Child Protection Worker - Social Worker 3 - #9851830

Job Description

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Department of Human Services (DHS) merged on July 1, 2022, to form one agency, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

HHS, Family Well-Being and Protection Division, is seeking a part-time Child Protection Worker (Social Worker 3) to conduct assessments of allegations of abuse or neglect of vulnerable children in the Des Moines Service area. These vital frontline positions require multi-tasking and the ability to gather physical and documentary evidence and analyze information with accuracy and efficiency to assist in protecting the most vulnerable Iowans.

Summary

This is a part-time opportunity, Monday - Wednesday with typical hours being from 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM with overtime as needed including weekend on call rotation. Upon successful completion of the training period, some telework may be an option for this position if requested by the employee and approved by leadership. There will be travel on a regular basis to conduct assessments of allegations within the Des Moines Service Area. Mileage is paid at $0.50/mile travelled according to the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) State Accounting Enterprise Procedures. A valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle is required.

Core Essential Functions

• Assess the ongoing risk to children, develop safety plans, assess the strengths, and needs of the child and family, and make recommendations to various county attorneys and courts.
• Frequent interaction with law enforcement, medical/mental health community partners, schools, etc.
• This position requires the ability to apply Iowa Code, agency policy, and sound professional judgment to highly complex situations involving crises and or chronic abuse or neglect.
• All cases assigned to persons in this position require home visits, detailed interviews, and thorough narrative documentation.
• Troubleshoots problematic situations to find innovative solutions to present to administration and the supervisor. Confronts crisis situations and high stress situations in a calm and orderly manner maintaining confidential information as required by the agency and assuring safety is a top priority for all in the office.
• Obtain information from a wide variety of sources, including written materials, telephone conversations and through computer databases and to be able to read and interpret the data.
• Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain reasonable facts, data, or other information that analyzes information and correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.
• Interacts in a team environment to manage group processes, facilitates, and encourages cooperation pride, trust, and group identity, fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
• Within an office environment, provides Division support to large segment of agency through managing internal and external requests for information and legislative reviews requiring comprehension of request, independent judgment to assign and adherence to agency formatting of timely response or communication. Interact with employees and customers in a positive customer service manner to resolve problems and answer customer inquiries. Customer contacts may include correspondence, telephone, or walk-ins to the local office.
• This position will be required to work or be on standby during nights and weekends on a rotational basis.
  
  

The ideal candidate will have

• Strong observational and analytical skills, as well the ability to respectfully engage families as partners in planning for safety and establish a working relationship with families.
• Excellent judgment and communication skills and the ability to provide good written documentation in a timely manner.
• The ability to use critical thinking skills, prioritize work, and work under pressure.
• The ability to use independent judgement to make sound decisions, demonstrate integrity and confidentiality and a strong work ethic.
• The ability to speak more than one language. Please list any additional languages you speak in your application.
  
  

Benefits: We have a great total compensation package, including:

• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) (Employee contributes 6.29%/State of Iowa contributes 9.44%)
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan) (State of Iowa matches up to $75/month)
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance (See below for more details)
• Vacation Leave (96 hours/year to begin, and increases with years of service)
• Sick Leave (144 hours/year)
• Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance ($20,000 paid for by the State of Iowa)
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
  
  

Our Benefits at a Glance outlines the great benefits for this position.

State of Iowa EEO/AA and E-Verify Statement: Minorities, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and those with the ability to speak, read, and/or write additional languages (include in your application or resume) is encouraged to apply.

(Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD). DHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages foster youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply.

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree and the equivalent of three years of full-time experience in a social work capacity in a public or private agency;

OR

graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in social work and the equivalent of two years of full-time experience in a social work capacity in a public or private agency;

OR

a Master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university;

OR

an equivalent combination of graduate education in the social or behavioral sciences from an accredited college or university and qualifying experience up to a maximum of thirty semester hours for one year of the required experience;

OR

employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of one year of full-time experience as a Social Worker 2 shall be considered as qualified.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description .

Additional Qualification Requirements

For designated positions in case management, the appointing authority may request those applicants possessing a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major or at least 30 semester hours or its equivalent in the behavioral sciences, education, health care, human services administration, or social sciences and the equivalent of 12 months of full-time experience in the delivery of human services in the combination of: chronic mental illness, developmental disabilities, and intellectual disabilities as a Targeted (Medicaid) Case Manager;

OR

an Iowa license to practice as a registered nurse and the equivalent of three years of full-time nursing or human services experience with the above population groups.