Are you looking for a career where you can make a difference?
Becoming a Caseworker I or Social Service Worker at the Utah Division of Child & Family Services (DCFS) can be a life changing event! If you have a social work background; a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Education and Promotion, or related field (or will by the time of hire ), or other social service related field; and a passion to work with children and families, Child & Family Services is the place for you. Together we can make a difference through service!
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Principal Duties
DCFS Caseworkers work to keep children with their own families whenever safely possible by assessing their and their families' needs, getting them connected to available resources, and conducting in-home services of appropriate intensity and duration. They work to reunify children who have been removed from their homes whenever possible or find enduring safety and permanency for them through alternative options. To accomplish this, caseworkers work closely with the subject matter experts, are provided with regular professional supervision, and complete DCFS Practice Model Training while performing the following tasks:

• Investigating reports of abuse, exploitation, and/or neglect; assessing risks, strengths, barriers; and determining appropriate actions governing a client's situation.
• Writing and implementing child and family service plans.
• Coordinating and referring services to children and families offered by community resources, placement providers, collateral agencies, the courts, and community partners.
• Orchestrating individual, family, or group therapy sessions that coincide with established treatment plans and providing crisis intervention if necessary.
• Presiding over visits between parents and children, monitoring behavior, reporting observational notes and concerns to appropriate professional/clinical staff, and updating case files.
• Conducting in-home visits.
• Testifying in court or hearings regarding actions, findings, procedures, and protocols.
• Preparing detailed case documentation that includes: intake records, investigation summaries, risk assessment social summaries, needs assessments, service plans, case history, and activity logs.
• May include performing 24-hour-on-call services as needed under supervisor's direction.

• Holds a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, family and human development, human services, criminal justice, a bachelor of science degree in health education and promotion, or closely related degree.
• Has a current social service worker license or higher license active in the State of Utah (required for the Social Service Worker level position).
• Possesses a current valid driver's license.
• Is adept at interacting professionally with all levels of management while managing a diversified workload and challenging situations.
• Deals with people in a manner which shows sensitivity, tact, and professionalism.
• Communicates effectively, clearly, and concisely verbally and in writing.

The following duties are performed in addition to the tasks listed in the Job Description section:

• Receives information from referent to determine priority and assess client's needs for services.
• Provides clients with information concerning rights, options, benefits, services, goals and expectations.
• Attends staffing meetings and change-of-shift meetings, to obtain progress reports, case specific instructions and mentoring, etc.
• May be required to provide 24 hour on call services.

This list contains requirements, knowledge, skills and abilities associated with these jobs:

• principles, theories, and practices of case management and practices of human growth and development
• use State or agency-specific software application program(s)
• provide consultation and/or expert advice or testimony
• use computer word processing software
• court hearings, rules, records, procedures and protocol
• enter, transcribe, record, store, or maintain information in either written or electronic form
• follow written and/or verbal instructions
• human behavior and performance, mental processes, psychological research, or assessment, methods, and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders
• compose and produce reports, documents and related material
• investigative techniques and processes and interviewing techniques skills
• applicable laws, rules, regulations and/or policies and procedures
• read, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures
• identify signs and symptoms of maltreatment and neglect
• agency and community resources and services

• Travel required; you may be required to use your personal vehicle to perform the duties of this position; approved mileage is reimbursable through State Finance.
• All DCFS job offers are contingent upon passing a Background Screening Application (BSA).
• Only applicants invited to interview will be notified.

• Moderate - Some of the work performed requires some physical exertion. You may be required to stand; walk over rough surfaces; bend; crouch; stoop; stretch; reach; lift moderately heavy items (up to 50 lbs.), e.g. lifting a small child in a recurring manner and/or for long periods of time.

• High Risk - Risks found in potentially dangerous or unusual environmental stress situations, e.g. working at great heights, working in extreme outdoor weather conditions, being subject to possible physical attack, etc.
• Some special risks which may require the use of special safety precautions e.g., entering clients homes, maybe working around contagious diseases, i.e. parasitic infections caused by head lice, bed bugs, scabies, etc. or chemicals, i.e. illegal substances, etc.