CWS Case Manager - Investigations

About the Mission

Do you have a passion to provide meaningful work in the community? The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) is an organization whose central mission is helping to protect, stabilize, and strengthen the lives of children, families, and vulnerable adults. This role offers the opportunity to be part of a team dedicated to these critical goals within the Union County division of Child Welfare Services (CWS) Investigations.

About the Role

As a CWS Case Manager, you will perform case management in the Child Welfare area of Investigations, conducting timely initial investigations of reports of child abuse and neglect. Your work involves offering services to children and families who may have experienced or are at risk of experiencing child maltreatment. You will respond to assigned intakes within identified time frames to conduct initial safety assessments using the comprehensive Family Advocacy and Support Tool (FAST). This requires utilizing critical thinking skills to determine safety threats or risk levels under South Carolina Law and developing safety plans to reduce identified concerns.

Authentic engagement is at the heart of this position. You will interact with families, other professionals, and external partners with empathy and respect, including timely responses to communications. You will collaborate closely with law enforcement and legal teams when safety concerns are present and make concerted efforts to locate and engage absent parents, relatives, and fictive kin to support the child and family team. Your role also involves recommending intervention services to strengthen families and safely maintain children in the home, while ensuring all activities are documented clearly and objectively in the CAPSS system.

This position requires maintaining child welfare certification, completing 20 hours of training yearly, and adhering to strict protocols for protecting personal identifying information. You will also perform Red Cross shelter duties or other emergency shelter services as directed. Given the nature of the work, maintaining a routine of self-care to minimize the threat of secondary trauma is essential.

Hiring Process & Application Instructions

This application for employment with the SC Department of Social Services must be completed in its entirety. A resume may be included but shall not be substituted in lieu of the completion of this application. If "See Resume" is submitted for any part of the requirements, the application will be considered incomplete and may not be forwarded to hiring managers.

If you certify that you possess the educational credentials required for the position, you will be required to provide a certified official transcript if selected for a job offer. Candidates must possess a valid driver's license and have access to a motor vehicle to comply with necessary field work assignments.

Equal Opportunity

The South Carolina Department of Social Services is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse workforce.