Team Decision Making Unit - Senior Social Services Specialist (IV)

Location: The position will be located in the Northeast Region of Missouri. Base location is negotiable within NE Region.

Individual(s) selected for this position may receive a higher rate based on a pay differential (e.g., shift, or time-of-service pay).

Are you passionate about helping people? Do you love working with children and families? Do you enjoy assisting people in difficult circumstances? The Department of Social Services - Children’s Division cares for at-risk children and families by providing family preservation and reunification services, investigating allegations of abuse and neglect, and conducting foster care and adoption case management. If you want to be part of a great team working to make a difference, please come join us!

• Responsible for conducting Team Decision Making meetings for all placement related decisions, on a full-time basis.
• Facilitate time-limited, outcome-focused meetings which include family, extended family, caregivers, community representatives, service providers and agency staff.
• Guide meeting participants through discussion of concerns, identification of strengths, and development of ideas to reach consensus regarding the least restrictive, best possible placement- related decision.
• Give assistance and support to family members, assigned worker and others to achieve honest, respectful and constructive meetings.
• Lead meetings which regularly comply with agency’s mission, values, policies, and best practice standards, to protect children and preserve families.
• Provide timely documentation of meetings, using automated database, and participate in regular self- evaluation of the TDM process.
• Provide regular feedback and advocate for system improvements that support best practice and policy development.
• Conduct staff and community partner trainings.
• Assist with on call, ensuring safety, case supervision and consultation, and critical interventions as business needs require.

Desired Skills:

• Comprehensive knowledge of principles, practices, theories, and techniques of counseling and social service work used with families, children, parents, and individuals involved with adoption and foster care.

• Compr ehensive knowledge of child welfare principles, methods, and current trends of social casework as applied in evaluation of services and treatment of clients.

• Comprehensive knowledge of court procedures and laws pertaining to the rights of families and children.

• Ability to develop, coordinate, implement, and review quality assurance/improvement programs for specialized child welfare services.

• Ability to work effectively with staff, agency clients, professionals, and the general public.

Special Requirements:

• Must be able to legally operate a motor vehicle in the performance of assigned duties upon the date of hire and throughout employment.

Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. A degree in Social Work or comparable human services field is preferred; however, applicants with an unrelated Bachelor’s degree, but possessing direct relevant experience and/or competencies may be allowed substitutions on a case-by-case basis; a nd f i ve or m ore years of professional experience with a public or private agency in the delivery of protective services including casework/case management in: investigation of abuse or neglect; coordination of foster care, adoptions, and family centered services; treatment/rehabilitation; and/or providing in-home family crisis intervention services, and possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license.

(A combination of graduate education from an accredited college or university in the preferred fields and experience described may substitute for the stated qualifications.)

The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here .

CD-HR@dss.mo.gov

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• State of Missouri

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