About the Department

• The Child Welfare Services Case Manager - Family Preservations performs case management in the Child Welfare area of Family Preservation in accordance with DSS Policy, Mission and GPS Practice Model. Provides time-limited interventions by conducting ongoing assessment of the safety concerns; matching appropriate services to address identified needs; and providing least intrusive interventions. Utilizes critical thinking skills to monitor safety, risk, and well-being. Performs on-call duties as assigned.

• Performs case management (ie, contacts, case planning) to a caseload of families to ensure safety, permanency and well-being.

• Completes, reviews and updates the Family Advocacy and Support Tool (FAST) according to time frames established by DSS Policy. Utilizes the Family Advocacy and Support Tool (FAST) to collaboratively develop Family Permanency Plans and make timely service referrals.

• Authentically engages families, other professionals within the agency, and external partners with empathy and respect; to include timely responses to telephone calls, emails, and texts. Makes concerted efforts to locate and engage absent parents, relatives and fictive kin to support and join the child and family team. Participates in and facilitates child and family team meetings.

• Maintains physical and electronic case record by composing clear, objective, and thorough documentation covering pertinent details of case activities per DSS policy and the GPS Practice Model. Ensures all case management activities are documented in CAPSS system according to time frames established by DSS policy. Ensures documentation meets quality standards and captures necessary elements pertinent to safety, permanency, well-being and case planning. 

• Collaborates closely with legal when safety concerns are present or when a case has been identified as needing legal action to promote timely permanency. Regularly assesses safety and permanency resources, adheres to court orders, submits court packets timely and participates in legal proceedings. 

• Maintains child welfare certification. Completes 20 hours of training yearly to include certifications that are required yearly.

• Maintains an active routine of self-care and pursues support when necessary to minimize the threat of secondary trauma to physical and mental health. Understands the impact of trauma on families and secondary trauma on child welfare staff and applies principles to support families.

• Ensures that personal identifying information (PII) is properly used, accessed, gathered, shared and disposed. Protects the agency networks and applications by safeguarding systems, equipment and data.

• Performs Red Cross shelter duty or other emergency shelter duties/services as directed.

• Perform other duties required. 

Position Duties

A Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Behavioral Science, or Social Science. A Bachelor's Degree in any other field and one (1) year experience in a related field. Child Welfare experience highly desired.  

Other Qualifications

*Important Salary Information*

With the recent implementation of the Child Welfare salary plan funded by the General Assembly beginning in July 2021, front line case managers and team leaders (supervisors) will not only earn higher starting salaries when joining DSS than in previous years, but will also enjoy supplements to their starting salaries upon completion of training and competencies, attainment of BSW/MSW degrees for front line case managers, annual increases for years of continuous service, and salary increases upon attainment of established competencies/certifications for moving into Level 2 and Level 3 salaries.

New Child Welfare case managers will earn a starting salary of at least $45,721 during initial certification, depending on education level and degree type, with up-front starting salary supplements of 2.5% ($46,865) and 5% ($48,006) for candidates holding a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, and 10% ($50,293) for team leaders (supervisors), respectively. Following completion of training certification, assignment of caseloads with one year of completed experience, quarterly adjustments will be made to move successful trainees into the Level 1 salary bracket and will receive at least a 15% salary increase (adjusting their salary to $52,843, $54,165 or $55,400 depending on degree type), and $58,125 for team leaders (supervisors) at that time.

Annual salary increases of up to 0.50% per year will be awarded on a quarterly basis for each consecutive year a Level 1 case manager remains in his/her class/position.

In January of 2022, DSS rolled out additional opportunities for case managers to progress from Level 1 to Levels 2 and 3, with increases in salary averaging 2.5% for each increase in the case manager’s level of expertise under the salary plan. Level 2 and 3 child welfare staff will also see accelerated annual increases of 1% to 1.5% per year awarded for each continuous year served in his/her class/position. Progression from Level 1 to Levels 2 and 3 requires completion of specified requirements in the Advancement Pathway which include additional training, skill development, and practice model aligned competencies that increase in complexity as the career path progresses. Case reviews, data compliance reviews, field observations and employee self-assessments are used by supervisors to evaluate eligible employees’ demonstration of competencies and skills prior to approval to advance to the subsequent level.

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Program

Benefits

Benefits for State Employees
 

The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.
 
Insurance Benefits
Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.
 
Retirement Benefits
State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.
 
Workplace Benefits
State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.
 
Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.

Supplemental Questions

01

Have you ever been terminated or forced to resign from any job? If yes, please explain.

02

I understand that supplemental questions are considered part of the official application. Any misrepresentation will result in disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. If there are periods of time when you were not employed, you must also list those periods on your employment application. A resume cannot be submitted for completed work history and education sections of the employment application. The employment application may be considered incomplete and may not be forwarded. I have read and acknowledge the above.

• Yes
• No

03

I understand that by completion and submission of this application, that if I possess educational credentials that qualify me for the available position(s) and in the event I am offered a position with the SC Department of Social Services, I will be required to provide a certified official transcript within two (2) weeks of employment.

• Yes
• No

04

If you selected "Yes" that you are a veteran in the Agency-Wide Questions, are you able to provide a Member 4, Service 2-Copy, or NGB22 DD-214?

• Yes
• No

05

Have you ever been employed by the State of South Carolina? If yes, please provide the state agency/agencies.

06

How did you hear about this job opportunity?

• HR Recruiter
• DSS Employee
• DSS Internship
• Careers Website
• Indeed
• LinkedIn
• SCWORKS
• College/University Job Portal
• Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
• Radio/TV/Billboard
• Other

07

If you selected "Other" or "DSS Employee" in the previous question, please list the source below.

08

Have you completed an internship with the SC Department of Social Services?

• Yes
• No

09

Please indicate your level of education:

• High School Diploma/GED
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctorate
• None of the above

10

Please provide major(s) and the date(s) you received your degree(s)

11

Please select your academic status below:

• I currently have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Social Work or Social Welfare program accredited institution, plus experience as a professional Social Worker.
• I currently have a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Behavioral Science, or Social Science, without experience as a professional Social Worker.
• I will complete my Bachelor's degree within the next 30 days.
• None of the above

12

Do you have at least one (1) year of experience in Social Services (Ex: case management, teaching, counseling, determining eligibility for programs)?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Agency Information

Employer

State of South Carolina

Agency

Department of Social Services

Address

1535 Confederate Avenue Extension








Columbia, South Carolina, 29201

Phone

803-898-7315 ext. 2