Social Service Specialist 1 (Screener)

DHS17-1164

A career with Children, Adults and Families, within the Department of Human Services is a chance to change lives…one at a time. Do you want the ability to impact families in a positive way? Bring your professional knowledge, excellent communications skills and emotional intelligence to work for the Department of Human Services.

We are currently seeking proactive learners and resilient contributors to join our Child Welfare Hotline team of professionals. There is one permanent full-time opening located at our Portland (E. Burnside) field office. This position is represented by a union.

The hours for this position are: 12:00 pm to 9 pm Monday through Friday

DHS is guided by our core values of Integrity, Innovation, Respect, Service Equity, Responsibility, Stewardship and Professionalism.

In this role you will be screening community referrals of child abuse or neglect in order to determine protective services eligibility; initiate field protective service worker response, when appropriate; and, cross report allegations to law enforcement, coordinating any joint response indicated. A screener’s role in the Multnomah County child protective services system is pivotal to the prompt and appropriate response to children at risk in abusive or neglectful situations. A screener gathers enough information to judge child vulnerability factors, risk factors and safety threats all of which might place a child in imminent danger of serious harm.

Some of what you will do as a Social Service Specialist 1:

• Provide appropriate information or referrals to callers or reported families, when a report does not meet abuse and neglect case assignment levels. These reports include referrals to the Community Safety Net.
• Accept phone calls to the Hotline from mandatory reporters and the general public.
• Review and screen written reports concerning abuse or neglect such as from Law Enforcement, Hospitals or the general public.
• Provide consultation and information to mandatory reporters and to the general public on child protection, mandatory reporting and child welfare.
• Complete necessary collateral contacts on reports in order to decide whether or not an in person, protective service assessment is indicated.
• Initiate criminal records checks on individuals within legal and policy guidelines.
• Process all reports quickly, thoroughly and in compliance with DHS protective services policy and ORS.
• Process contacts with mandatory reporters and the general public in an efficient, polite, professional manner consistent with the principles of a strength/needs, family systems based practice.
• Close referrals at the Hotline on reports of abuse and neglect which do not meet criteria for in person protective service assessment.
• Determine appropriate level of response using initial child vulnerability, risk and safety threat assessment.
• Initiate Child Abuse Detective responses, if the situation meets MDT criteria.
• Cross report with LEA.
• Write and collect complete referral information
• Schedule preliminary hearings and initiate child placements as necessary.

Other duties as assigned

• May provide after-hours coverage according to local on-call guidelines.
• Attend and participate in unit meetings, staff meetings, and individual supervisory conferences as scheduled.

Working Conditions

Work station is in an open work space subject to occasional high level of noise and interruption. The job involves gathering and reviewing detailed information about often extreme violence, abuse, neglect and trauma. This is a regular work schedule and a full time position with the hours of. Overtime may be required on occasion.

We’re looking for professionals who have successfully demonstrated:

• Preparing and maintaining narrative documentation of the activities concerning individual client cases.
• Communicating effectively with people over the telephone, in writing and in person.
• Education and work experience that has prepared you for a job screening reports of child abuse.
• Engaging and interviewing the general public about child abuse and/or neglect.
• Referring individuals to community partners or programs related to human or social services.
• Human/social services assisting children, adults and families with change.
• Public relations skills.
• Ability to efficiently multi-task and set work priorities.
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills.

Who Should Apply?

Professionals who have a Bachelor’s or higher level degree in Social Work/Human Services or a closely related field ; OR

A Bachelor’s degree in a field not closely related (to Social Work/Human Services) and one year of human services related experience (i.e., work providing assistance to individuals and groups with issues such as economically disadvantaged, employment, abuse and neglect, substance abuse, aging, disabilities, prevention, health, cultural competencies, inadequate housing).

Requirements for position: FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) clearance.

Only the candidates whose experience most closely match the qualifications and requested skills of this position will be invited to an interview.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Veteran’s Points :

Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be give veterans’ preference. To receive preference, veterans must attach appropriate documentation as outlined by the Department of Administrative Services at the following website: Veterans Resources . Veterans may also call the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs at 1-800-692-9666.

Questions and inquiries regarding this recruitment may be directed to:

Nora Leyva-Esquivel, Workforce Recruitment Consultant

nora.l.leyva-esquivel@state.or.us

503-269-4222

TTY users please contact the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service: 1-800-735-2900 and ask the Telecommunications Assistant to connect you to 503-945-5698 (TTY Users).

If you are offered employment, the offer will be contingent upon the outcome of an abuse check, criminal records check and driving records check, and the information shall be shared with the DHS, Office of Human Resources (OHR). Any criminal or founded abuse history will be reviewed and could result in the withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment.

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US!

The Oregon Department of Human Services/Oregon Health Authority is committed to affirmative action, equal employment opportunity and workplace diversity.

Core benefits

Medical, vision and dental insurance

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans for the employee and qualified family members
• $5,000 in employee basic life insurance

Retirement benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP)
• Employer paid defined benefit and defined contribution programs

**Effective November 1, 2016, SEIU represented employees who are Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) participating members will have their base salary increased by 6.95%. Upon becoming a PERS participating member, SEIU employees pay the employee 6% contribution to PERS.

Paid leaves and other benefits

• Sick leave earned at the rate of 8 hours per a month with no maximum accumulation
• Vacation leave earned at a minimum rate of 8 hours per month with accrual rate increases at 5-year increments
• 24 hours personal leave earned each fiscal year
• Ten paid holidays a year

The state also provides access to an innovative Employee Assistance Program that offers work-life counseling, along with homeowner, legal and family resources.

Optional benefits

• Term life (employee, spouse or domestic partner, and dependents
• Long-term and short-term disability
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
• Flexible spending accounts
• Option to enroll in the Oregon Savings Growth Plan, a deferred compensation program offering a wide variety of investment options.

The following information describes typical benefits available for employees. Actual benefits received may differ by position or branch of government or be prorated for other than full time work.