must be able to assist physically dependent individuals. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Delivers work to the public typically in clients' home, often in remote rural areas. Frequent contacts with clients and coordination with other public and private agencies (I.e. school, courts, clinics, etc.) are required.

Travel Required

Workers in this position are required to drive and they must meet eligibility requirements of the County's safe driver policy.

Telework eligible

This position is telework eligible per Albemarle County policy and procedure.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Position open until Wednesday, February 15, 2023.