PERMANENCY SPECIALIST

at Department of Children and Family Services in Freeport, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as the Child Welfare Specialist.  DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a generous pension program.  The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent  organizational skills and strong leadership and communication capabilities.  We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families of Illinois.

• Serves as Permanency Specialist.


• Works with intact families and children in home and/or substitute care.


• Conducts interviews with clients and professionals to obtain information for the continued diagnosis of problems and development of treatment plans.


• Transports clients when taking protective custody, when placing them in substitute care, and when changing placement location.


• Prepares and maintains case documentation for planning, implementing, and evaluating services.


• Participates in case staffings to facilitate case transfer and participates in multi-disciplinary diagnostic and technical staff conferences to assess needed services.


• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

• Preferably requires a master’s degree in social work.

OR

• A master’s degree in a related human service field, supplemented by one year of directly related professional casework/case management experience.

OR

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in social work and one year directly related professional casework/case management experience.

OR

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a related human service field and two years of directly related professional casework/case management experience.

The college or university issuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree must be accredited, and the degree program in social work must be approved by the Council on Social Work Education.  The directly related professional casework/case management experience must be related to family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling, and advocacy services or related field.

• This title is included as an Upward Mobility Program credential title.

• Requires travel, a valid driver’s license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.


• Requires ability to pass a background check.


• Requires physical, visual, and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties.


• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime, including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime.  This requires the ability to work evenings and weekends.  This also requires the ability to work in a 24 hour “on call” capacity.


• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description. 

DCFS is deeply committed to the welfare and protection of children. Our goal is to protect children by strengthening and supporting families. In every effort, from receiving hotline calls to reaching family reunification or foster care and adoption, children and families are our focus. 

 As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:

• A Pension Program


• Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance


• 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually


• 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)


• 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually – (10 days in year one of employment)


• Personal, Sick, & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour & part-time work schedules (as applicable)


• 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years


• Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)


• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave


• Deferred Compensation Program – A supplemental retirement plan


• Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)


• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility


• GI Bill® Training/Apprenticeship Benefits eligibility for qualifying Veterans


• 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions


• Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)

For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx