SOCIAL WORKER II, FS: DISASTER RECOVERY SOCIAL WORKER

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

311 W. Saratoga Street

Baltimore, MD 21201-3500

This position serves as the coordinator of disaster recovery social work services for individuals and communities between the Department of Human Resources (DHR), Office of Emergency Operations (OEO), the Local Department of Social Services (LDSS's) and various partner agency representatives throughout the State of Maryland. The Disaster Recovery Social Worker coordinates with the Assistant Director of Planning and Recovery to define and maintain appropriate standards for casework processes during disaster response and recovery operations from the perspective of a licensed social worker; assists with the coordination of the State implementation, Federal Individual Assistance (IA), Other Needs Assistance (ONA) Program, State Other Needs Assistance (SONA) Program, Maryland Social Services Recovery Program (MSSRP), the Maryland Repatriation Support Program and other community recovery grants or activities; and assists with disaster casework that exceeds the capability of non-licensed workers.

The incumbent in this position is responsible for limited case management during the coordination process; develops and provides casework training and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) for non-licensed disaster caseworkers; and assists and/or develops plans related to disaster or emergency response and recovery for vulnerable populations as necessary. During the response phase of a disaster, the Disaster Recovery Social Worker will be a State Emergency Operations Center representative, working from the DHR command Center, or providing disaster field assistance and is designated as an 'Essential Employee',available for duty 24/7. 

This position develops relationships and establishes opportunities for collaboration between the Office of Emergency Operations and social service program administrators within DHR, LDSS's, other public partners, non-profit or faith-based community service workers/partners; solicits information for referrals and community programs to benefit applicants during response and recovery; assists non-licensed disaster caseworkers with creating appropriate and integrated short and long-term recovery plans for clients when programs are managed by the Office of Emergency Operations. Provides oversight and referrals for cases that exceed the capabilities of the non-licensed caseworkers; assists with quality assurance practices for casework; provides event-dependent case management with limited case management services during the coordination process; coordinates with the Assistant Director of Planning and Recovery on the reception and serving of individuals and groups repatriated into the State of Maryland; creates Standard Operating Procedures for the Office of Emergency Operations to use when collaborating with partners to provide integrated and appropriate assistance to people experiencing disasters; creates appropriate annexes to existing plans related to the delivery of social services casework or related to the integration of social services into an Emergency Operations Plan; updates existing plans to provide the social work and mental health perspectives; coordinates with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on Medical Suite protocols within mass care facilities; and works with grant managers to develop appropriate guidance and casework standards for short and long-term recovery plans.

This position creates and delivers appropriate trainings for non-licensed caseworkers working in support of recovery grants and activities; develops appropriate subject-matter expertise to deliver established trainings in disaster mental health, sheltering, emergency preparation and other mass care or recovery services; updates existing trainings to provide a social work and mental health perspective; assists with enhancing service center operations from the perspective of recovery services planning; and assists with the creation of appropriate training and facilitates training designated as mandatory for all DHR employees to maintain National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance as directed by the OEO Director and/or the Assistant Director.

The incumbent in this position may be deployed for extended periods to conduct emergency operations throughout the State of Maryland and in other States. This may include, but is not limited to: 1. Resource deployment (including, but not limited to, loading and unloading of supplies, warehouse/storage container operations, delivery, set-up and tear-down). 2. Shelter Operations. 3. Emergency Service Centers ('ESCs').    4. Disaster Recovery Centers ('DRCs'). 5. Preliminary Damage Assessment ('PDA') teams. 6. Repatriation teams. 7. DHR Emergency Command Center ('DHR-ECC'). 8. State Emergency Operations Center ('SEOC').

This position attends and/or represents DHR at meetings; assists with coordination of the Children in Disasters Task Force, the Access & Functional Needs Task Force and the Office of Emergency Operations' interaction with unaccompanied minor programs; researches social services grants, MOU's and partnership opportunities to maximize resources during disasters and emergencies; assists with the development of grants and MOU's as necessary; researches available information in the field of disaster mental health to influence best practices in disaster planning and response operations; and travels to any jurisdiction within Maryland to provide and coordinate services or to provide training for clients, communities and/or partners impacted or potentially impacted by disasters.

EDUCATION: Determined by the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners under the licensing requirements for Social Workers.

This classification requires a Master’s in “Social Work” (MSW). PLEASE CLEARLY INDICATE "SOCIAL WORK" AS YOUR MASTER'S DEGREE MAJOR ON YOUR APPLICATION.

(IMPORTANT, PLEASE NOTE: A master’s degree with the specific major title of “Social Work” is the only acceptable education qualification for this classification. You must possess a MSW to meet minimum education qualifications for this classification.  There are no substitutions.)

EXPERIENCE: One year of experience providing child welfare or adult services to vulnerable children, individuals or families.

NOTES:

1.  These requirements are established by the Social Services Administration by authority provided in Section 1 of Article 88A of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The Department of Budget and Management, Office of Personnel Services and Benefits does not have the authority to accept substitutions or equivalents.

2: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience at a rank of Corporal/Petty Officer or higher as a commissioned officer in Social Work classifications or Social Work specialty codes in the Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

1. Excellent written and oral communication skills.

2. Ability to work independently, under a variety of conditions.

3. Experience working/coordinating successfully and diplomatically on complex projects   involving multiple partners and objectives.

4. Ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects simultaneously.

5. Experience with researching, analyzing and reporting information.

1. Employees are required to be licensed as a graduate social worker, certified social worker or certified social worker-clinical by the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners prior to permanent appointment. (Please include a copy of any licensure with application submssion.)

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

1. Employees who have not already done so must complete an approved training program and pass a competency test before being granted permanent employment status.

2. Employees are required to meet mandatory standards for continuing education as determined by the Department of Human Resources. Employees who fail to obtain the required continuing education credits shall be subject to disciplinary action including demotion, suspension and dismissal.

3. Employees in this classification may be required to provide the employer with a telephone number at which they can be reached.

Please provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. 

Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified and placed on the employment (eligible) list for one year.

The resulting certified eligible list for this recruitment may be used for similar positions in this or other State agencies. 

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position.  It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all experience and education that is related to this position. 

For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must accompany the application. 

All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date.  We will not consider information submitted after this date.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

Online applications are STRONGLY preferred.  If the online application process is not available, please send your paper application and supplemental questionnaire (if applicable) to:

DHR Examination Services Unit

Attention: LaToura Jones 

311 W. Saratoga Street, First Floor

Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Or email to: dhr.esu@maryland.gov.

The paper application must be received by 5 PM on the closing date for the recruitment.   

For assistance, please call 410-767-7316, toll-free: 1-800-332-6347.                                                          TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay, 1-800-925-4434.

Do not submit unsolicited documentation. Resumes and copies of diplomas are not needed for the examination process.  Please make sure all information is incuded on your application.

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country, and encourage them to apply. 

Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.