Child Welfare Social Worker 1 or 2 – FACS (2024)

Featured Jobs

Apply Now

The Department of Health and Welfare

DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND INDEPENDENCE OF IDAHOANS

People Making a Difference!

***THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE OPEN UNTIL FILLED. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO BE CONSIDERED.

Are you a licensed social worker who wants to make a positive difference in the lives of Idaho’s families and children? Are you looking for a career with advancement opportunities and an excellent compensation package? If this sounds like a good fit for you, come join the Child and Family Services team as a Child Welfare Social Worker 1 (licensed Social Worker in Idaho) or Child Welfare Social Worker 2 (licensed Social Worker in Idaho & Master’s degree or 2 years of experience working in Child Welfare) in our Family and Community Services Division (FACS), in our Ponderay field office. This position will report to Angela Kitt, Child Welfare Supervisor.

General Information: This position is designated for individuals with general social work qualifications (which includes possession of a current Idaho social worker license) who have no prior child welfare experience The Child Welfare Social Worker 1 position requires incumbents to work effectively with individuals and families under stress, difficult circ*mstances, and from diverse backgrounds Child Welfare Social Workers perform one or more types of casework, including foster care licensing, adoptions, case management, safety assessment, or intake; some positions may have the opportunity to telework. Incumbents serve a nine-month probationary period and participate in the Child Welfare Academy in order to learn Idaho child welfare practices and standards and complete Child Welfare Academy assignments. During the nine-month probationary period, incumbents carry a reduced child welfare caseload under the guidance of child welfare supervisors or designated experienced child welfare social workers to gain knowledge and expertise necessary to provide professional child welfare social work services to children and families who are subjects of child abuse or neglect. The Child Welfare Social Worker 1 is the first of a six-level Child Welfare job series.

This announcement may be used to fill future permanent and temporary positions. Temporary positions are limited to working 1,385 hours in a 12-month period for any one state agency. Employees are eligible for benefits if they work twenty (20) hours or more per week and the term of employment is expected to exceed five (5) continuous months. Temporary appointments from this announcement, serving at least one thousand forty (1,040) hours of continuous service, may be hired as an entrance probationary employee without further examination for the same classification and location as announced.

You must be licensed as a social worker in Idaho to pass the exam for this position. After you have received your license, please reapply. Or if you are not interested in being licensed or while you are waiting to be licensed, you might consider applying for a Client Services Technician position or a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist position.

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare is a drug-free workplace. Any applicant offered employment in this position at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will be required to pass a pre-employment drug test. In addition, successful candidates will be required to complete a criminal history background investigation. Employment is dependent upon satisfactory results of the investigation.

BENEFITS:

BEST RETIREMENT AVAILABLE IN THE NATION

We have one of the Nation’s best state retirement systems (PERSI) that offers a lifetime benefit.

OTHER EXCELLENT BENEFITS

• excellent medical, dental and vision insurance- (full-time/30+ hours per week) employee only coverage for PPO
• generous vacation and sick leave accrual beginning as soon as you start
• 11 paid holidays a year
• paid parental leave
• multiple savings plans, optional 401K, and optional 457
• basic life insurance for employee and family (employee covered at one times annual salary; spouse covered at $10,000; child covered at $5,000)
• wellness programs
• ongoing training opportunities
• an opportunity for student loan forgiveness
• and more!

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:

Child Welfare Social Worker 1:

• Receive and process referrals, complaints, or requests for service, and conduct assessment and fact-finding interviews of child abuse or neglect to obtain and assess mental, physical, economic, employment, environmental and social status of client/family.
• Prepare written intake reports based on initial interviews with referents and subjects of assessment and draft case plans related to child abuse/neglect issues with recommendations for case-related service decisions.
• Draft case plans related to child abuse/neglect cases and participate in interdisciplinary team staffing to formulate and/or modify treatment plans.
• Provide social services, support, and change-oriented activities to preserve family unit and promote client self-determination.
• Prepare case record notes attesting to engagement with clients and results from specific services.
• Perform on-site evaluations of foster homes to determine if appropriate for child placement and recommend approval/disapproval for licensing.
• Research, obtain and make referrals to community resources and provide court-related services including court testimony, court reports and other legal documentation and mediation, negotiation, and implementation of agreements.
• Prepare court reports, affidavits, testimony, orders to remove the child, etc. for required court proceedings.
• Consult with experienced social workers, law enforcement, court personnel, community resource workers and school staff.
• Use keyboard to document and enter client data into computerized record systems.

