Lead Social Worker
Job Title: Lead Social Worker
Department: Hoopa Human Services and Child and Family Services
Supervisor: Merris Obie, Director
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Prepared By: Merris Obie
Prepared Date: August 3, 2021
Approved Date:
Salary Level: DOE
Location: Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation
Summary: To provide case management services to the children and families engaged in the CWS, Tribal Court, State Court, Family Wellness Court, and ICWA systems. Case management will include determination of need for social services; service referrals; individualized treatment and specialized application of culturally appropriate Case Plans. Other services will include investigations; court reporting; and advocacy.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Investigates child/elder abuse or neglect referrals. Provides follow-up and/or supportive services to potential or actual high-risk families.
- Implements assessment and development of appropriate case plans on individual client needs.
- Case Management Services.
- Writes court petitions and reports in child/elder neglect cases for the Tribal Court, Family Wellness Court, or State Court.
- Makes recommendations to the courts and other service providers regarding the placement of minor children in Hoopa Tribal Court dependency cases and in State Court dependency cases when the Indian Child Welfare Act applies.
- Mandated Reporting of Child/Eder abuse and/or neglect as required by law.
- Assists in the recruitment and training of foster care providers.
- Assists agency staff with individual and group meetings (multidisciplinary team) in analyzing problems and improving their diagnostic and helping skills.
- Provides counseling services to clients in emergency and crisis situations.
- Assists in preparing proposals for funding and contributes to grant agency reporting.
- Assists in training new employees and/or Interns in areas such as agency policy, department procedures, and agency or government regulations.
- Represents agency in community and inter-agency actives and meetings as needed.
- Provide ongoing case management services on current case loads including monthly home visits, scheduling, and overseeing supervised visitation, transporting clients to and from visits and conducts home evaluations for relative placements or foster care placements.
- Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards that includes maintaining Release of Information (ROI) records.
- Other duties may be assigned as it pertains to the position.
Supervisory Responsibilities
May be required to supervise Interns and/or volunteers.
Education and/or Experience
Master’s Degree preferred in Social Work, Psychology, Behavioral Science, Sociology or related field from an accredited University, plus two years’ work experience preferably in case management. A four-year degree in the mentioned social science fields is required with three years’ work experience preferably in case management.
Desirable Qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to work with Native American communities.
- Two to Three years’ work experience as a Social Worker.
- Prefer prior experience working with an Indian Child Welfare or social service program.
- Knowledge of Hupa history, generational trauma, cultural resiliency, Hupa culture, language and connection to the environment.
- Prefer prior work experience working with Tribal elders.
Qualification Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Knowledge of:
- Socio-economic conditions and trends.
- The principles of individual and group behavior.
- Current issues in the field of social welfare.
- Principles of interviewing and problem-solving methodology.
- The general principles of public assistance policies and programs.
- Principles and techniques of interviewing ad recording of social casework
- Proficient with computers and Micro-soft Office or similar programs
- Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, and community.
Language Skills
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, officials, and the general public.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Communication, facilitation, conflict mediation, and negotiation training certificates desired.
Domestic violence training and alcohol and other drugs training and or courses desired.
Parenting classes and/or courses desired.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Conditions of Employment
- Integrate Hoopa Tribal history, culture, language, and environment when working with clients.
- Uphold Social Work ethics, morals, and standards according to policy.
- Initiative and Motivation: Exemplary work ethic. Must work independently and be self-motivator. Resolves problems effectively. Maintains a positive attitude. Professional demeanor: Demonstrates poise and exemplary professional ethics as a representative of the agency.
- Confidentiality: Has access to confidential client and personnel information and handles accordingly. Ensures client and employee privacy.
- Mandated Reporter of abuse and neglect for children/elders.
- Services oriented: Recognizes the importance of client services and care. Maintains excellent communication with clients, agencies and co-workers continuously
- Accountability for all social media, internet, and cell phone moral and legal conduct.
- Appropriate dress attire when attending court and representing agency.
- Must pass a background check, be fingerprinted, and take T.B. test.
- Must have a valid California Driver’s License.
All applicants must submit a resume. Position is full-time, regular, plus benefits.
Employee will be subject to a 90-day introductory period. Employee Evaluations will take place at least once per year, following initial 60- and 90-day evaluations consistent with the Hoopa Valley Tribal Policy Departmental Manual.
Employee must comply with Title 21; Drug and Alcohol Policy of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, which includes pre-employment drug testing, random, reasonable cause, re-entry and post accident.
Preference in hiring will be given to qualified Indian Applicants pursuant to Title 13; Hoopa Tribe’s TERO Ordinance apply.
Acknowledgements
The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.