September 5, 2024

Child and Family Services Agcy

Washington

FULL TIME

Intake Hotline Worker

This position is located in the Office of Hotline and Investigations Administration. The Intake Hotline Worker is responsible for receiving referrals of suspected child abuse and neglect inquiries and requests related to the agency’s mandate to investigate child abuse and neglect.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Intake Hotline Worker's duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Receives reports of child abuse or neglect from in-person walk-ins, written correspondence, and telephone calls to the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline.
Accepts and elicits information from persons making reports to initiate an investigation by the agency. Obtains names, ages, and addresses of alleged abused or neglected children and all information available regarding other children in the home or under the care of the alleged abuser.
Gather information regarding the circumstances accompanying the alleged maltreatment, the types of maltreatment, and any prior incidents of abuse or neglect. Requests information regarding the child’s behavior, the parent or caretaker’s mental and physical condition, and the potential response to agency intervention.
Screens and analyzes reports to determine a referral's validity, appropriateness, and urgency. Using de-escalation skills promotes safety for callers in crisis.
Assesses and obtains necessary information through interviewing and crisis intervention skills to determine if the caller needs information and a referral to community services or if the information meets District Government and Federal mandates for abuse and/or neglect.
Assesses the child's safety and determines the priority and response time utilizing risk and safety assessment tools.
Consult with the Metropolitan Police Department regarding cases of imminent danger or severe abuse and neglect; Consult with the Hotline Supervisor regarding safety issues as appropriate.
Initiates search of Child Protection Registry for current/previous history of child abuse or neglect.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Education
A master’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university is highly preferred. Ability to write/speak a second language (e.g., Spanish) is preferred.
Must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the grade 11 level in the District of Columbia government service or its non-District equivalent. Specialized experience is experience that is directly related to the position and has equipped the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position, including successfully, but not limited to, ability to screen timely and evaluate reports to determine the validity, appropriateness, and urgency of a referral; ability to gather comprehensive information regarding the circumstances accompanying the alleged maltreatment, the types of maltreatment, and any prior incidents of abuse or neglect; ability to motivate the reporting party to provide more information regarding the child’s behavior, the parent or caretaker’s mental and physical condition, and the potential response to agency intervention; ability to deescalate the tense situation; ability to respond quickly to emergency reports of child abuse and neglect; or other similar duties.
Child welfare, child protective services investigations, or hotline experience is highly preferred.
Licenses and Certifications:
None.
Other Significant Factors:
Tour of Duty: 3 p.m.-11:30 p.m.
May be required to work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays to provide 24-hour coverage and service to the community.
Promotion Potential: None.
Collective Bargaining Unit: This position is covered under the collective bargaining unit.
Duration of Appointment: Career Services- Regular.
Pay, Plan, Series & Grade: DS-301-12
Position Designation: This position is deemed as “safety” sensitive pursuant to DCMR 6B Section 410 and is subject to a criminal background check, traffic records check (as applicable), pre-employment drug and alcohol test, reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test, post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test, random drug and alcohol test, and return-to-duty or follow-up drug and alcohol test.
Residency Preference: Applicants claiming “Residency Preference” will be required to maintain residency in the District of Columbia for a minimum of (7) years—failure to do so may result in forfeiture of employment.
EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will be considered regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.
Closing Statement: Official Job Offers are made by the D.C. Child and Family Services Agency.