CASE MANAGER-CHILD SAFETY SPECIALIST - State of Arizona DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY
The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is a social and human services agency whose mission is to successfully partner with families, caregivers, and the community to strengthen families, ensure safety, and achieve permanency for all Arizona’s children through prevention, services, and support.
Job location: Sierra Vista, Benson, Douglas — you will be able to choose office locations in the application.
Salary: 21.7068 per hour
Grade: 17; Open Until Filled; Applications Reviewed Daily
Overview Becoming a Child Safety Specialist can be a life-changing opportunity. If you have a passion to work with children and families, DCS is the place for you. We are committed to protecting children, reuniting families, ensuring safe living environments and preventing unnecessary trauma.
Becoming a Child Safety Specialist is a role that requires compassion, organization, and the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
What does a CASE MANAGER/CHILD SAFETY SPECIALIST do? A Child Safety Specialist offers valuable support and assistance to children and families in need. This role requires strong time management and critical thinking skills. The essential job functions include, but are not limited to:
Responding to reported allegations of child abuse and/or neglect
Assessing child safety and risk
Conducting interviews and gathering information
Making in-and-out of home contacts with families and children
Attending court hearings
Preparing case plans and conducting case plan staffing
Authoring professional reports and filling out documentation
Coordinating and monitoring services
Placing children, transporting children, and moving a child’s possessions when needed
Managing cases throughout the respective county and assigned area
Using a computer and the Department’s Child Welfare Software Programs
Alternative work hours may be required, including overtime, weekends and holidays.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Knowledge: Confidential principles; behavior modification, conflict resolution and counseling principles and techniques; intervention techniques; interviewing procedures; child development, family systems, family centered practice; behavioral indicators of mental health disturbance, impact of abuse and neglect, separation and loss issues and child welfare practices. Computers and software (Microsoft Office Suite); mobile devices, digital calendars (Outlook) & video conferencing (Microsoft Teams).
Skill: Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships; verbal and written communication; eliciting and gathering information; modeling professional behavior with clients; time management and multi-tasking; keen observation; sensitivity to needs, feelings and cultures; dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations; adaptability; and making independent decisions.
Ability: Complete work tasks thoroughly; lead, take responsibility; analyze information and use logic to address work-related issues and problems; recognize and address substance abuse issues in adults and children and develop necessary intervention strategies; prepare detailed documentation of client and professional contact to ensure records are accurately conveyed and reported; enter, retrieve and correct data in a computer-based system; and acquire and renew CPR Certification.
Requirements Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree earned from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Transcripts may be requested to confirm the degree. Candidates with degrees from outside the United States must submit a credential evaluation from a recognized evaluation service. Or: Four (4) years of experience as a Department of Child Safety Case Aide.
Licenses and clearances: Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card. If operating a motor vehicle on State business, possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete required training, and pass driver’s license checks. If using a personally owned vehicle for state business, maintain statutorily required liability insurance.
During the first 22 weeks of employment, in-person training in Midtown Phoenix may involve overnight stays, if necessary, every other week.
Selected candidates must pass a written exam, background investigation, Motor Vehicle Report check and DCS Central Registry check. The position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job.
All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
Benefits The State of Arizona offers great benefits and perks:
Paid sick leave
Paid annual leave
Ten paid holidays per calendar year
Health, dental and vision insurance
Flexible Spending Account
Health Savings Account
Arizona State Retirement System Savings (ASRS)
Employee and Dependent Life insurance
Long-term and short-term disability insurance
Deferred compensation plans
Wellness incentive program
Employee discount program for higher education, products and services
Education Savings – AZ529
Employee Assistance Program
Bi-Lingual Stipend – DCS offers a $500 annual stipend to eligible employees who complete a language proficiency exam.
For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page.
Equal Opportunity The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.
Contact information for accommodations and recruitment inquiries is available as part of the application process.