Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

Child Protective Services

Open Until Filled

Division: Social Services

Job Code: 21-1021

Salary Range: $30,368 - $47,382.40

Status: Non-exempt, Full-time

SUMMARY: Under the direction of the Protective Supervisor, the incumbents will provide protective services on behalf of children and families in instances of abuse and/or neglect.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

• Perform a range of duties concerned with receiving suspected cases of abuse and maltreatment in accordance with OCFS regulations in conducting timely Protective Services investigations, assessing for safety and/or risk regarding abuse including physical or sexual abuse and neglect.
• Works diligently to meet Tribal Policy and Procedures, state mandates and timeframes.
• Develop and implement appropriate service plans and provide ongoing casework with the goal of preventing abuse/neglect.
• Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their needs.
• Address legal issues, assist in hearings and provide testimony in court when necessary, to include writing and filing petitions for neglect, abuse, orders of supervision and/or protection, and violations. Monitor and/or supervise cases per Family Court Orders.
• Provide, find, arrange for support services to include, but not limited to: childcare, homemaker service, prenatal care, substance abuse treatment, employment training, counseling, or parenting classes, to prevent more serious issues from developing.
• Refer clients to community resources for services such as job placement, legal aid, housing, medical treatment, or financial assistance, and provide concrete information, such as where to go and where to apply.
• Attend case conferences and other meetings designed to ensure adequate services to individuals, children and families.
• Enter, record, and maintain Progress Notes in CONNECTIONS recording systems.
• Maintain case files for all Child Protective Cases in accordance with OCFS standards and Agency policies, to include maintaining accurate case records of assessment, activities, and plans; writes summaries, reports, letters, and memos.
• To complete all required training, including but not limited to: Child Welfare/Child Protective Services Common Core Training for Caseworkers, and Child Protective Services Response Training.
• Required to carry the DSS On-Call Pager and cell phone to respond to after-hours reports from the New York State Center Registry and other crisis calls relating to program mandates as scheduled on a rotating basis, including weekends and some holidays.
• Promote long-term safety and well-being.
• Accept other duties as programming needs develop.

Protective Services- Child

• Engages families to assess child safety and to make plans that best meet the safety, well-being, and permanency needs of their children.
• Creates a team for each family consisting of family, staff, and community members to find safe solutions for children.
• Reaches factually supported conclusions in a timely and through manner with input from parents, children extended family, and relevant community stakeholders to assure safety.
• Separates dangerous caregivers from children in need of protection. When court action is necessary to make child safe, uses authority with sensitivity and respect.
• Facilitates family teams to develop and implement creative, culturally specific, individualized solutions that build on the strengths of families to meet their needs.
• Assist in arranging foster placements, including emergency removals, and to provide on-going follow-up.
• Develop initial Family Services Intake (FSI) prior to referral to Preventive or Foster Care Services, including obtaining all necessary documentation and records for Preventive referral.

Supervisory Responsibilities: There are no supervisor requirements for this position.

Qualification Requirements: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Due to the sensitive nature of information obtained, must maintain strict confidentiality at all times.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Previous casework experience preferred.
• Basic understanding of computer storage and retrieval.

Working Relationships:

• Ability to be sensitive to individual values and needs while respectful of the cultural identities within the Akwesasne and surrounding communities.
• Ability to work harmoniously with clients, community members, and other employees. This position requires teamwork and flexibility within the work environment to meet client needs.
• To work in close relationship with Protective Case Supervisor on a case by case need.
• Demonstrated abilities will include assessing: safety; abuse/neglect; client strengths and capability; family functions; case planning; and petitioning for protective custody and placement.
• To work with Preventive/Foster Care Services Unit, for referral of further services or if placement is necessary.
• To maintain a relationship with other Tribal Service Programs.
• To maintain a good working relationship with other County DSS and Child and Family Services Programs in the area as necessary.
• To maintain a good working relationship with the Saint Regis Tribal Police and New York State Police, including other local law enforcement, as their assistance on various cases may be needed.

Sensory Demands of the Job:

• Will be aware and sensitive to the needs that may arise due to the nature of this position when handling stressful and demanding cases/clients. Immediate debriefing will be made available.
• Will be emotionally mature, objective, and sensitive to individuals, persons, and families and their situations.
• Will be able to handle responsibility, work independently, and maintain good working relationships with clients and program staff.
• Will assist in maintaining a safe working environment in the office and in the field.

Confidentiality: According to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Employee Handbook: Without limiting the generality of the following, the employee is in breach of the duty of confidentiality to the employer when the employee:

• Knowingly, carelessly, or recklessly divulges any information or documentation which has to come to their attention as an employee of the Tribe and which it is the duty of the employee to keep confidential; or
• Knowingly, carelessly, or recklessly divulges any information of a personal nature relation to fellow employees or clients.
• Please be understood that this is not a comprehensive list.
• Must be at least 18 years of age, have and maintain a valid driver’s license with a clean driver abstract in accordance with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Fleet Policy.

Applicants must submit letter of interest, resume, supporting documents (certificates, degrees, licenses) and proof of native preference eligibility (Tribal Identification Card or Status Card or letter) by email to human.resources@srmt-nsn.gov or by mail to Human Resources, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, 71 Margaret Terrance Memorial Way, Akwesasne, NY 13655. Due to our network security, we are unable to open hyperlinks. Applicants will need to attach their documents as PDF or WORD files if emailing. Applicants must clearly outline that they meet the qualification requirements on their resume.

NATIVE PREFERENCE POLICY

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe strives to be an equal opportunity employer dedicated to the policy of nondiscrimination based on race, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, physical disability, veteran status or any other non-job related factor. Among qualified applicants, the SRMT will give preference to the qualified native applicant.

DRUG TESTING POLICY

The successful applicant for employment must submit to and pass a drug test for illegal substances prior to employment being confirmed.

BACKGROUND CHECK

Some positions require candidate(s) to successfully pass a criminal background check prior to beginning employment, used solely for employment related purposes.

ELIGIBILITY LIST

A list of qualified candidates is created from interviews that may be used to appoint individuals to similar positions within the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe for a period of six months.

INTERVIEW

Testing in the applicable skills may be required as part of the interview process.