Job Abstract

The Child Abuse Investigations Supervisor provides supervision to a team of Casework Specialists in the Intake/ Investigatory Unit to ensure that abuse and dependency allegations are investigated and that appropriate services are provided to include resource and referral information to appropriate community based services. This position is responsible to ensure that risk and safety assessments are conducted in a proscribed manner, that all associated documentation is in compliance with the Child Protective Services Law and that investigations and related documentation is accurate, current and completed within mandated time frames.

A person in this position is expected to demonstrate the System of Care Practice Model which maximizes all resources around an individual or family. This system of care includes child and adult serving agencies and community partners that join with an individual or family to meet their goals.

The Children, Youth and Families Child Abuse Investigations Supervisor position comes under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law. This job requires the following documents to be obtained, reviewed as acceptable by the supervisor and re-obtained every five years: PA Child Abuse, PA Criminal History and FBI Criminal History. If your background is unacceptable, you will be disqualified for employment.

A criminal background check is required.

• Supervise, motivate and train staff through the use of regularly scheduled conferences and referrals to related training.
• Determine the urgency of the response by assessing the situation with regard to the presence of imminent threat to the child’s life, health or safety.
• Balance the use of the CPS statutory authority with the need to determine the least invasive intervention to protect the child and enhance family functioning.
• Evaluate the reliability and accuracy of information gathered to determine the level of risk after the initial intervention.
• Work with the Investigative Casework Specialist to continue to revise the safety/ risk assessment throughout the investigative process.
• Gather, assess and or disseminate sensitive, collateral information from a variety of sources.
• Analyze and interpret pertinent professional reports and data.
• Ensure that clients are referred to other appropriate human services.
• Facilitate meetings among involved legal, medical, law enforcement, educational and mental health professionals.
• Determine future risk to the child and make decisions as to the course of action to ensure the child’s safety in concern with their Manager. These recommendations may include removal of the child from the parent when necessary.
• Provide consultation, guidance and support during case investigation and subsequent service delivery
• Assist with tracking and reviewing client information.
• Assign caseloads and related duties, and coordinate staff counseling services to assist clients with emergencies or other crisis situations.
• Ensure effective service: produce, distribute and monitor reports and records reflecting statistical data on the number and disposition of cases opened, closed or transferred.
• Through individual and group conferences, assist staff members in analyzing case problems and improving their diagnostic and helping skills.
• Ensure that professional social work values, principles and ethics are applied.
• Review correspondence, reports and records, as appropriate, and recommend specific actions to ensure quality of service.
• Respond to client’s needs, questions and/or emergencies when the assigned team member is not available.
• Monitor, implement and maintain policies and procedures.
• Assist and oversee the caseworker’s preparation of court documents and monitor their participation in court hearings.
• Coordinate case preparation through conferences with the agency’s legal liaison, attorneys and collaterals, and attend all court hearings.
• Provide case management services in the absence of caseworkers.
• Ensure that state regulations and county/agency protocol is followed.
• Operate within approved budget.
• Evaluate staff performance and make recommendations regarding personnel actions.
• Conduct, recommend or direct staff to appropriate training programs.
• Ability to take on responsibilities of the manager upon their absence.
• Maintain a positive public image in accordance with county and agency policy.
• Serve as liaison to community-based services.
• Provides after hours and in office on-call consultation.
• Perform other duties, tasks and special projects, as required.

Minimum Requirements:

• Social Work is defined as providing services to families to help them attain a more satisfactory social, economic, mental or physical adjustment to their environment. Interviewing clients to obtain social histories, providing comprehensive information about agency programs/ services, determining eligibility for services, providing information and referrals, navigating systems and negotiating/ advocating for services and formulating/implementing plans for change.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, with four years of professional employment experience in the human services field/ public or private social work; or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Social Sciences, with four years of experience in the human services field/ public or private social work; or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with 12 credits in Social Sciences and four years of experience in the human services field/ public or private social work; or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work which includes participation in the Child Welfare Baccalaureate program (CWEB) and four years of experience in the human services field/ public or private social work; or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university to include 12 credits in the Social Sciences and successful completion of an internship program in a Child Protective Services Agency.
• Knowledge of and implementation of the Child Protective Services Law as it applies to investigations, compliance with mandated time frames, service provision and documentation.
• Knowledge of and implementation of the Juvenile Act as it relates to supervising those conducting Dependency investigations. This includes the provision of information about department services and includes resource/referrals to appropriate community-based services.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and use of a private vehicle.

• Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:
• See minimum above.
• Five years of job-related experience.
• Caseworker Certification.
• Supervisory experience to include training and performance evaluation.
• Knowledge of child welfare and/or child protective services law/Juvenile Act.
• Experience and knowledge in child development.
• Background and knowledge in social work and psychology.
• Strong knowledge of office policy and procedure.

Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.

Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have:

• Basic Word skills
• Basic OutLook skills (Email and Calendar)
• Basic Internet skills for research purposes