CWS Case Manager - Upstate Region Continuous

Job Responsibilities

• * Multiple Positions Available in Upstate Region * * (Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg)

Do you have a passion to provide meaningful contributions to your community? Would you like to be part of an organization whose central mission is helping to protect, stabilize and strengthen the lives of South Carolina’s children, families, and vulnerable adults? If so, the SC Department of Social Services has the right job opportunity for you!

Job Duties

• Case Managers are critically important to our mission to serve South Carolina by promoting the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and vulnerable adults; helping individuals achieve stability and strengthening families. We work to achieve our goals through courage, compassion, and competence, and in all circumstances, we maintain clients' and families' right to confidentiality in compliance with Federal and State laws.
• DSS utilizes several types of case managers throughout its agency. Through this posting you may apply for the following case manager positions within our Child Welfare Services Upstate Region.
• Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigations Case Manager: The CPS Assessment Case Manager serves as a specialist who assesses risk and safety threats to children who may have experienced abuse and/or neglect. CPS Assessment Case Managers gather information, conduct interviews, and personally engage children and families in the development of safety plans and access to services. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to, thoroughly documenting case files, participating in supervision and legal consults, collaboration with providers, and preparation of and participation in court proceedings.
• Family Preservation Case Manager: The Family Preservation Case Manager serves as a specialist to plan and execute case management activities that ensure the safety, permanence, and well-being of children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect. Responsibilities of case manager in this division include, but are not limited to, personally engaging children and their families in the development of plans and collaboration of access to services and providers, thorough documentation of case management, preparation of and participation in court proceedings, and participation in other related activities as necessary.
• Foster Care Case Manager: Foster Care Case Managers are specialists who assess risk and manage safety threats to ensure the safety, permanence, and well-being of children who are in the custody of the Department of Social Services. Responsibilities of case managers in this division include, but are not limited to, personally engaging children and families in the development of plans and collaboration of access to services and providers; thorough documentation of case management; preparation of and participation in court proceedings; and participation in other related activities as necessary.
• Permanency Case Manager: The Permanency Case Manager (formerly Adoptions) performs case management (i.e., contacts, visitation, case planning) to a caseload of legally free children and families to ensure safety, permanency and well-being. Makes referrals to adoption recruitment resources, coordinates the selection of adoptive individuals or families, prepares children and adoptive applicants for adoptive placement. Makes contact with children and families to achieve the permanency goal of adoption. Utilizes critical thinking skills to monitor safety, risk, and well-being and performs on-call duties as assigned.
• Will be required to perform Red Cross shelter/emergency response duties as directed.

Minimum And Additional Requirements A Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Behavioral Science, or Social Science.

A Bachelor's Degree in any other field and one (1) year experience in a related field.

A Bachelor's or Master's degree in a Social Work or Social Welfare Program accredited by the Council on accredited institution, plus experience as a professional Social Worker. Additional Comments

This application for employment with the SC Department of Social Services must be completed in its entirety. A resume may be included; but shall not be substituted in lieu of the completion of this application in part or in whole. "See Resume" is not acceptable information for the completion of any part of the requirements of this application. If such is submitted, this employment application will be considered incomplete and may not be forwarded as eligible for consideration to hiring managers.

Must possess a valid driver's license and have access to and be able to operate a motor vehicle. Individuals must comply with necessary field work assignments.

If you certify, by completion and submission of this application, that you possess educational credentials that qualify you for the available DSS positions, you will be required to provide a certified official transcript, if you are selected for job offer.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs

DIVISION: Child Welfare Services / Upstate Region

• Important Salary Information*

With the recent implementation of the Child Welfare salary plan funded by the General Assembly beginning in July 2021, front line case managers and team leaders (supervisors) will not only earn higher starting salaries when joining DSS than in previous years, but will also enjoy supplements to their starting salaries upon completion of training and competencies, attainment of BSW/MSW degrees for front line case managers, annual increases for years of continuous service, and salary increases upon attainment of established competencies/certifications for moving into Level 2 and Level 3 salaries.

New Child Welfare case managers will earn a starting salary of at least $45,721 during initial certification, depending on education level and degree type, with up-front starting salary supplements of 2.5% ($46,865) and 5% ($48,006) for candidates holding a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, and 10% ($50,293) for team leaders (supervisors), respectively. Following completion of training certification, assignment of caseloads with one year of completed experience, quarterly adjustments will be made to move successful trainees into the Level 1 salary bracket and will receive at least a 15% salary increase (adjusting their salary to $52,843, $54,165 or $55,400 depending on degree type), and $58,125 for team leaders (supervisors) at that time.

