Careers Villa | Government Jobs in the USA
Website State of Illinois
Job Description:
Under direction, protects children by performing journeyman level investigations of alleged child neglect, abuse and sexual abuse cases, interviews alleged victims and perpetrators, other members of the household and witnesses; assesses home situation for danger to child; takes child from home and places child in protective custody if necessary to prevent further neglect or abuse; prepares and documents case file for custody hearings and perpetrator prosecution; testifies in court; completes agency-sponsored training programs.
Job Responsibilities:
- Responds to child abuse/neglect report within twenty-four hours; determines if child is in immediate danger by interviewing child and siblings in person; uses risk assessment instruments and other diagnostic tools such as anatomically correct dolls as an aid to elicit responses from preschool children; devises a safety plan or, in consultation with the supervisor, makes the decision to take child into protective custody if child’s life or well-being are at risk and transports child to approved placement when safety intervention is required; takes child to hospital for medical treatment and evaluation as needed to ensure physical well-being; contacts relatives of child for home evaluation and possible placement of child with relatives; or foster home or shelter; prepares paper work according to department rule, procedure and accreditation standards for case file and service provider payment; notifies state and/or local police and state’s attorneys of all priority one child abuse and neglect reports such as those cases resulting in death, brain damage, skull fractures, internal injuries, wounds, allegations of torture, or sexual penetration, exploitation or molestation and other serious injuries resulting from abuse or neglect.
- Interviews all subjects of the report including but not limited to parents, relatives, neighbors, police, teachers, doctors, nurses and others; prepares comprehensive reports to support or refute alleged neglect/abuse and to assess its seriousness; consults with states attorney; contacts public defender for parent and/or alleged perpetrator; prepares evidentiary documents for court hearings on temporary custody; testifies in court as to the custody hearing and/or prosecution case; transports child to placement as determined in the court hearing.
- Completes all child abuse/neglect tracking forms, pre-placement prevention and medical forms, relative check-list, foster care placement protocols, etc., as required by investigative and placement process.
- Based on assessment of child’s safety and family needs, provides directly or ensures referral for social and other services. When placement is required, addresses issues of separation with the child and the family; prepares birth family for necessary follow-up court and agency intervention; prepares care-giving family for child’s needs, care-giving responsibilities, family contact and concurrent planning; identifies family’s desires regarding religious and cultural preferences.
- Serves as the agency “ambassador” and liaison to law enforcement agencies, States Attorney Offices, hospitals and schools; maintains regular, formalized contacts with the groups cited above; under management direction, develops formal, written agreements with the above groups identifying protocol or reporting, information sharing, notification and public education responsibilities of each party; develops arrangements with police for assisting DCFS with investigations; completes arrangements with hospitals for providing medical treatment and examinations to alleged victims; makes arrangements with schools for allowing access to child subjects; delivers public education programs covering reporting requirements, investigative procedures and child abuse prevention services.
Job Requirements:
- Requires working knowledge of the basic principles and techniques in a child welfare field.
- Requires working knowledge of the Department of Children and Family Services rules and regulations as they apply to child abuse/neglect investigation.
- Requires ability to relate positively with people.
- In addition to English verbal and written skills, candidates may be required to
- translate, speak and write a language other than English at a colloquial skill level to
- perform the duties of the position. Some positions may require candidates to
- possess specific effective communication skills such as, but not limited to, Braille,
- sign language or another form of manual communication.
- Requires working knowledge of child growth and development.
- Requires ability to assess home situations and family relationships for child abuse/neglect.
- Requires ability to write reports.
- Requires ability to successfully complete agency-sponsored training programs and meet mandated licensure requirements.
Job Details:
Company: State of Illinois
Vacancy Type: Full Time
Job Functions: Other
Job Location: Davenport IA, US
Application Deadline: N/A
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