[Hiring] Child Abuse Investigation Supervisor @County of Chester

Role Description

The Child Abuse Investigations Supervisor provides supervision to a team of Casework Specialists in the Intake/Investigatory Unit to ensure that abuse and dependency allegations are investigated and that appropriate services are provided, including resource and referral information to community-based services. This position is responsible for ensuring that risk and safety assessments are conducted properly, that all associated documentation complies with the Child Protective Services Law, and that investigations and related documentation are accurate, current, and completed within mandated time frames.

A person in this position is expected to demonstrate the System of Care Practice Model, which maximizes all resources around an individual or family. This system includes child and adult serving agencies and community partners that join with an individual or family to meet their goals.

The Children, Youth and Families Child Abuse Investigations Supervisor position comes under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law. This job requires the following documents to be obtained, reviewed as acceptable by the supervisor, and re-obtained every five years: PA Child Abuse, PA Criminal History, and FBI Criminal History. If your background is unacceptable, you will be disqualified for employment. A criminal background check is required.

Essential Duties

• Supervise, motivate, and train staff through regularly scheduled conferences and referrals to related training.
• Determine the urgency of the response by assessing the situation regarding the presence of imminent threat to the child’s life, health, or safety.
• Balance the use of CPS statutory authority with the need to determine the least invasive intervention to protect the child and enhance family functioning.
• Evaluate the reliability and accuracy of information gathered to determine the level of risk after the initial intervention.
• Work with the Investigative Casework Specialist to continue to revise the safety/risk assessment throughout the investigative process.
• Gather, assess, and disseminate sensitive, collateral information from various sources.
• Analyze and interpret pertinent professional reports and data.
• Ensure that clients are referred to other appropriate human services.
• Facilitate meetings among involved legal, medical, law enforcement, educational, and mental health professionals.
• Determine future risk to the child and make decisions regarding the course of action to ensure the child’s safety in consultation with their Manager.
• Provide consultation, guidance, and support during case investigation and subsequent service delivery.
• Assist with tracking and reviewing client information.
• Assign caseloads and related duties, and coordinate staff counseling services to assist clients with emergencies or other crisis situations.
• Ensure effective service: produce, distribute, and monitor reports and records reflecting statistical data on the number and disposition of cases opened, closed, or transferred.
• Through individual and group conferences, assist staff members in analyzing case problems and improving their diagnostic and helping skills.
• Ensure that professional social work values, principles, and ethics are applied.
• Review correspondence, reports, and records, as appropriate, and recommend specific actions to ensure quality of service.
• Respond to client’s needs, questions, and/or emergencies when the assigned team member is not available.
• Monitor, implement, and maintain policies and procedures.
• Assist and oversee the caseworker’s preparation of court documents and monitor their participation in court hearings.
• Coordinate case preparation through conferences with the agency’s legal liaison, attorneys, and collaterals, and attend all court hearings.
• Provide case management services in the absence of caseworkers.
• Ensure that state regulations and county/agency protocol are followed.
• Operate within the approved budget.
• Evaluate staff performance and make recommendations regarding personnel actions.
• Conduct, recommend, or direct staff to appropriate training programs.
• Ability to take on responsibilities of the manager upon their absence.
• Maintain a positive public image in accordance with county and agency policy.
• Serve as liaison to community-based services.
• Provide after-hours and in-office on-call consultation.
• Perform other duties, tasks, and special projects, as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, with four years of professional employment experience in the human services field/public or private social work; or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Social Sciences, with four years of experience in the human services field/public or private social work; or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with 12 credits in Social Sciences and four years of experience in the human services field/public or private social work; or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work which includes participation in the Child Welfare Baccalaureate program (CWEB) and four years of experience in the human services field/public or private social work; or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university to include 12 credits in the Social Sciences and successful completion of an internship program in a Child Protective Services Agency.
• Knowledge of and implementation of the Child Protective Services Law as it applies to investigations, compliance with mandated time frames, service provision, and documentation.
• Knowledge of and implementation of the Juvenile Act as it relates to supervising those conducting Dependency investigations.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and use of a private vehicle.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Five years of job-related experience.
• Caseworker Certification.
• Supervisory experience, including training and performance evaluation.
• Knowledge of child welfare and/or child protective services law/Juvenile Act.
• Experience and knowledge in child development.
• Background and knowledge in social work and psychology.
• Strong knowledge of office policy and procedure.

Additional Information

• Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.

Computer Skills

• Basic Word skills.
• Basic Outlook skills (Email and Calendar).
• Basic Internet skills for research purposes.