- What is a social caseworker?
- What are some of the responsibilities of social caseworkers?
- What is involved in direct services?
- What interaction do caseworkers have with the court system?
- What other kinds of duties and/or responsibilities do social caseworkers have besides direct services and court activities?
- What are the advantages of being a caseworker at DCYF?
- What general benefits are there for employees of DCYF?
- What jobs are available now?
- What are the job descriptions of the different classifications?
******************************************************************
1. What is a social caseworker?
The position of Social Caseworker II is a classified position and subject to Merit System Law. This law mandates that each individual must pass a competitive examination in order to be hired. These examinations are given by the State Office of Personnel Administration periodically to form Civil Service lists from which candidates are chosen.
When Civil Service examinations are being offered, they are announced in all Sunday editions of the Providence Sunday Journal.
******************************************************************
2. What are some of the responsibilities of social caseworkers?
Social Caseworkers at DCYF have many hats to wear. The day can change as new issues and needs arise. The job is never boring, and includes direct services, court activities and other duties and responsibilities.
******************************************************************
3. What is involved in direct services?
Direct Services include activities such as:
- Client home visits & maintaining family contact
- Assessment of child risk
- Crisis intervention
- Conducting & supervising parent child visitation
- Providing and arranging transportation
- Research and investigation of homes for relative and out of state placements
- Child protection including removal when necessary
- Coordination of services and referrals to outside agencies as necessary
******************************************************************
4. What interaction do caseworkers have with the court system?
Court Activities are varied and include:
- Gathering data to assist the court in making informed decisions
- Drafting letters, summaries and reports for the court
- Attending and participating in different court hearings
- Work with department legal staff in submitting petitions to the court
- Attending and making recommendations at periodic court and federally mandated reviews
******************************************************************
5. What other kinds of duties and/or responsibilities do social caseworkers have besides direct services and court activities?
In addition to direct services and court activities, social caseworkers also use computer technology in their positions for maintaining all data related to their cases. These functions include, among others:
- Electronic Case Recording
- Working knowledge of many contemporary software applications for presentation of letters and reports
- Case data entry
- Maintain case information in a complex agency data base (RICHIST)
- Retrain on upgrades to system as they occur
******************************************************************
6. What are the advantages of being a caseworker at DCYF?
Casework Practice Advantages
- Small Work Units
- Varied Caseloads
- Training opportunities
- Availability of support staff
- Interaction with varying disciplines
- Familiarity with statewide resources
******************************************************************
7. What general benefits are there for employees of DCYF?
Wages and Benefits
- Living wage. Higher than most social work jobs nationally
- Excellent Benefits package, includes some of the best plans in the state. Families are included at no additional charge.
- Step increases and longevity increases.
- Masters degree leave program and bonus.
- Potential career advancement.
- Excellent Training opportunities
******************************************************************
8. What jobs are available now?
Employment vacancies for Rhode Island state agencies are listed on the Department of Labor and Training website. In addition to the listings of job vacancies, there is information about civil service exams, and a copy of the application available for download. Please visit Rhode Island State Jobs for this information..
******************************************************************
9. What are the job descriptions of the different classifications?
Job classifications for the different positions are available by clicking on the name of the particular position:
- CASE AIDE TECHNICIAN
- CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR
- JUVENILE PROGRAM WORKER
- PROBATION AND PAROLE COUNSELOR II
- SENIOR WORD PROCESSING TYPIST
- SOCIAL CASEWORKER II
******************************************************************
