Details
02/10/2025
Knox County Ohio START Caseworker
Knox County Children Services
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Ohio START Caseworker will provide intensive case management services to parent/caregivers by utilizing the Ohio START (Sobriety, Treatment, and Reducing Trauma) intensive, wraparound intervention program while adhering to all aspect of a traditional child welfare worker.
Knox County Job & Family Services offers competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package including: health insurance, life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, Employee Assistance Program, tuition reimbursement and Public Student Loan Forgiveness.
Essential Functions:
• The Ohio START caseworker maintains a case from the assessment phase throughout the ongoing phase until reunification is complete or the case is transferred to a traditional ongoing case worker due to the parent/caregiver’s unwillingness to engage in services.
• Ohio START case workers carry a case load of no more than 12 cases due to the intensive nature and face to face contact requirements to support the parent/caregiver’s strides towards recovery.
• The Ohio START caseworker pairs with a Family Peer Mentor (FPM) working cooperatively and in tandem with the FPM to support and serve the family.
• Responds to screened in Intake Reports. Responds to the priority of the report within mandated time frames. Conducts face to face interviews with all children in the household of assessment, parent/caregiver(s) and alleged perpetrator(s).
• Determine presence or absence of safety threat(s) in consultation with the Supervisor. Confirms a safe environment and implements necessary safety intervention when applicable.
• Ensures the safety, permanency and well-being of the child(ren); continually assesses for safety of child(ren) by conducting home visits and interviews with child(ren), parents, caretakers, and all collaterals who may have pertinent information regarding the family; gathers information from service providers and parent/caregiver(s) to assess the parent/caregiver(s) change in behavior and increased protective capacities; develops safety planning for child(ren) when a safety threat is identified;
• Develops case plans with family and provides casework services in the home of family, and out-of-home placements; provides casework services to children in placement and meets regularly with substitute caregivers; maintains regular contact with supportive service providers to ensure coordination and effectiveness of services; arranges regular visitation between guardians and children in placement.
• Completes all assessments, case plans, and other various mandated documentation in required timeframes. Prepares Request for Legal Action and provides court testimony. Utilizes and completes screening tools (UNCOPE, ACES and CTAC) to screen for substance abuse and trauma. Completes all needed caregiver and child service referrals. Responsible for maintaining written documentation of case activities; completes activity logs, placement changes and case plans; responsible for other mandated paperwork as outlined by state regulations and agency policy; reviews prior Children’s Services history, completes background and criminal checks on parent(s) and alternative caretaker(s); obtains school and medical records as well as records from community service providers.
• Attends and participates in necessary court hearings; supervision and training; family team meetings; case reviews; semi-annual reviews; individual and group supervision sessions; section and staff meetings, Ohio START training/meetings and any other relevant training or agency meeting.
• Works closely with Agency attorney and legal assistant on case preparation, presentation, and testimony for Juvenile Court involvement.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Valid Ohio driver’s license: completion of CORE training issued by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services within one year of hire. After the first year of continuous employment, each caseworker annually shall complete thirty-six hours of training in areas relevant to the caseworker’s assigned duties.
Per Section 5153.112 of the Ohio Revised Code, applicants of a Public Children Services unit must have one of the following:
1. A bachelor’s degree in human services-related studies, or
2. A bachelor’s degree in any field and have been employed for at least two years in a human services occupation, or
3. An associate degree in human services-related studies, or
4. Been employed for at least five years in a human services-related occupation.
For employment to continue, a person described in Option 2, 3, or 4 above must obtain a job-related bachelor’s degree not later than five years after the date employment with the agency commences.
APPLY:
Interested and qualified applicants should apply by submitting a resume, cover letter and application online at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/knoxcounty or email them to Courtney L. Lower, Knox County Human Resources Director, at courtneylower@knoxcounty.oh.gov.
