DCS CASE MANAGER 1* - EG

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information Opening Date/Time 08/21/2024 12:00AM Central Time Closing Date/Time 12/12/2024 11:59PM Central Time Salary (Monthly) $3,687.00 - $5,532.00 Salary (Annually) $44,244.00 - $66,384.00 Job Type Full-Time, City, State Location Nashville, TN
Knoxville, TN
Cookeville, TN
Memphis, TN
Chattanooga, TN
Clarksville, TN
Murfreesboro, TN
Franklin, TN
Johnson City, TN
Jackson, TN
Hendersonville, TN
Kingsport, TN
Columbia, TN
Lebanon, TN
Morristown, TN
Shelbyville, TN
Tullahoma, TN
Sevierville, TN
Dickson, TN
Athens, TN
Cleveland, TN
Lawrenceburg, TN
Oak Ridge, TN Department Children's Services

LOCATION OF (350) POSITIONS TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, CHILD AND FAMILY MANAGEMENT, STATEWIDE

The DCS Case Manager 1* position has an approved starting salary of $50,604

What's it like to be a Case Manager:

Why We Do What We Do:

I understand this recruitment advertisement will remain open until an active job is posted. Once an active job is opened, I will be notified and assigned to the posting. This recruitment will remain open until an adequate pool of candidates is established. It is in the applicant's best interest to submit all required materials as early as possible.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.

Necessary Special Qualifications:

Applicants for this class must:

1. Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
2. Must agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority;
3. Must 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 person's 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 routine difficulty, and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: This is the trainee/entry level class in the DCS Case Manager job series. An employee in this class learns to perform a variety of case management duties for children under State 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 is fully trained and functions at the working level.

* An applicant appointed to this flexibly staffed class will be reclassified to the next higher class in the series after successful completion of a mandatory one-year training period; inadequate or marginal performance during the training period will result in automatic demotion or termination.

Responsibilities

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

1. Learns and adheres to departmental policy.
2. Learns to complete all training hours as required by the Department.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

1. Learns to determine 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. Learns to make recommendations for reunification or termination of parental rights.
3. Learns to monitor adoptive and foster families to check the compatibility of the child with the family.
4. Learns to actively listen to concerns to make appropriate referrals.
5. Learns to coordinate and observe visitations for children in and out-of-home placements to ensure meaningful visitations.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

1. Learns to prepare to participate and testify in court proceedings.
2. Learns to recruit adoptive/foster parents.

Getting Information:

1. Learns to conduct intake interviews with individuals reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.
2. Learns to conduct interviews with child's family and collateral contacts (e.g. principals, neighbors, doctors, etc.).
3. Learns to gather demographic information on the child and family (e.g. Genogram, Ecomap, Lexus Nexus, etc.).
4. Learns to gather complete and accurate information (e.g. child's school records, psychological evaluation report or medical examination results.).
5. Learns to locate and identify natural, formal, and informal supports.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

1. Learns to recognize and acknowledge the rights of families.

Documenting/Recording Information:

1. Learns to document accurate information from an interview.
2. Learns to prepare reports for court.

Analyzing Data or Information:

1. Learns to conduct ongoing assessments of all incoming information.
2. Learns to complete required assessments in a timely manner (e.g. Family Functional, CANS, YLS, FAST, etc.).

Scheduling Work and Activities:

1. Works flexible hours including weekends, holidays, and after hours.
2. Learns to regularly conduct home visits to assess the safety of homes.
3. Learns to conduct multiple and on-going face-to-face visits with children, resources families, providers, kinship home and other relevant entities.
4. Learns to schedule appointments as necessary and needed.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

1. Learns to communicate effectively what the issues are to build solutions.
2. Learns to engage with children and families to build a trustful relationship.
3. Learns to encourage clients to be self-sufficient to overcome barriers and achieve permanency.
4. Learns to regularly conduct home visits to assess the safety of homes.
5. Learns to conduct multiple and on-going face-to-face visits with children, resource families, providers kinship homes and other relevant entities.
6. Learns to arrive on time and prepared for meetings.
7. Learns to respond timely, appropriately and respectfully with families, providers, and co-workers.
8. Learns to respond timely to fill-up with action steps.

Assisting and Caring for Others:

1. Learns to transport children to various appointments, safely and securely.
2. Learns to assist child in preparing for placement (e.g. adoption, reunification, permanent guardianship, etc.).

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiation with Others:

1. Learns to address inappropriate behaviors and/or actions with clients, service providers, resource parents, etc.

Developing and Building Teams:

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

Interacting with Computers:

1. Learns to operate computer programs (e.g. Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, departmental systems for entering child welfare information (TFACTS), etc.).

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

1. Learns to review and explain relevant documents to clients.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment:

1. Learns to operate office machinery.
2. Learns how to scan documents, operate a camera.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public:

1. Learns to make referrals for service providers.
2. Learns to work collaboratively with law enforcement officials and multi-disciplinary teams.
3. Learns to train adoptive/foster parents and community.
4. Learns to work with service providers to receive information.

Performing General Physical Activities:

1. Learns to administer drug screens analysis.

Performing Administrative Activities:

1. Learns to maintain and update case files.
2. Learns to obtain appropriate signatures on required documents.
3. Learns to answer and return all correspondence in a timely manner.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies:

1. Decision Quality
2. Problem Solving
3. Priority Setting
4. Time Management
5. Conflict Management
6. Sizing Up People
7. Drive For Results
8. Perseverance
9. Organizational Agility
10. Written Communications
11. Building Effective Teams
12. Ethics and Values

Knowledge:

1. Knowledge of computer and office equipment

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 in daily work
5. The skill to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
6. 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
7. The skill to make appropriate decisions 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 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

Tools & Equipment

1. Electronic devices
2. Computers
3. Motor vehicles