CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST TRAINEE / 1 / 2 / 3 (Covington Region)

Salary : Depends on Qualifications

Location : Statewide, LA

Job Type : Classified

Job Number : COVREG-wideContPosting05022025

Department : DCFS-Department of Children and Family Services

Opening Date : 05 / 02 / 2025

Closing Date : Continuous

About this Job

Department MISSION

DCFS is working to keep children safe, helping individuals and families become self-sufficient, and providing safe refuge during disasters.

Department VISION

We care for the well-being and safety of Louisiana's people.

Department VALUES

Treating all people with dignity, compassion and respect, while providing services with integrity.

Help make a difference and join our team today. To see if this job is right for you, please view our job preview video here : Learn more about the benefits to working for DCFS by visiting our careers page.

This announcement serves to fill vacancies in one of the following parishes : Livingston, Tangipahoa, St Tammany and Washington

The referenced positions have a Special Entrance Rate (SER) see below :

Child Welfare Specialist Trainee - SER : $1,649.60 bi-weekly (Pay Level SS-411)

Child Welfare Specialist 1 - SER : $1,764.80 bi-weekly (Pay Level SS-412) Child Welfare Specialist 2 - SER : $1,820.80 bi-weekly (Pay Level SS-414) Child Welfare Specialist 3 - SER : $1,948.00 bi-weekly (Pay Level SS-415)

In accordance with La. R.S. 46 : 51.2 the department shall conduct a State Central Registry (SCR) check for a potential employee of the department to determine whether or not said individual's name appears on a SCR subsequent to December 31, 2009, and whose duties include : investigations of child abuse or neglect, supervisory or disciplinary authority over children, direct care to a child, or performance of licensing surveys.

In accordance with state laws, selected candidates must pass the following checks before any final job offer will be made : Drug Test, Criminal Background, State Central Registry, and Louisiana State Police Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry.

Must possess a valid driver's license.

This position may be filled as a probational appointment or a job appointment that may last up to 48 months. Job appointments may convert to probational appointments. Also, it may be filled as a detail and promoted within 12 months or by promotion of a permanent classified employee.

You must include all relevant education and experience on your official State application.

Resumes cannot be submitted in lieu of completing an application.

The duties that you describe in the Work Experience section of your application will be reviewed by State Civil Service as part of the process in determining if you meet the minimum qualifications for this job.

Your experience WILL NOT be evaluated based on the job title alone. You must describe your actual duties. If you are a current employee of the State of Louisiana it is important that you indicate in the "Duties" section for each job the specific programs that you worked in to receive credit for that experience.

List all prior employment. Work experience left off of your electronic application or only included in an attached resume will not be credited. Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applicants qualifying based on college training or receipt of a baccalaureate degree will be required to submit an official college transcript to verify credentials claimed prior to appointment. Please make every effort to attach a copy of your transcript to your application. The transcripts can be added as an attachment to your online application. The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire.

A s part of a Career Progression Group, vacancies may be filled from this recruitment as a Child Welfare Specialist Trainee, 1, 2, or 3 depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant(s). The maximum salary for the Child Welfare Specialist 3 is $84,302. Please refer to the 'Job Specifications' tab located at the top of the LA Careers 'Current Job Opportunities' page of the Civil Service website for specific information on salary ranges, minimum qualifications and job concepts.

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

DCFS is an "Equal Opportunity Employer" and Louisiana is a "State as a Model Employer for People with Disabilities"

For additional information about this vacancy, please email hr.inquiry@la.gov.

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

Three years of experience in child welfare; OR

Six years of full-time work experience in any field; OR

A bachelor's degree.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION :

Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT :

Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.

A current driver's license and access to a personal vehicle.

NOTE :

The incumbent of this position must not have been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15.587.1 (c).

Job Specification

FUNCTION OF WORK :

To train in performing professional child welfare services for the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families as mandated by state and federal laws.

LEVEL OF WORK : Entry.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED :

Direct from a Child Welfare Supervisor.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED :

None.

LOCATION OF WORK :

Department of Children and Family Services.

JOB DISTINCTIONS :

Differs from Child Welfare Services Assistant by the presence of training to perform professional child welfare services.

Differs from Child Welfare Specialist 1 by the absence of independence in the performance of assigned duties.

Job Duties and Other Information

EXAMPLES LISTED BELOW INCLUDE BRIEF SAMPLES OF COMMON DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS JOB TITLE. PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL TASKS ARE INCLUDED.

Under very close supervision, may perform the following duties based upon program assignment :

FOSTER CARE

Participates in developing case plans and objectives in family team conferences and agency staffings, and prepares cases for presentation to the multi-disciplinary team for consultation.

Provides supportive counseling and other supportive services for clients and arranges for the provision of services from community resources based on the case plan.

