Recommends the opening of protective services, foster care or supportive services cases and provides direct casework service. Conducts home studies and may investigate suspected child abuse and neglect complaints. Develops case plans to establish goals, objectives, tasks, and time frames for all parties involved in case. Recruits and trains foster families and visits parents on a regular basis to monitor progress toward case objectives. Intervenes in crisis situations, removes the child from the home if the situation is life threatening and arranges for temporary placement in foster homes, group homes, or treatment facilities. Prepares court reports for custody hearings and presents testimony when necessary. Attends or conducts staff meeting to discuss investigative findings and observations and to develop and monitor case plans. Acts as lead worker by assigning and reviewing work, training new employees and providing input on employee evaluations as needed. Provides counseling and guidance to clients in defining their needs, interests, and courses of action and refers clients to other professionals, agencies, services, or community resources appropriate to client’s problems. Performs other duties as assigned.