Child Protection Specialist (51194, 51514, 00537)

Company: State of Montana
Location: Bozeman
Posted on: June 4, 2021

Job Description:

*Women (and/or) minorities may be under-represented in this position and are encouraged to apply.*

The Department of Public Health and Human Services is the largest executive branch department in Montana State Government with over 3,200 employees. We maximize individual and organizational potential by supporting the agency's most valuable resource - OUR PEOPLE.

The Child and Family Services Division (CFSD) provides family-centered services within a trauma-informed system to assure safety, permanency, and well-being for children who are at risk of or have been subjected to child maltreatment.

We are looking for you to be a compassionate, energetic, conscientious, and detail-oriented individual who enjoys making a difference, being part of a team, and takes pride in your career to work in our fast-paced office.

*We Offer:*

- A competitive hourly wage and a comprehensive benefits package. To learn more about what we offer visit: https://statecareers.mt.gov/Portals/103/StatewideBenefitsFlyer.pdf

-A welcoming office environment where everyone is accountable for their part and everyone strives to provide the best customer service to clients and each other.

-A career in which you can feel good every day knowing you're making a difference in the lives of others.

-Advancement opportunities.

-Work/life Balance

*You Have:*

-Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, organizational skills both analytical and problem solving, and the ability to work with confidential documents.

-A positive outlook, dependability, accuracy and pride with your work.

-Initiative, resilience, and cooperative nature to maintain a harmonious work environment that exceeds everyone's expectations.

-A qualitative customer experience in the service of others.

*Physical and Environmental Demands: *

The work of a Child Protection Specialist is extremely difficult and involves extensive field work in the homes of families. The ability to engage and work with angry and violent individuals, make critical decisions, assess and place children, travel when needed, and remain flexible while working under demanding timelines with strict documentation requirements is required. Office time is limited due to the field work demands of this position.

*Key responsibilities include:*

Places child(ren) in out-of-home care, when necessary, and ensures that the placement is safe and complies with statutory and policy preferences and is in the best interests of the child(ren). Identifies available resources and connects families and children to these resources.

Engages families and the child(ren) to ensure the safety of the child through a variety of methods; such as, personal contact, court ordered treatment plan service provision, and family group decision-making meetings to name a few.

Prepares timely, clear, factually specific, and accurate affidavits for the District Court to allow the District Court to take steps necessary to timely implement permanency plans; including annual permanency plan reviews for every child.

Stays current and informed about the child's placement activities and issues and works to ensure stability of placement by providing services and interventions for the child(ren) and placement when necessary. Attends regular meetings with placement resources.

Shares outcomes of evaluations with parent(s) and/or placement and determines if additional services are needed to achieve timely reunification and/or maintain placement stability for child(ren).

Establishes frequent contact between parent, child(ren), and siblings if the child is not placed with siblings when in the best interests of the child(ren).

Attends educational meetings or discusses the educational progress with the parent(s) and/or placement to assure child's educational needs are being met.

For a more detailed job description, please email Travis.House@mt.gov

*Required for the first day of work:*

Ability to make critical decisions, based on integration of information from multiple sources that may be discrepant, in high-stress situations.

Ability to engage children and families, under difficult circumstances, to gather sufficient information to make accurate and precise decisions.

Ability to identify problems, develop and implement solutions.

Ability to communicate information both orally and in writing so others will understand.

Ability to remain calm when being confronted and to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, even those who do not share the same point of view and may be violent or angry and maintain them over time.

Ability to operate a personal computer and general office equipment as necessary to complete the essential functions, including using spreadsheet, word processing, database, email, internet and other computer programs.

*Minimum Qualifications*

Bachelor's degree in social work, human services or psychology, or directly related degree.

Two years of social services work experience, or directly related work experience, working with children and families in difficult and sometimes volatile situations.

Other combinations of directly related education and experience maybe considered on a case-by-case basis.

*Preferred:*

Child protection work experience and professional certification preferred.

Experience working with tribal government entities and/or other organizations of native peoples is highly preferred.

Knowledge of child development, child maltreatment prevention and treatment, and family centered social work practice.

Knowledge of the methods and procedures for Child Protections Specialist.

Knowledge of the laws and rules pertaining to child protection services such as child safety, permanency and well-being: Indian Child Welfare Act.

*To be considered for this position, please attach and submit the following material with your application:*

* Cover Letter

* Resume

* 3 Professional References

* Supplemental Question

o In this position, it is required you adhere to strict deadlines set by both statute and policy. Please tell me how your past experience has prepared you to adhere to the organization time frames and how you would use that experience in this current position.

*(Please type responses in separate Word documents and attach to application. HELPFUL HINT: When attaching a document, you must check the "relevant document" box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application. Please do not attach more documents than are requested. Failure to attach the required material will result in your application being incomplete.*

On your first day of work in the office, the Department will provide you with a cloth face covering. You may also bring and wear your own face coverings. Please be advised, all DPHHS employees are required to wear masks/face coverings while at work in the office and outside the office in official employee capacity.

**Job:** **Community/Social Services*

**Title:** *Child Protection Specialist (51194, 51514, 00537)*

**Location:** *Bozeman*

**Requisition ID:** *21140277*

Keywords: State of Montana, Bozeman , Child Protection Specialist (51194, 51514, 00537), Other , Bozeman, Montana