What are the responsibilities and job description for the Social Worker 4 position at State of Louisiana?
Our mission is to ensure that our clients’ voices are heard and that they receive every right and remedy afforded them under law.
Our goal is to provide high-quality legal counsel and representation to our clients, address systemic issues that affect the rights of more than one client and require a remedy, act as a clearinghouse for information relative to adults and children with mental health diagnoses and children in need of care, and provide training to various individuals/agencies
A master's degree in social work followed by three years of social services experience.The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.Job Duties:
Is a primary anchor on a Social Worker-Attorney collaborative team:
•Acts as consultant on social work matters to the attorneys and the multidisciplinary team. Assists the attorney in client engagement and case evaluation.
•Conducts general assessments when each case is first opened in the office: assesses what services may benefit the client, what supports the client may have, and if the client is in a state of crisis, what immediate treatment might be needed. Makes recommendations based on this assessment.
•Assists attorney in understanding client’s mental health needs and familiarizing them with social service providers. Helps client prepare to testify. Advocates for clients: in court, testifying as needed; or out of court, with service providers and DCFS representatives.
•Attends all case team meetings to offer advice, make recommendations, and/or help develop case strategies on all cases, even those not currently assigned.
•Conducts an investigation, assists with client visits, background research, records requests, subpoenas, and other investigative and case assistant tasks. Checks in on every new case, then provides recommendations to the attorney. For cases involving complex clinical issues that could benefit from the ongoing involvement of a social worker, the attorney can refer the case for social work brief advice, social work consultation (ongoing advice and some case tasks, though often behind-the-scenes), or social work collaboration (the full integration of the MHAS social worker into the representation).
•Provides periodic consultation to all staff on cases not currently assigned.
•Monitors the outcomes of services provided to the clients through an assessment and evaluation system designed for quality control.
•Prepares required social work reports such as assessments, case summaries, and social histories for the attorneys and other members of the multidisciplinary staff, as well as for use in gaining productive services and court orders on behalf of the child-clients. Visits/interviews clients, caretakers and others involved in Child in Need of Care proceedings to establish and maintain an adequate and professional relationship with our clients and to identify particular problems or complex issues. Manages assigned caseload as part of team to represent CINC clients; prepares reports and documents regarding clients; assists with correspondence with clients; documents work on case through case management system (Prime); assists with both in court and out of court advocacy.
•Conducts, and/or participates in, special projects related to child welfare, particularly those from Louisiana’s Pelican Center for Families and our federal partner programs through the ABA, NACC, and FJI.
•Represents MHAS and its social work programs by participation on local, state or national committees and boards.
•Provides guidance, assistance, supervision, and training to peer mentors, who are former foster youth with lived experience.
•Attends local, state or national conferences and seminars on topics related to MHAS work.
Performs case management on an interdisciplinary, inter-agency team:
•Ensures the agency can provide a holistic approach to child representation, as required by the Louisiana Supreme Court, by addressing the social-emotional developmental aspects of the case, thus freeing the attorney to expand their focus on the legal aspects of each case.
•Conducts evaluations of clients in cases involving complex clinical issues, aimed at identifying any unique problems manifested in specific high-risk populations, particularly those with special needs, mental health concerns, and adverse childhood experiences, i.e. trauma. Makes recommendations, based on these evaluations, on the need for provision of additional or different services and facilitating referrals as needed.
•Collects and interprets school and medical records and evaluations, and prepares required social work reports such as assessments, case summaries, and social histories, for the attorneys and other members of the multidisciplinary staff.
• Participates with the attorney, or independently, in relevant client planning meetings and conferences, including but not limited to Family Team Meetings, Interagency Support Coordination meetings, Individual Service Plan meetings, treatment team meetings, IEP meetings, etc. Does weekly/bi-weekly check-ins with the clients to ensure communication remains open and any updates or concerns on cases are being addressed before the court hearing, or after court, as needed.
• Regularly interfaces with DCFS workers, foster parents, CASAs, and service providers, acquiring up-to-date information on any issues, concerns or problems that may affect the client.
• Updates case team members on information gathered, shares ideas and recommendations on identified problems or complex issues and collaborates on best ways to effectively advocate for resources to address client needs.
• Visits (interviews) clients regularly to establish, and maintain, a professional relationship, to help gain clients’ trust, and to encourage the client to confide personal and familial issues that need to be addressed.
• Provides consultation to interdisciplinary staff, other Social Service or Social Work Staff, and community agencies regarding the psychosocial aspects of service to children in foster care. Provides consultation and works jointly with multidisciplinary case team to develop recommendations and case strategies for client. Helps clients understand the legal process they face: what will be expected of them; what their options are; what to expect in court; and what to expect as they work their case plan with DCFS. Is available for the client’s questions and concerns. Interfaces with DCFS workers, advocates for clients, and keeps attorneys abreast of client needs.
• Remains readily accessible to clients to address questions and concerns about attending, or testifying in, court; what to expect as they work their case plan with DCFS; how the CINC legal process works; and all options available to them.
• Attends court hearings and provides expert testimony as needed. Develops rapport with the child client, caretakers, and other stakeholders, in order to best serve the multidisciplinary team in its task of representing the client’s wishes.
• Manages assigned caseload as part of the team representing CINC clients, documenting the work on each case through the agency’s case management system (PRIME)
Enhances MHAS staff development and meets agency and statewide requirements:
• Attends all MHAS staff meetings.
• Provides in-services to staff on the appropriate use of various treatment modalities, the availability of regional and state resources for our clients, and the psychosocial aspects of service to children in foster care.
• Completes all requirements to maintain professional licensure and as required of all state employees.
• Provides data and/or reports to data administrator upon request.
Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: This vacancy will be filled by new hire or by promotion of a current permanent status classified employee.
Preference may be given to applicants with experience working with juveniles and persons with mental illness and/or disabilitiesHow 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 an 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 the 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.
A criminal history check may be conducted on all new hires as well as employees changing positions including promotions, demotions, details, reassignments and transfers.
Also, prospective employees may be subject to pre-employment drug testing. New hires will be subject to employment eligibility verification via the federal government's E-verify system
Applicants qualifying based on college training or receipt of a baccalaureate degree will be required to submit an official college transcript to verify credentials claimed prior to appointment. Please make every effort to attach a copy of your transcript to your application. The transcripts can be added as an attachment to your online application. The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire.
For further information about this posting, please contact:
Erica R. Gay
HR Specialist
Division of Administration/Office of Human Resources
email: Erica.Gay@la.gov
Louisiana is a “State as a Model Employer” for People with Disabilities.
Salary : $3,904 - $7,025
