CWS Case Manager Transition Support Services / 61143677

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:

• CWS Case Manager Transition Support Services performs case management and planning in the Extension of Foster Care (EFC) State Program in accordance with DSS Policy, Mission and GPS Practice Model. Utilize youth centered approach to engage and partner with teens and older youth utilizing adolescent and emerging adult development, the impact of trauma, and methods/strategies to support young adult’s capacity to thrive and to provide a continuum of care in the areas of life skills development, stability, safety, permanency, and well-being. Performs on-call duties.

• Performs case management (ie, contacts, visitation, case planning) for young adults to ensure continued growth, stability & safety, permanency, and well-being. Authentically engages and provide ongoing assistance, training and transition support to young adults that choose to enroll in EFC. Maintains minimum of monthly face to face contact, frequent virtual contact, and adjust accordingly based on the needs of the young adult. Ensures all case management activities are documented in CAPSS system according to quality standards and time frames established by DSS policy.

• Completes, reviews, and updates all assessment tools, including CFTM Transition Teaming ,to collaboratively develop an individualized and strength based transition plan in partnership with the young adult. Partner effectively with young people to support the transition from foster care to adulthood in developmentally appropriate and identity affirming ways.

• Provides Service Navigation by identify community resources, assist with referral or application processes,obtaining timely, essential, and appropriate support resources based on the young adult’s assessment and plan. Follow up with received services, and ensure connection is solidified to the support services. Help the young adult navigate building lifelong connections to family and community.

• Collaborates closely with legal to to ensure federal compliance of case reviews and permanency hearings. Regularly assesses safety and permanency resources, adheres to court orders, submits court packets timely and participates in legal proceedings.

• Maintains child welfare certification AND adolescent training track. Completes 20 hours of training yearly to include certifications that are required yearly.

• Ensures that personal identifying information (PII) is properly used, accessed, gathered, shared and disposed. Protects the agency networks and applications by safeguarding systems, equipment and data.

• Maintains an active routine of self-care and pursues support when necessary to minimize the threat of secondary trauma to physical and mental health. Understands the impact of trauma on families and secondary trauma on child welfare staff and applies principles to support families and staff.

• Maintains an active routine of self-care and pursues support when necessary to minimize the threat of secondary trauma to physical and mental health.

• Other duties as assigned. Performs Red Cross shelter duty or other emergency shelter duties/services as directed. Performs on-call duties as assigned.

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 Master's Degree or higher in Social Work, Behavioral Science, or Social Science may be substituted for required experience. Prefer child welfare experience.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 have a valid driver's license, with access to a personal vehicle, and be able and willing to drive and transport children and adults. Must be able to lift children and to interact with adults and children in a positive and supportive demeanor. Must have the ability to cope with stressful work and life-threatening situations.

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 Program

DIVISION: Child Health and Well-Being / Richland County

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 $46,635 during initial certification, depending on education level and degree type, with up-front starting salary supplements of 2.5% ($47,802) and 5% ($48,966) for candidates holding a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, and 10% ($51,298) 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 $53,899, $55,248 or $56,508 depending on degree type), and $59,287 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.