Interviews clients and families and composes correspondence to compile social histories and psychosocial assessments.

Prepares and submits appropriate reports to the court and the district attorney on cases in compliance with state laws and agency policy, prepares and submits necessary affidavits, and testifies in court proceedings.

Conducts regular home visits to assess safety factors and works with the family toward reunification or some other permanent placement for the child.

Searches for relatives and locates, selects, and oversees the most appropriate placement or change of placement for a child.

CHILD PROTECTION INVESTIGATION

Obtains identifying information, determines if the report meets intake requirements as established by state law, determines the current status of the child and / or adult to evaluate extent of danger / risk, determines priority level of report, and prepares complaint form.

Investigate allegations of abuse and / or neglect of children and / or adults in accordance with agency policy and state law. Provides those services required for the child's immediate safety.

May serve on 24-hour on-call duty to respond to child abuse and / or neglect reports.

FAMILY SERVICES

Assesses needs in response to identified problems with particular focus on those affecting the parent / child relationship, parenting ability, or other factors contributing to the abusive and / or neglectful environment in the family.

Conducts regular home visits with the family to assess safety and risk factors and determine further treatment needs.

Develops a case plan with the family to address identified issues and to link the family to community resources.

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program :

Insurance Coverage More information can be found at

Parental Leave - Up to six weeks paid parental leave

More information can be found at

Holidays and Leave - State employees receive the following paid holidays each year :

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement - State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to) :

01

Which of the following choices most accurately describes your undergraduate education qualification related to the Child Welfare Specialist position? Please select all that apply.

02

If you selected any of the options A-S in the previous question, please indicate the type of degree, the university or governing institution, and the date awarded. If you indicated not having any of the degrees listed, please enter 'N / A'.

03

Which of the following choices most accurately describes your graduate education qualification related to the Child Welfare Specialist position? Please select all that apply.

04

If you selected any of the options A-S in the previous question, please indicate the type of degree, the university or governing institution, and the date awarded. If you indicated not having any of the degrees listed, please enter 'N / A'.

05

Please select any of the following certifications or licensure you have attained. Please select any of the following certifications or licensure you have attained.

06

If you indicated that you possess one of the licenses or certifications in the above question, please provide the details of that achievement below (license / certificate #, issue date, and expiration date if applicable).

07

Please select any of the following social services fields in which you have previous professional work experience.

08

If you selected any of the areas (A-N) in the above question, please describe your prior work experience in the areas you selected. Also include the employer(s) name and dates of service where this work was performed. If you do not have any of the work experience listed, enter 'N / A'.

09

Which of the following client populations do you have experience working with. Please select all that apply.

10

If you selected any of the areas (A-H) in the above question, please describe your prior work experience in the areas you selected. Also include the employer(s) name and dates of service where this work was performed. If you do not have any of the work experience listed, enter 'N / A'.

11

How many years of experience do you have in Child Welfare?Please note that State Civil Service generally considers professional level Child Welfare experience to be providing services concerned with the physical, social and psychological wellbeing of children, particularly from effects of poverty or lacking consistent parental care and supervision; which was earned in a position that required at least the educational achievement of a baccalaureate degree.

12

If you answered 'B', 'C', 'D', or 'E' to the above question, please tell us where in the work history portion of your electronic application that experience can be found (give employer names and dates of employment). If you selected 'A', please enter 'N / A'.

13

How many years of experience do you have in Social Work?Please note that State Civil Service generally considers professional level social work to be that work performed as a social worker after at least the educational achievement of a baccalaureate degree performing duties such as : interviewing / assessment of clients; case planning and management; and linking to community resources.

14

If you answered 'B', 'C', 'D', or 'E' to the above question, please tell us where in the work history portion of your electronic application that experience can be found (give employer names and dates of employment). If you selected 'A', please enter 'N / A'.

15

Please select any of the following organizations you have previous volunteer experience with.

16

If you selected any of the areas (A-G) in the above question, please describe your prior work experience in the areas you selected. Also include the organization(s)' name and dates of service where this work was performed. If you do not have any of the work experience listed, enter 'N / A'.

17

How would you rate your time management / organization skills?

18

Please explain or describe a specific example that demonstrates how you rated yourself on the above skill.

19

How would you rate your communication skills?

20

Please explain or describe a specific example that demonstrates how you rated yourself on the above skill.

21

How would you rate your ability to handle stressful situations?

22

Please explain or describe a specific example that demonstrates how you rated yourself on the above skill.

23

Please select all the parishes in which you are willing to work.

24

Do you possess a valid Louisiana driver's license?

25

This position requires you to have access to a personal vehicle. Does this pose a problem?

26

Are you able to work on-call when required?

27

Are you available to work overtime if required?

28

Do you possess a high school diploma or equivalent?

Required Question