Child Welfare Social Worker 2:

• Assess and process referrals for child abuse or neglect and conduct assessment and fact-finding interviews to obtain and assess mental, physical, economic, employment, environmental and social status of client/family/caregiver.
• Assess interview information to determine substantiation of referrals and prepare written intake reports.
• Make on-site evaluations of foster homes to determine suitability of facilities and service providers for licensure/certification.
• Design, organize, implement, and monitor effectiveness of case plans using an array of community resources to resolve issues.
• Facilitate client access to support services.
• Determine appropriate client placement and ensure least restrictive environment, take action to reduce risk to client and others by providing emergency, crisis intervention, and after-hours on-call service.
• Complete need and risk assessments on cases and determine eligibility for services and level of care.
• Carry a full caseload in child welfare social work.
• Client counseling, social services, support, and change-oriented activities to preserve the family unit and promote client self-determination.
• Develop appropriate safety plans for children addressing special needs of clients.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team staffing to modify treatment plans.
• Prepare case record notes attesting to engagement with client and results from specific kinds of service.
• Design and apply varying treatment modalities for problem resolution.
• Monitor child and family achievements for safety, permanency, and well-being, refer clients and others to community resources and provide court-related services including testimony, mediation, negotiation, and implementation of agreements.
• Recommend the need for legal intervention and consult with law enforcement and court personnel, community resource workers and school staff.
• Prepare court reports, affidavits, testimony, etc. for required court proceedings.
• Use keyboard to document and enter client data into computerized record systems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

You must possess all the minimum qualifications below to pass the exam for this position. Please make sure your resume or work history supports your meeting the minimum qualifications for this position. Failure to do this may disqualify you from being considered for this position. It is highly recommended to attach a one-page cover letter to your application to demonstrate how you meet the requirements below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

CHILD WELFARE SOCIAL WORKER 1 (CWSW1) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Requires current Licensure as a Social Worker in Idaho in accordance with Idaho Code 54-3201 et.seq. Licensure information can be found through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses at https://apps.dopl.idaho.gov/DOPLPortal/BoardPage.aspx?Bureau=SWO
• Applicants must possess a valid driver’s license.

CHILD WELFARE SOCIAL WORKER 2 (CWSW2) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Licensure as a Social Worker in Idaho in accordance with Idaho Code 54-3201et.seq. Licensure information can be found through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses at https://apps.dopl.idaho.gov/DOPLPortal/BoardPage.aspx?Bureau=SWO
• Applicants must possess a valid driver’s license.

AND

• Successful completion of Idaho Welfare Academy sessions and assignments. (Child Welfare Social Worker incumbents who have successful completed a nine (9) month experience in child welfare case management in Idaho)

OR

• Two years’ experience in a public child welfare system or child welfare agency and complete the Child Welfare Academy within the first year of appointment.

OR

• Master of Social Work degree and complete the Child Welfare Academy within the first year of appointment.

Learn About a Career with DHW

***PLEASE NOTE: application assistance is not available after the business hours listed below, on the weekends, or on holidays and you must apply before 4:59 pm on the closing date. When applying, use CHROME as your browser to avoid complications.

If you have questions, please contact us at:

Email is the quickest way to get an answer to your questions.

(answered Monday through Friday during business hours MST)

EMAIL: dhwjobs@dhw.idaho.gov
PHONE: (208) 334-0681

EEO/ADA/Veteran:

The State of Idaho is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, political affiliation or belief, sex, national origin, genetics, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact (208) 334-2263 (TTY/TTD: 711), or email ada.coordinator@dhr.idaho.gov.

Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.