Child Welfare Specialist 3 (Adoptions-Lafourche Parish)

About this Job

Treating all people with dignity, compassion and respect, while providing services with integrity.

At the Department of Children and Family Services, our mission is to empower communities and improve lives by delivering responsive, inclusive, and forward-thinking public services. We are proud to serve the people of Louisiana with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to equality.

This position works in the Lafourche Parish Child Welfare Office's Adoptions Unit providing resources and placement services to children who are legally available for adoption and their prospective adoptive families.

Minimum Qualifications

Six years of experience in child welfare; OR

Six years of full-time work experience in any field plus three years of experience in social services, health services, law enforcement, or investigatory work; OR

A bachelor’s degree plus three years of experience in social services, health services, law enforcement, or investigatory work; OR

An advanced degree in a social science or behavioral health field, nursing, or a juris doctorate plus two years of experience in social services, health services, law enforcement, or investigatory work.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION:
Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

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

A current 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).

Job Specification

Job Duties and Other Information

Job Duties:

• Maintains a caseload of foster children legally available for adoption, requiring highly specialized diagnostics/assessments/intervention techniques and service plans.
• Arranges for children to receive diagnostic services from competent professionals in order to document the child's special needs and needs for future assistance.
• Assesses or coordinates assessment of children available for adoption and prepares children and families for adoptive placement through specialized pre-placement, placement, and post placement activities.
• Prepares subsidy records and memos to submit for approval for subsidies.
• Provides supportive and direct counseling to children freed for adoption and adoptive parents in all stages of the adoption process.
• Assists in the recruitment of appropriate adoptive families for children in caseload.
• Confers with recruitment resources within the region, state, and out of state as necessary to locate appropriate adoptive homes for children available for adoption.
• Assists adoptive parents in applying for financial assistance and on-going special services through the adoption subsidy program.
• Represents the agency in juvenile court proceedings by presenting case plans and progress reports for children in the caseload.
• Performs other duties as assigned for the smooth operation of the Department.

Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: 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 or by promotion of a permanent classified employee.

Works Schedule: Typically, work hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Flexible work schedules are available after meeting certain criteria and is dependent upon the position you are applying for. Some positions require working shifts.

Compensation: This position has a Special Entrance Rate (SER) of $24.35/hour.

Location: This vacancy is located in Thibodaux Region in the Lafourche Parish Child Welfare Office in Thibodaux, LA.

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.

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

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete and 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.

• Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in this application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

Contact Information:
For additional information about this vacancy, please contact:
Shelby Young
DCFS Human Resources
shelby.young.dcfs@la.gov