DCS CASE MANAGER 3 - 12242024-64199

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

LOCATION OF (3) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, CHILD AND FAMILY MANAGEMENT DIVISION, SULLIVAN COUNTY, HAWKINS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COUNTY

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and two years of professional experience providing child welfare services including, but not limited to, one or a combination of the following: social, psychological, or correctional counseling or case management; volunteer services coordination for a children's service program; and/or juvenile classification coordination.

Substitution of Graduate Education for Experience: A graduate degree in social work or a related behavioral science field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis, to a maximum of one year (e.g., 36 graduate quarter hours may be substituted for one year of required experience).

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must:

1. Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
2. Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority;
3. Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check;
4. Submit to a review of their status on the Department of Health's vulnerable persons registry;
5. Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of appointment in some positions;
6. Upon appointment, successfully complete a prescribed course of training offered by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services.

Overview

Summary: Under general supervision, is responsible for professional case management work of considerable difficulty and lead work of routine difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: This is the lead level class in the DCS Case Manager job series. An employee in this class is responsible for leading and training subordinates in the performance of case management work for children under the State's supervision, in State custody, or at risk of State custody, and their families. This class differs from DCS Case Manager 2* in that an incumbent of the latter performs working level case management work. This class differs from DCS Case Manager 4 in that an incumbent of the latter performs supervisory work over an entire case management team or single/small in an institutional setting.

Responsibilities

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates:

1. Administers disciplinary action as required to correct undesired outcomes.
2. Conducts case conferences to provide guidance, feedback, direction and next steps to promote safety, permanency and well-being with DCS Case Manager 1 and DCS Case Manager

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:

1. Addresses' inappropriate behaviors and/or actions with clients, service providers, resource parents, etc.
2. Addresses' conflict among co-workers and leadership using conflict resolution skills to provide a harmonious working environment.

Making Decision and Solving Problems:

1. Determines if abuse or neglect has occurred, who the abuser is, the level of risk or harm to the child, and the need for a safety plan.
2. Makes recommendations for reunification or termination of parental rights.
3. Coordinates and observes visitations for children in and out of home placement to ensure meaningful visitation.
4. Reviews and assess cases for closure or transfer based on knowledge of policy requirements for case tasks to ensure safety, permanency, and well-being.
5. Uses information from gathered assessments to aid in decision process about safety, permanency and well-being.
6. Learns to compare the needs of the child to family capabilities to appropriately match child with family.
7. Actively listens to concerns to make appropriate referrals.
8. Conducts peer reviews to get feed back and direction on challenging case to gain a global perspective on possible interventions.

Coaching and Developing Others:

1. Completes performance documents with subordinates using tools such as Performance Briefings, Performance Evaluations, Interims, Job Performance Plans, in order to ensure continuous professional development.
2. Coaches, directs, and demonstrates all job duties of DCS Case Manager 1 and DCS Case Manager 2's for continuous professional development.
3. Demonstrates tasks in computer programs for DCS Case Manager 1 and DCS Case Manager 2's (e.g. Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, departmental system for entering child welfare information departmental systems (TFACTS), etc.).

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

1. Recognizes and acknowledges the rights of families.
2. Tracks and creates report on regional data to ensure State and Federal compliance.
3. Tracks assessments to ensure data elements meet required time frames.
4. Reviews new and updated laws and policies, disseminate to staff to ensure compliance.

Developing Objectives and Strategies:

1. Sets goals and establishes action steps for families, teams, and professional development to meet desired outcomes.

Interacting with Computers:

1. Performs advanced task in computer programs (e.g. Microsoft Office, Excel, etc.).

Communications with Supervisor, Peers, or Subordinates:

1. Identifies pertinent information about cases that require decision and/or actions from leadership and DCS legal staff.
2. Serves as a liaison among supervisors and staff to ensure a positive work environment and professional relationships are maintained.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Other:

1. Assigns cases and work assignments to DCS Case Managers through the use of departmental systems for entering child welfare information (TFACTS) in order to meet work requirements.
2. Creates on-call schedules for DCS Case Managers to allocate personnel in a fair and consistent manner.

Documenting/Recording Information:

1. Documents accurate information from interviews, observations, correspondence for a wide range of sources.
2. Prepares reports for court.
3. Enters time, mileage, travel, leave request into Edison.

Communicating with Person Outside Organization:

1. Prepares to participate and testify in court proceedings.
2. Provides higher quality customer service with clients and community partners to promote effective outcomes.
3. Participates in multi-disciplinary teams including Child Protective Investigative Team, Foster Care Review Board, Care Team, Community Advisory Board in order to gain a global perspective about case planning decisions.
4. Recruits adoptive and foster parents.

Scheduling Work and Activities:

1. Regularly conducts home visits to assess the safety of homes.
2. Works flexible hours including weekends, holidays, and after hours.

