Job ID: 27053
Agency: Department of Social Services/Division of Child Protection
Location: Vermillion or Yankton
Salary: $26.29 per hour
Pay Grade: GI
Closing Date: 06.06.24
This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the Department of Social Services. For more information on the Department of Social Services, please visit https://dss.sd.gov/ .
This position develops and implements alternative placement plans for children when reunification efforts with their families are unsuccessful, including legal guardianship, adoption or transitioning older youth to adulthood.
The position supports families and children in dealing with separation and attachment issues in preparation for permanent placements, actively seeks placement options for specific children, and recommends placements. Coordinates adoptive placements through pre-adoptive visits and family preparation to ensure children’s needs are met. Negotiates adoption/guardianship subsidies with permanent families.
Reviews children’s psycho-social, medical, developmental, and educational histories; and ensures identified needs are being met. Provides training and consultation, or other services to adoptive or foster/kinship parents or facility placements. Develops and monitors individual case plans for children with alternative care providers.
Maintains children in a variety of placements to include foster care, kinship care, pre-adoptive care and facilities.
Responds to emergency removal situations and placement disruptions.
Incumbent may be required to work a flexible schedule which may include evening, night, holiday, and weekend hours. Emergency response duties may be required. In and out-of-state travel may be required.
Licenses And CertificationsA valid driver's license is required.
The Ideal Candidate Will HaveA bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, public administration, or other human service-related fields is preferred. Entry-level knowledge and abilities may be acquired through any combination of training and/or experience that will enable the incumbent to possess the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Theories and concepts related to culture, child development, family connections and family dynamics and their influence on child and parental relationships and behavior; needs and potential sources of conflict for children in placement and appropriate placement resources; current practices and interventions used in responding to child abuse and neglect and its effect on child safety and in responding to issues caused by children being removed from their homes.
Knowledge OfKnowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• theories and concepts related to culture, child development, family connections and family dynamics and their influence on child and parental relationships and behavior;
• needs and potential sources of conflict for children in placement and appropriate placement resources;
• current practices and interventions used in responding to child abuse and neglect and its effect on child safety and in responding to issues caused by children being removed from their homes.

Ability To

• lift up to 30 pounds.

Skills To

• establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships and demonstrate compassion, respect, courtesy, and tact when interacting with others;
• actively listen, elicit needed information and communicate information effectively and accurately, both orally and in writing;
• utilize computerized data system (Microsoft Word preferred but not required);
• prepare clear and concise documentation, reports, and correspondence that reflect relevant facts;
• effectively plan and organize work activities, adjust to multiple demands, and prioritize tasks to complete assignments and meet schedules and deadlines;
• gather and analyze data; reason logically and accurately; and solve problems using common sense, reasoning and resourcefulness;
• assume initiative with minimal supervision;
• observe and correctly assess situations;
• provide training and work direction to other;
• gather and analyze data; reason logically and accurately; and solve problems using common sense, reasoning and resourcefulness.

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08. Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment. Successful applicant(s) will undergo an abuse and neglect screening. The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.
The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/ . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"