Job Description

Supplemental Information

Department MISSION

DCFS is working to keep children safe, helping individuals and families become self-sufficient, and providing safe refuge during disasters.

Department VISION

We care for the well-being and safety of Louisiana\'s people.

Department VALUES

Treating all people with dignity, compassion and respect, while providing services with integrity.
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This announcement serves to fill vacancies in one of the following parishes: Caddo, Bossier, Desoto, Natchitoches, Sabine and Webster.
The referenced positions have a Special Entrance Rate (SER) see below:
Child Welfare Specialist Trainee - SER: $1,404.80 bi-weekly (Pay Level SS-411)
Child Welfare Specialist 1 - SER: $1,590.40 bi-weekly (Pay Level SS-412)
Child Welfare Specialist 2 - SER: $1,820.80 bi-weekly (Pay Level SS-414)
Child Welfare Specialist 3 - SER: $1,948.00 bi-weekly (Pay Level SS-415)
The referenced positions are also eligible for premium pay of up to $4.00 per hour for hours work based on years of service within DCFS Child Welfare.

In accordance with La. R.S. 46:51.2 the department shall conduct a State Central Registry (SCR) check for a potential employee of the department to determine whether or not said individual\'s name appears on a SCR subsequent to December 31, 2009, and whose duties include: investigations of child abuse or neglect, supervisory or disciplinary authority over children, direct care to a child, or performance of licensing surveys.

In accordance with state laws, selected candidates must pass the following checks before any final job offer will be made: Drug Test, Criminal Background, State Central Registry, and Louisiana State Police Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry.

Must possess a valid driver\'s license.

This position may be filled as a probational appointment or a job appointment that may last up to 48 months. Job appointments may convert to probational appointments. Also, it may be filled as a detail and promoted within 12 months.

You must include all relevant education and experience on your official State application.

The duties that you describe in the Work Experience section of your application will be reviewed by State Civil Service as part of the process in determining if you meet the minimum qualifications for this job.

Your experience WILL NOT be evaluated based on the job title alone. You must describe your actual duties. If you are a current employee of the State of Louisiana it is important that you indicate in the "Duties" section for each job the specific programs that you worked in to receive credit for that experience.

List all prior employment. Work experience left off of your electronic application or only included in an attached resume will not be credited. Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applicants qualifying based on college training or receipt of a baccalaureate degree will be required to submit an official college transcript to verify credentials claimed prior to appointment. Please make every effort to attach a copy of your transcript to your application. The transcripts can be added as an attachment to your online application. The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire.

As part of a Career Progression Group, vacancies may be filled from this recruitment as a Child Welfare Specialist Trainee, 1, 2, or 3 depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant(s). The maximum salary for the Child Welfare Specialist 3 is $80,267. Please refer to the \'Job Specifications\' tab located at the top of the LA Careers \'Current Job Opportunities\' page of the Civil Service website for specific information on salary ranges, minimum qualifications and job concepts.

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the \xe2\x80\x9cApply\xe2\x80\x9d link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

DCFS is an "Equal Opportunity Employer" and Louisiana is a "State as a Model Employer for People with Disabilities"

For additional information about this vacancy, please contact Laura Milstead via email at: Laura.Milstead.DCFS@LA.Gov

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A baccalaureate degree.

SUBSTITUTIONS:
Six years of full-time work experience in any field may be substituted for the required baccalaureate degree.

Candidates without a baccalaureate degree may combine work experience and college credit to substitute for the baccalaureate degree as follows:

A maximum of 120 semester hours may be combined with experience to substitute for the baccalaureate degree.

30 to 59 semester hours credit will substitute for one year of experience towards the baccalaureate degree.
60 to 89 semester hours credit will substitute for two years of experience towards the baccalaureate degree.
90 to 119 semester hours credit will substitute for three years of experience towards the baccalaureate degree.
120 or more semester hours credit will substitute for four years of experience towards the baccalaureate degree.

College credit earned without obtaining a baccalaureate degree may be substituted for a maximum of four years full-time work experience towards the baccalaureate degree. Candidates with 120 or more semester hours of credit, but without a degree, must also have at least two years of full-time work experience to substitute for the baccalaureate degree.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.

A valid driver\'s license and access to a personal vehicle.

NOTE:
The incumbent of this position must not have been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15.587.1 (c).

NOTE:
Any college hours or degree must be from an accredited college or university.

Job Concepts

FUNCTION OF WORK:
To train in performing professional child welfare services for the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families as mandated by state and federal laws.

LEVEL OF WORK:
Entry.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
Direct from a Child Welfare Supervisor.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
None.

LOCATION OF WORK:
Department of Children and Family Services.

JOB DISTINCTIONS:

Differs from Child Welfare Services Assistant by the presence of training to perform professional child welfare services.

Differs from Child Welfare Specialist 1 by the absence of independence in the performance of assigned duties.

Examples of Work

EXAMPLES LISTED BELOW INCLUDE BRIEF SAMPLES OF COMMON DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS JOB TITLE. PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL TASKS ARE INCLUDED.

Under very close supervision, may perform the following duties based upon program assignment:

FOSTER CARE

Participates in developing case plans and objectives in family team conferences and agency staffings, and prepares cases for presentation to the multi-disciplinary team for consultation.

Provides supportive counseling and other supportive services for clients and arranges for the provision of services from community resources based on the case plan.

Interviews clients and families and composes correspondence to compile social histories and psychosocial assessments.

Prepares and submits appropriate reports to the court and the district attorney on cases in compliance with state laws and agency policy, prepares and submits necessary affidavits, and testifies in court proceedings.

Conducts regular home visits to assess safety factors and works with the family toward reunification or some other permanent placement for the child.

Searches for relatives and locates, selects, and oversees the most appropriate placement or change of placement for a child.

CHILD PROTECTION INVESTIGATION

Obtains identifying information, determines if the report meets intake requirements as established by state law, determines the current status of the child and/or adult to evaluate extent of danger/risk, determines priority level of report, and prepares complaint form.

Investigate allegations of abuse and/or neglect of children and/or adults in accordance with agency policy and state law. Provides those services required for the child\'s immediate safety.

May serve on 24-hour on-call duty to respond to child abuse and/or neglect reports.

FAMILY SERVICES

Assesses needs in response to identified problems with particular focus on those affecting the parent/child relationship, parenting ability, or other factors contributing to the abusive and/or neglectful environment in the family.

Conducts regular home visits with the family to assess safety and risk factors and determine further treatment needs.

Develops a case plan with the family to address identified issues and to link the family to community resources.

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