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Client Advocate

Employer
Northern Arizona University
Location
Arizona, United States
Salary
Salary Not specified
Date posted
Feb 2, 2023


Client Advocate

Location: Social Work
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Job ID: 606999
Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Workplace Culture

NAU aims to be the nation's preeminent engine of opportunity, vehicle of economic mobility, and driver of social impact by delivering equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and beyond.



Special Information

  • This position is based off-campus in the local Department of Child Safety office.
  • This position is subject to the availability of funding. The incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal notice, or Classified Staff layoff or recall status.
  • This position requires in-state travel, advanced notice will be given.
  • The selected incumbent must maintain a current, valid state-issued driver's license, may be required to use their own transportation and must maintain valid motor vehicle insurance and current Arizona vehicle registration.


Job Description

The Child Welfare Training Project at Northern Arizona University is a collaborative effort between the Northern Arizona University Social Work Department and the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS). The goal of the project is to recruit and train bachelor's and master's level social workers to be competent child protection workers. The mission is to prepare social work students to be effective child welfare workers who are able to promote the well-being of the children and families involved in the public child welfare system.

The client advocate functions similarly to the DCS Case Aide. This position is responsible for supporting unit staff and students by developing familiarity with community resources and making appropriate referrals; securing client appointments for services; providing and arranging transportation; assisting with visits to parents, foster homes, and community agencies; providing supervision of visits between children and parents; handling document production including confidential reports; maintaining both computerized and paper office records; understanding the referral process for DCS contracted services; providing general office support services.

Visitation Supervision - 45%
  • Supervises parent/child/family visits and documents interactions to ensure compliance with visitation requirements.
  • Reviews and enforces visitation guidelines/expectations with case participants.
  • Drives case participants to visitation locations, supervises visits, and documents observations.
  • Coordinates with all case participants on a date/time/location for visitation that works for all parties.
  • Communicates in a courteous and a respectful manner with birth parents, providers, relatives, team members, co-workers, and the general public.
  • Provides one-on-one instruction/role-playing when needed/appropriate during supervised visitation time.
  • May assist case participants when applicable with home management and child development during visitation time.

Case Management Assistance - 20%
  • Assists case participants with information/guidance and provides community resources when appropriate to increase self-sufficiency.
  • Provides assistance to parents, children, family and community partners as it relates to services.
  • Participates in a variety of meetings and/or client hearings, as requested.
  • Collaborates and provides updates to the assigned case manager as questions/issues/concerns arise.

Administrative Support - 15%
  • Documents and/or enters case notes into Guardian database.
  • Assists Case Managers with filing, disclosers, packets, case notes, referrals, etc.

Student Support - 15%
  • Assists students in making referrals and contacting clients.
  • Assists with navigating Guardian database and scheduling appointments, etc.,

Other - 5%
  • Other duties as assigned.


Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Counseling or related field.
  • 1-3 years of relevant experience.
  • A combination of related education, experience and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Requirements.


Preferred Qualifications

  • One year working with Department of Child Safety (DCS).
  • Two or more years working with children and families from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • An Arizona Fingerprint Clearance card, or have the ability to obtain and maintain clearance from the DCS Central Registry.
  • Experience with Microsoft Applications (MS Word) and DCS Guardian Program.


Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge of:
  • Current state, federal and district laws, and policies regarding child welfare services.
  • Resources available in the community that may be utilized on behalf of clients.
  • Policies, procedures, and practices of DCS and FCRB with regards to cases involving custody and placement of children.
  • Development and behavioral problems of children's cultural, environmental and community influences on the behavior and development of individuals.
  • Knowledge of current Arizona Department of Child Safety policies and procedures as applicable and pertaining to case aide assignments.
  • Microsoft Office Suite programs.

Skill in:

  • Eliciting and gathering information, especially through interviews.
  • Listening and providing supportive attention.
  • Time management and arranging work.
  • Verbal and written communication.
  • Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships.
  • Performing general clerical functions such as data entry and filing.
  • Observing between the DCS client and children.

    Ability to:
  • Organize pertinent data in a logical, coherent manner.
  • Perform routine clerical functions such as reception, filing, mailing, and data entry.
  • Prepare written reports in a prescribed format.
  • Interact with professionals, e.g. psychologists, social workers, etc., on a daily basis.
  • Address hostile situations (e.g., terminating visits if harmful to clients).
  • Identify resources available in the community.
  • Gain understanding of the effects and problems of foster care, and social, intellectual and behavioral problems of developmentally disabled children.
  • Adhere to general policies, procedures, and practices of court foster care review board with regards to cases involving custody and placement of children.
  • Learn and adhere to DCS policies and regulations applicable to assigned programs.
  • Actively listen and provide supportive attention to clients.

    Background Information

    This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements. Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States. Finally, each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

    Salary

    Salary range begins at $41,421. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

    FLSA Status

    This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.

    Benefits

    This is a Service Professional (SPF) position. NAU offers an excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program; 22 days of vacation and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified dependents. More information on benefits at NAU is available on the Human Resources benefits website. NAU is a tobacco and smoke-free campus. Service Professionals are hired on a contract basis, renewable each 6 months according to terms of the Conditions of Professional Service. Employees offered a position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU's BCBS Plan). New employees are eligible for benefits on the first day of the pay period following their enrollment, after their employment date. Employees will have 31 days from their start date to enroll in benefits. If a new employee chooses the ASRS retirement option, participation in the Arizona State Retirement System, and the long-term disability coverage that accompanies it, will begin on the first of the pay period following 6 months after the new employee's start date. New employees who choose to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), which is an alternative to the ASRS plan for faculty and other appointed staff, will begin to participate on the first day of employment. Additionally, the long-term disability plan that accompanies the ORP will begin on the first day of employment.

    Learning and Development

    Your career at Northern Arizona University includes the opportunity for professional development. New employee on-boarding training includes courses to be completed within the first 30 days.

    Immigration Suppt/Sponsorship

    NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

    Application Deadline

    March 2, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

    How to Apply

    To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by clicking on the "Submit" button by midnight of the application deadline. If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on the Human Resources website or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus - on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

    If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

    Equal Employment Opportunity

    Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

    Know Your Rights Poster

    NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.



    To apply, visit https://hr.peoplesoft.nau.edu/psp/ph92prta/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=606999&PostingSeq=1



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