Social Service Worker 3 / Child Protection Specialist

To be considered for this position, please go to the Cuyahoga County website, create a profile and apply for the Social Services Worker 3 position job ID #2018

The Official Government Website of Cuyahoga County

**Indeed applications do not transfer to the County website. To be considered you MUST apply on the Cuyahoga County website: cuyahogacounty.gov/human-resources

Should you choose to apply on Indeed, Cuyahoga County will not be aware your application.**

Description

Department: Cuyahoga County Health & Human Services: Division of Children & Family Services

Bargaining Unit: AFSCME1746

Classified / Non exempt

Starting pay $27.87 per hour

Summary

Child Protection Specialists (Social Service Worker 3) make a difference in the lives of the children, families and communities they serve. As a Child Protection Specialist, you will join a fast -paced environment where you will balance work as an individual and as a team member, to assess the safety of children. You will partner with families, providers and the community to develop and implement strategies to ensure child safety, permanency, and well-being, and work to help engage and strengthen families in the process.

Our Child Protection Specialists receive support and training to prepare for this crucial role. Successful Child Protection Specialist candidates exercise emotional intelligence, evidence strong social skills, and have a high level of resiliency. They are adaptable, organized, and continuous learners. They have excellent communication, problem solving and decision -making skills, as well as the ability to build trust and facilitate change with culturally and economically diverse families within an environment of compassion, respect and kindness.

Essential Job Functions

Assesses/investigates referrals involving child abuse and neglect, dependency, or other families in need of services.

Conducts in-depth, culturally sensitive interviews with clients, caregivers, children and collateral contacts through face-to-face home visits, office visits, phone calls and written communication.

Following assessment/investigation and in consultation with a supervisor, determines the next appropriate steps which may include providing short-term interventions.

Works with schools, medical professionals, law enforcement, and other community-based providers to gather information and to provide ongoing support and services to children and their families.

Coordinates and/or attends a variety of meetings including family team meetings and team decision making meetings (staffings).

If court intervention is necessary, works with the agency’s legal team to prepare documents and testimony.

As applicable, provides extended services for families with more complex challenges who are court involved from the point of transfer through permanence.

Conducts work in accordance with federal and state guidelines and follows agency policies, procedures and best practice standards.

Completes paperwork and case documentation in a timely and thorough manner. Performs other related duties as directed.

Working hours are variable and family needs may require working beyond regular county business hours.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or in a field related to Social Work (Sociology, Psychology, Counseling, Criminal Justice, Criminology etc.) OR Bachelor’s degree in a non-related field and two (2) years’ experience working in a social services capacity.

Must possess a valid Ohio Driver 's License and have the use of an insured automobile to complete visits and transport children and clients. Travel will be required both within and outside Cuyahoga County.

All candidates for this position will be screened, per the Ohio Revised Code and cannot have a substantiated finding of child abuse or neglect.

Application Process

This is a competitive, classified position. The Personnel Review Commission (PRC) will check your application to make sure you meet the minimum qualifications. If you do, the PRC will invite you to take a civil service examination. The exam is specific to this position. Everyone who passes the exam goes on an eligibility list. To fill this opening, the PRC sends the hiring department and Human Resources (HR) a certified eligibility list with the top 25% candidates (or at least the ten highest scoring candidates, whichever is greater). HR helps the hiring department decide who from the certified list to follow up with for interviews and then a job offer.

Most of our communication with candidates is through email. Regularly check the email address you gave us in your job profile. Watch your Spam folder, just in case.

If we offer you a job, you must pass a drug screen and background check before the offer becomes final. Prior criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify you from employment; the County looks at criminal convictions on a case-by-case basis using the guidelines in Chapter 306 of the County Code.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Cuyahoga County is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, which includes building an environment that respects the individual, promotes innovation and offers opportunities for all employees to develop to their full potential. A diverse workforce helps the County realize its full potential. The County benefits from the creativity and innovation that results when people with different experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds work together.

The County is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all individuals regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, language, religion, citizenship status, sex, age, marital status, sexual preference or orientation, gender identity/expression, military/veteran status, disability, genetic information, membership in a collective bargaining unit, status with regard to public assistance, or political affiliation.

If you need assistance applying or participating in any part of the candidate experience, contact Human Resources at 216-443-7190 and ask to speak with a talent acquisition team member.

Application Process

This is a competitive, classified position. The Personnel Review Commission (PRC) will check your application to make sure you meet the minimum qualifications. If you do, the PRC will invite you to take a civil service examination. The exam is specific to this position. Everyone who passes the exam goes on an eligibility list. To fill this opening, the PRC sends the hiring department and Human Resources (HR) a certified eligibility list with the top 25% candidates (or at least the ten highest scoring candidates, whichever is greater). HR helps the hiring department decide who from the certified list to follow up with for interviews and then a job offer.

Most of our communication with candidates is through email. Regularly check the email address you gave us in your job profile. Watch your Spam folder, just in case.

If we offer you a job, you must pass a drug screen and background check before the offer becomes final. Prior criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify you from employment; the County looks at criminal convictions on a case-by-case basis using the guidelines in Chapter 306 of the County Code.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Cuyahoga County is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, which includes building an environment that respects the individual, promotes innovation and offers opportunities for all employees to develop to their full potential. A diverse workforce helps the County realize its full potential. The County benefits from the creativity and innovation that results when people with different experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds work together.

The County is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all individuals regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, language, religion, citizenship status, sex, age, marital status, sexual preference or orientation, gender identity/expression, military/veteran status, disability, genetic information, membership in a collective bargaining unit, status with regard to public assistance, or political affiliation.

If you need assistance applying or participating in any part of the candidate experience, contact Human Resources at 216-443-7190 and ask to speak with a talent acquisition team member.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $27.87 per hour

Benefits:

  • Dental insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Flexible spending account
  • Health insurance
  • Health savings account
  • Life insurance
  • Loan forgiveness
  • Mileage reimbursement
  • Paid time off
  • Parental leave
  • Retirement plan
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Back to blog
Ads

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...