Social Work Assistant Jobs in Oak Ridge, TN (NOW HIRING)

Within SWORPS, the Tennessee Child Support Employment and Parenting Program (TCSEPP) Regional Coordinator builds a strong evidence-informed and trauma-informed practice that assists, supports, and advocates for non-custodial parents involved with the child support system. The Regional Coordinator, based in West Tennessee, assists non-custodial parents with overcoming barriers to employment in order to become stable, obtain employment, pay child support, become self-sufficient, and be an active parent in their child(ren)'s lives. The Regional Coordinator works with non-custodial parents to promote trust and communication between them and the systems with which they interact, as well as, when possible and appropriate, with the children and custodial parents. The Regional Coordinator also weaves together a supportive network of formal and informal community-based resources for non-custodial parents and provides outreach and education to non-custodial parents and the community-at-large.
This position reports to a TCSEPP Manager and is responsible for providing coverage and program continuity in counties where a TCSEPP Coordinator is temporarily unavailable (e.g., due to leave or vacancy). The Regional Coordinator will cover assigned counties within their region as needed in support of TCSEPP operations.
This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.
Responsibilities
The TCSEPP Regional Coordinator responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Determine participant eligibility.
• Properly assess participants' barriers and make appropriate referrals for identified barriers.
• Develop individual action plans for participants.
• Provide one-on-one mentoring and emotional support and encouragement to participants to assist them with job readiness activities.
• Maintain accurate records of all participant interactions in appropriate places, i.e. TCSES, Apricot, Excel spreadsheet, etc.
• Monitor participants' child support eligibility & payments; program involvement & compliance, and employment.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with local agencies to assist participants with barriers to employment.
• Attend community interagency meetings to learn about and share available resources and information.
• Participate in partner meetings.
• Provide regular updates to manager for Child Support staff and attorneys on participant progress.
• Maintain a court presence to foster a positive relationship with the Child Support legal system and to recruit and/or enroll potential participants.
• Participate in job/resource fairs.
• Communicate with the manager about county specific issues encountered during coverage to support smooth transitions when permanent staff return.
• Documentation of participant progress.
• Fiscal tasks including but not limited to One Card reconciliation and uploading & documenting receipts, monthly gift card reconciliation, and travel reports.
• Other duties as assigned which may include but not limited to participating on new hire search committees and participating in testing for new processes/forms.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree
• Experience: Two years of customer/client direct service (case management) experience. In lieu of a degree, candidates with two additional years experience will be considered.
• An automobile at his/her disposal; a valid driver's license and a current automobile liability policy with continuous coverage.
• Must live within two hours of all the assigned coverage area.
• Must be willing and able to travel frequently across their assigned region of Tennessee to provide short-term program coverage.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Ability to assess participant needs.
  • Ability to develop positive & trusting relationships with participants and offer emotional support.
  • Ability to positively interact with partners including child support, court, attorneys, etc.
  • Ability to promote the program to potential participants, partners, and employers.
  • Ability to advocate for participants.
  • Ability to work independently and within a team setting.
  • Ability to travel to multiple counties to serve participants .
  • Ability to be flexible with respect to changing needs of the project.
  • Excellent oral communication skills.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
  • Ability to work independently and in team settings.
  • Experience with data management systems.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.
Preferred Qualifications

• Experience:
  • Experience working with non-custodial parents and/or Employment programs.
  • Experience working with community groups and/or social service organizations.

Work Location

• Location: This position is hybrid and requires travel throughout West Tennessee. Applicants must live within two hours of Jackson, TN.

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR07
• Anticipated hiring range: Around midpoint of the range
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions
Applications will be reviewed as received and interviews can begin as soon as 7 days from posting.
Interested individuals should provide the following:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

About The College/Department/Division
The Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) is an applied research center of the University of Tennessee College of Social Work (CSW). We are a dynamic and close-knit interdisciplinary team of individuals with a shared vision of thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all. We do that by building partnerships that leverage research, technology, and human connection to improve lives in Tennessee and beyond.
Over the past fifty years, SWORPS has worked with local nonprofits such as the United Way of Greater Knoxville, University of Tennessee departments and faculty researchers, state agencies such as the Tennessee Department of Human Services, and federal agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Our annual portfolio consists of 25-40 sponsored projects spanning a wealth of different content areas, but one common thread -each project contributes one more building block for thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all.
Learn more about SWORPS and some of our programs and resources by visiting our webpage: https://www.sworps.tennessee.edu/
About Us
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees-the Volunteers-who uphold the university's tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee's flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy's largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates," "One of America's Best Large Employers," and "Best Workplace for Women," and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!