Getting Information:

1. Conducts intake interviews with individuals reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.
2. Conducts interviews with child's family and collateral contacts (e.g. principals, neighbors, doctors, etc.).
3. Discuss' case information with DCS Case Manager 1 and DCS Case Manager 2's to guide decision making process about case needs, resources allocation and outcomes.
4. Gathers demographic information on child and family (e.g. Genogram, Ecomap, Lexus Nexus, etc.).
5. Gathers complete and accurate information (e.g. child's school records, psychological evaluation report or medical examination results).
6. Locates and identifies natural, formal and information supports.

Analyzing Data or Information:

1. Completes required assessments in a timely manner (e.g. Family Functional, Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths, Youth Level Services Tool, Family Advocacy and Support Tool, etc.).
2. Reviews ongoing assessments of all DCS Case Manager 1 and DCS Case Manager 2's to approve.
3. Analyzes data, response time, overdue reports, Child and Family Team Meetings, placement reports, resource home reports, Early Periodic Screening, diagnosis and treatment and dental, face-to-face visits, review mega-report through the use of Sharepoint and Excel to track child welfare outcomes.
4. Conducts ongoing assessments of all incoming information.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

1. Engages with staff, children and families to build a trustful relationship.
2. Encourages clients to be self-sufficient to overcome barriers and achieve permanency.
3. Regularly conducts home visits to assess the safety of homes.
4. Conducts multiple and on-going face-to-face visits with children, resource families, providers, kinship homes and other relevant entities.
5. Communicates effectively what the issues are to build solutions.
6. Responds timely to follow-ups with action steps.
7. Arrives on time and prepared to meetings.
8. Responds timely, appropriately and respectfully with families, providers, co-workers

Assisting and Caring for Others:

1. Assists child to prepare for placement, adoption, reunification, etc., to include monitoring and sitting with child while they await placement.
2. Provides subordinates with tools such as Employee Assistance Program, information about coping skills for secondary trauma, and other stress management supports.
3. Transports children to various appointments safely and securely.

Developing and Building Teams:

1. Identifies members for a Child and Family Team Meeting that will work collaboratively with the Case Managers to develop action steps and goals to be accomplished by the child and family.
2. Participates as an active member of a team; support and rely on team members for additional knowledge and help when needed.

Performing Administrative Activities:

1. Maintains and updates case files.
2. Maintains and updates personnel files and supervisory notebooks for employees to document to support employee evaluation.
3. Answers and returns all correspondence in a timely manner.
4. Obtains appropriate signatures on required documents.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment:

1. Operates child restraint devices when necessary to ensure safety.
2. Scans documents.
3. Operates a camera.
4. Operates office machinery.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public:

1. Works with service providers to receive information.
2. Makes referrals for service providers.
3. Trains adoptive and foster community.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

1. Reviews and explains relevant documents to clients.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

1. Adheres to departmental polices.
2. Communicates to field staff new policies, techniques, procedures, issues and systems.
3. Completes all training hours as required by the department .

Performing General Physical Activities:

1. Administers drug screen analysis.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies:

1. Decision Quality
2. Problem Solving
3. Directing Others
4. Organizing
5. Conflict Management
6. Sizing Up People
7. Drive For Results
8. Perseverance
9. Organizational Agility
10. Written Communications
11. Ethics and Values
12. Integrity and Trust

Knowledge:

1. Knowledge of computer program and office equipment, at an intermediate level, used on a daily basis
2. Knowledge of Human Resources policies and procedures that will be used on a daily basis with supervision
3. Knowledge of the Department of Children Services policies and procedures, at an intermediate level, used on a daily basis in the work environment

Skills:

1. The skill to manage one's own time
2. The skill to actively listen to others
3. The skill to organize work efficiently and effectively
4. The skill to use problem solving techniques, at an intermediate level, in daily work
5. The skill to understand written sentences and paragraphs, at an intermediate level, in work related documents
6. The skill to understand verbal communication, at an intermediate level, in work related situations on a daily basis
7. The skill to listen to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
8. The skill to make appropriate decisions, at an intermediate level, on a daily basis

Abilities:

1. The ability to be culturally sensitive in the work environment
2. The ability to demonstrate warmth and empathy when working with children and families
3. The ability to demonstrate self control in daily situations
4. The ability to demonstrate critical thinking, at an intermediate level, in the work environment
5. The ability to handle daily stressful situations in the work environment
6. The ability to demonstrate flexibility in the work environment
7. The ability to be a team player in the work environment
8. The ability to work with the general public in the work environment on a daily basis
9. The ability to manage multiple roles in the work environment on a daily basis
10. The ability to develop and maintain personal growth within the team assigned to in the work environment
11. The ability to coach and mentor best practices for the DCS Case Manager 1's and 2's in the work environment on a daily basis

Tools & Equipment

1. Electronic devices
2. Computers
3. Motor vehicles

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

**Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.