Annual salary increases of up to 0.50% per year will be awarded on a quarterly basis for each consecutive year a Level 1 case manager remains in his/her class/position.

In January of 2022, DSS rolled out additional opportunities for case managers to progress from Level 1 to Levels 2 and 3, with increases in salary averaging 2.5% for each increase in the case manager’s level of expertise under the salary plan. Level 2 and 3 child welfare staff will also see accelerated annual increases of 1% to 1.5% per year awarded for each continuous year served in his/her class/position. Progression from Level 1 to Levels 2 and 3 requires completion of specified requirements in the Advancement Pathway which include additional training, skill development, and practice model aligned competencies that increase in complexity as the career path progresses. Case reviews, data compliance reviews, field observations and employee self-assessments are used by supervisors to evaluate eligible employees’ demonstration of competencies and skills prior to approval to advance to the subsequent level.

Benefits For State Employees The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.

01

Have you ever been terminated or forced to resign from any job? If yes, please explain.

02

I understand that supplemental questions are considered part of the official application. Any misrepresentation will result in disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. If there are periods of time when you were not employed, you must also list those periods on your employment application. A resume cannot be submitted for completed work history and education sections of the employment application. The employment application may be considered incomplete and may not be forwarded. I have read and acknowledge the above.

• Yes
• No

03

I understand that by completion and submission of this application, that if I possess educational credentials that qualify me for the available position(s) and in the event I am offered a position with the SC Department of Social Services, I will be required to provide a certified official transcript within two (2) weeks of employment.

• Yes
• No

04

If you selected "Yes" that you are a veteran in the Agency-Wide Questions, are you able to provide a Member 4, Service 2-Copy, or NGB22 DD-214?

• Yes
• No

05

Have you ever been employed by the State of South Carolina? If yes, please provide the state agency/agencies.

06

How did you hear about this job opportunity?

• HR Recruiter
• DSS Employee
• DSS Internship
• Careers Website
• Indeed
• LinkedIn
• SCWORKS
• College/University Job Portal
• Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
• Radio/TV/Billboard
• Other

07

If you selected "Other" or "DSS Employee" in the previous question, please list the source below.

08

Have you completed an internship with the SC Department of Social Services?

• Yes
• No

09

Are you a BSW Scholar graduate with a two-year DSS Child Welfare case manager employment agreement?

• Yes
• No

10

Which of the following best describes your highest level of completed education?

• High School Diploma or GED
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Master’s Degree
• Doctorate
• None of the above

11

What major(s) did you receive your degree(s) in? If you do not have a degree, enter N/A

12

Do you have at least one (1) year of experience in Social Services (Ex: casework, teaching, counseling, determining eligibility for programs)?

• Yes
• No

13

I acknowledge that a passing score on the Child Welfare Basic exam is required for employment in this position. If selected for this position, but I do not obtain a passing score within six (6) months of employment, I will not be eligible for continued employment with the Agency.

• Yes
• No

14

Do you want to be considered for the Child Protective Services - Investigations Case Manager?

• Yes
• No

15

Do you want to be considered for the Family Preservation Case Manager?

• Yes
• No

16

Do you want to be considered for the Foster Care Case Manager?

• Yes
• No

17

Do you want to be considered for the Permanency (formerly Adoptions) Case Manager?

• Yes
• No

18

Are you willing and able to work in Anderson County?

• Yes
• No

19

Are you willing and able to work in Cherokee County?

• Yes
• No

20

Are you willing and able to work in Greenville County?

• Yes
• No

21

Are you willing and able to work in Laurens County?

• Yes
• No

22

Are you willing and able to work in Oconee County?

• Yes
• No

23

Are you willing and able to work in Pickens County?

• Yes
• No

24

Are you willing and able to work in Spartanburg County?

• Yes
• No

25

Are you willing to be on-call?

• Yes
• No

26

Are you willing and able to work 2nd Shift (4:00 pm – 12:30 am)?

• Yes
• No

27

Are you willing and able to work 3rd Shift (12:00 am - 8:30 am)?

• Yes
• No
• Required Question