MDT Coordination Specialist

This Position is EXEMPT from the State of Delaware Merit System

Recruitment #091622-J65416-21800

Summary Statement

The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is an agency within the Judicial Branch, charged with safeguarding the welfare of Delaware's children. It accomplishes this mission through advocacy, collaboration, evaluation, and education with a vision of safe and resilient children with supportive families. It had 30 full-time employees, 6 casual/seasonal employees, 13 contractors and over 400 volunteers. OCA operates out of all 3 counties. OCA's Legal Services Division represents approximately 550 children that are experiencing foster care through Child Attorneys and Court Appointed Special Advocates. OCA's Office of Investigation Coordinator (IC) monitors over 900 serious child abuse cases and leads the multidisciplinary team case reviews. OCA's Policy and Training Division provides intensive reviews of serious child abuse cases, manages youth in transition programs, coordinates child welfare trainings, generates child welfare data and staffs the Child Protection Accountability Commission (CPAC). Administrative support is provided to all divisions through leadership, managers, and support staff.

OCA's Office of the Investigation Coordinator (IC) (16. Del. C. 906(c)) is required to review and monitor all reported cases of child sexual abuse, juvenile trafficking, serious physical injury, and death of a child from inception to final criminal and civil disposition. The IC reviews and analyzes these cases to ensure an appropriate and timely criminal and civil legal response. The IC seeks to ensure compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding for the MDT Response to Child Abuse and Neglect to achieve punishment for perpetrators and legal protections for victims, and conducts MDT case review meetings. 

In addition, the IC oversees the establishment and maintenance of an independent database case tracking system for cases within the IC purview. The IC, with support from the OCA data team, is responsible for analyzing collected data and statistics, identifying child welfare system issues and trends, providing pertinent data to the Child Protection Accountability Commission and members of the multidisciplinary team and making recommendations for system improvement in accordance with State and Federal law. IC is also responsible for maintaining data on substance exposed infants and their families. 

Preferred Qualification

Applicants who do not posses the preferred qualifications will still be eligible to compete for this position if job requirements are met.

  1. Experience working with Delaware's child welfare system. 
  2. Experience working with law enforcement agencies 
  3. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with representatives from other agencies, organizations and associates. 

Essential Functions

To support the IC in accomplishing the duties of the office and to ensure that every child reported to be a victim of child death, serious physical injury or sexual abuse has a coordinated multidisciplinary team (MDT) response, this position will assist the IC team as follows:

  • Provide a timely review and analysis of victims of child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, death and serious physical injury. 
  • Ensure timely and accurate documentation and maintenance of child victim case information in OCA's Case Management System (Apricot).
  • Utilize available information systems, such as DSCYF's database (FOCUS) and the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System (DELJIS) to monitor cases until final criminal and civil disposition. 
  • Coordinate the multidisciplinary response to child abuse cases as required by Delaware's MDT Memorandum of Understanding. 
  • Examine and address multidisciplinary compliance with departmental policies and procedures and state and federal rules and regulations. 
  • Analyze collected data on child victims and make recommendations to IC for change. 
  • Advocate for individual child victims when system breakdowns occur. 
  • Coordinate, facilitate and participate in the Standard and Special MDT Case Review Meetings statewide. 
  • Prepare and distribute IC Referrals to the MDT members for cases of serious physical injury, death, drug ingestions and juvenile trafficking and schedule MDT meetings for each within 48-72 hours. 
  • Assist with reviewing and entering data pertaining to substance exposed infants and their families.
  • Make reports to the Division of Professional Regulation when there are allegations of child abuse, against a professional in Delaware.
  • Participate in various child welfare committees and meetings   

Job Requirements

  1. Possession of a Bachelor's Degree
  2. Experience in interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures. 
  3. Knowledge of casework principles and practices.
  4. Experience in effectively analyzing large volumes of data. 
  5. Knowledge of making recommendations for continuation or changes to operations, programs, services, policies or procedures based on data findings. 
  6. Ability to prepare reports and maintain accurate records. 
  7. Ability to communicate courteously and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
  8. Possession of a valid Delaware Class D driver's license or its equivalent. 

Additional Posting Information

Location options for this position are City of Wilmington (900 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801), Dover (400 Court Street, Dover, DE 19901) OR Georgetown (6 W. Market Street, Suite 2, Georgetown, DE 19947).

Telework Eligibility: A teleworking option may be extended to the employee selected for this position if the criteria is met per the Delaware Judicial Branch Telework Policy.

Conditions of Hire

  • A satisfactory criminal background check and child protection registry check is required as a condition of hire. 
  • Direct deposit of paychecks is required as condition of hire. 

Benefits

  • Full time employees are eligible for FREE parking!!!!
  • To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process.  To request an auxiliary aid or service please call (302) 739-5458. TDD users should call the Delaware Relay Service Number 1-800-232-5460 for assistance.

The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.