Social Service Technician (00478)

*Women (and/or) minorities may be under-represented in this position and are encouraged to apply.* The Department of Public Health and Human Services is the largest executive branch department in Montana State Government with over 3,200 employees.

We maximize individual and organizational potential by supporting the agency’s most valuable resource – OUR PEOPLE.

The Child and Family Services Division (CFSD) provides family-centered services within a trauma-informed system to assure safety, permanency, and well-being for children who are at risk of or have been subjected to child maltreatment.

We are looking for you to be a compassionate, energetic, conscientious, and detail-oriented individual who enjoys making a difference, being part of a team, and takes pride in your career to work in our fast-paced office.

*We Offer:* -A career in which you can feel good every day knowing you’re making a difference in the lives of others.

-Advancement opportunities.

-Work/life Balance -A comprehensive benefits package, including:
• 15 paid vacation days
• 12 sick days
• 10 paid holidays per year -Medical, Dental, Vision, Flex Spending Account, Retirement Options, and Employee Assistant Programs (To view State of Montana’s medical, dental, vision coverage, and other offerings, visit our Health Care and Benefits website at t.gov) To be considered for any DPHHS Agency position, applicants must complete and submit their application online, as well as upload any required application materials.

Successful applicant(s) are required to successfully pass all DPHHS specific background check(s) relevant to each position.

*Materials Required of Applicants:* * *Supplemental Question
– *How has your education and/or work experience prepared you to be successful at this job?

*(Please type responses in separate Word documents and attach to application.

HELPFUL HINT: When attaching a document, you must check the “relevant document” box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application.

Please do not attach more documents than are requested.

Failure to attach the required material will result in your application being incomplete.

* *Physical and Environmental Demands:*The work of a Social Service Technician may often be extremely challenging and involves extensive field work in the homes of families.

The ability to engage and work with angry and violent individuals, make critical decisions, assess parent/child interactions and intervene and redirect when necessary, travel when required, and remain flexible when working under demanding conditions, while assisting Child Protection Specialists with strict documentation requirements, is required.

Office time is limited due to the field work demands of this position.

*Key responsibilities include:*
• Provides oral and written reports to the Child Protection Specialists regarding contacts with children and families, such as, parent/child visitations, home visits, and contacts with families where children are placed in out-of-home care.

• In the absence of the Child Protection Specialist, may be the contact for parents, children or families where children are placed in out-of-home care.

• Schedules and coordinates required appointments and meetings assuring proper notice is provided to participants.

• Testifies in court on the direct knowledge and observations of client activities.

• Supervises and documents parent-child interactions during visitations; teaches parenting skills through role modeling, supporting positive parent/child interactions, and intervening and providing redirection when necessary.

All activities can occur in the parent’s home or in an office setting.

• Interviews parents, foster parents, children and other professionals to gather information for social histories and to coordinate scheduling of parent child/visitation and activities.

• Provides transportation for child and adult clients to appointments to other community professionals.

For a more detailed job description, please email Travis.House@mt.gov *Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Behaviors): * *Required for the first day of work*:
• Basic knowledge of child development.

• Basic knowledge of parenting skills.

• Ability to develop respectful, constructive, and cooperative working relationships with others and engage families and children.

• Ability to be aware of others’ reactions and understand why they react as they do.

• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

• Ability to apply general rules to specific problems.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to operate a personal computer and general office equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, including using spreadsheet, word processing, database, email, internet and other computer programs.

*Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):*
• High school diploma or the equivalent.

• Two years of social services work experience, or other directly related work experience, working with children and families in difficult and sometimes volatile situations.

• Other combinations of related education and work experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• Experience working with tribal government entities and/or other organizations of native peoples is highly preferred.

**Job:** **Community/Social Services* **Title:** *Social Service Technician (00478)* **Location:** *Hardin* **Requisition ID:** *21141854*