Social Work Manager

General Summary

This position leads a team of dedicated social workers serving children and families in child protection and youth justice services. The manager develops and implements strategies for programs like Child Protective Services, Youth Justice, Kinship Care, and Foster Care, ensuring services are delivered effectively and in alignment with agency policies, procedures, and applicable laws. Through supervision, case consultation, and team meetings, the manager fosters staff growth and models excellence in social work practice. Clear, accurate communication and a commitment to high professional standards are essential to this role.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions

1. Provides consistent and effective individual and group supervision that assists staff with organizing field and office work related to Child Protection. Including; Access/Initial Assessment, Targeted Safety Services, Ongoing Case Management, Out of Home Care, and case closures. 
2. Supervises Youth Justice services, acts as the Chief Juvenile Court Intake Worker for Door County, as defined by Wis. Stats. 938.06 (3) and 938.067 (9). Also provides supervision regarding Restitution and Community Service.
3. Reviews and approves screening recommendations made by workers in response to Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Youth Justice reports; assigns cases to the appropriate staff member(s).
4. Monitors program budgets and ensures programs operate within available fiscal limits; reviews and approves expenditures.
5. Acts as the official liaison between Health & Human Services, the District Attorney, the Court system, law enforcement, schools, health services, and related contracted programs and community partners.
6. Manages the appeals process for Substantiated Child Maltreatment decisions, from initial notification letters through formal hearings, as required.
7. Schedules and assigns custody intake coverage, including daytime and evening/weekend/holiday hours.
8. Reviews and redacts any protected information in case records in response to official requests for records.
9. Serves as a member of the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) Leadership Team helping assure collaboration and progress on agency goals.
10. Approves all client documentation in the e-WiSACWIS computer database.
11. Maintains qualitative and quantitative standards for staff performance, evaluates staff performance, and recommends personnel actions, as needed.

General Job Functions

1. In case of emergency or in the absence of the assigned social worker, provides necessary direct service to clients to address the immediate concern or issues.
2. Participates in and directs agency staff development and training.
3. Participates in continuing, appropriate professional development as a supervisor.
4. Participates in research programs (as assigned) and in the review and development of agency programs, policies and procedures.
5. Participates in the interpretation of programs and policies to the broader community and in community planning efforts, as assigned.
6. Promotes interagency cooperation and represents the agency in meetings related to agency programs.
7. Prepares required statistics, reports, budgets, and grant proposals for assigned programs.
8. Monitors contracted / purchase of service programs.
9. Participates in Child Death Review Team meetings/follow-up, when appropriate for training or case management purposes.

Requirements

Required Training and Experience

1. Graduate of an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in social work or closely related field. Master’s Degree preferred.
2. Certification or eligibility for certification as a Social Worker in the State of Wisconsin, preferably at the Advanced Practice level or higher.
3. Three (3) years of work as a social worker in a public and / or voluntary social service agency, maintaining acceptable standards.
4. At least 25 hours of training in social work supervision as provided by the N.E.W. Partnership for Children and Families - Child Welfare Supervisor sequence is preferred.

Preferred Training and Experience

1. Two years supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Required

1. High Level of Working Knowledge of Wisconsin Children’s Code: #48 and #938, Wisconsin Model of Practice, Wisconsin Automated Child Welfare system, CPS investigation and Ongoing Standards, Safety and Permanency for children, Family Systems approach to service delivery, Kinship Levels of Care, Foster Care Regulations/Administrative Rules, Day Care Certification Administrative Rules, Juvenile Justice Evidence Based Practice, and clinical intervention techniques.
2. Ability to coach staff through case crisis situations, providing effective conflict resolution and mediation.
3. Skills in the areas of team building, leadership, and customer relations.
4. Knowledge of community organization principles and methods.
5. Knowledge of individual medical information privacy, confidentiality, and security statutes, regulations, policies and procedures (must have documented training in county and department policies and procedures, or will train).
6. Ability to direct and supervise the work of others.
7. Ability to read, comprehend, and communicate, both verbally and in writing.
8. Ability to recognize individual differences in workers and to gauge their learning patterns and potential for independent work and then develop that potential.
9. Other desirable characteristics include, but are not limited to: positive attitude, creativity, flexibility, innovation, and trauma-informed/strengths-based philosophy in all aspects of social work practice.
10. Ability to use tact and courtesy in maintaining an effective working relationship with department employees, county supervisors, county officials, and general public.

Physical and Working Conditions

Nearly 100% of time work is performed in a normal office setting with little or no discomfort from temperature, dust or noise. Interacting with other employees, general public, whether walking in or on the telephone may be encountered.

Over 75% of work is performed seated at a desk, working on a computer keyboard and/or telephone with about 10% of work performed standing and walking. Over 75% of the work is performed by talking, hearing, and using both far and near vision. Occasional lifting is required up to 10 lbs. (i.e. paper and equipment).

Potential for physical harm exists during contacts with angry or irate members of the public. Limited office space may cause some distraction.

In an effort to provide for continuity of County government and to cope with the problems of the emergency, you may be required to work during a proclaimed state of emergency, consistent with Sec. 323.14, Wis. Stats. and County emergency management plans and programs. 

The above is intended to describe the general content of the requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.