Arkansas Department of Human Services Careers and Employment

It depends on the county. I’ve worked in both larger and smaller counties. Large counties consist of a lot of catty favoritism. There’s so much drama! There are too many chiefs and not enough staff. You end up getting multiple directives from multiple people, and it’s pretty overwhelming. Caseloads in larger counties are generally higher bc they have a hard time maintaining staff. Smaller counties have a lot less drama, but they aren’t necessarily easier to work in. If you’re like me and you really care about the children and clients, it is very hard to work within the good ol boy sustem and politics that take place in the smaller counties. Supervisors care more about rubbing elbows with judges and attorneys than they do about following policy or law. It’s very disheartening.

Change the HR hiring policy and timing of hiring. It shouldn't take months just to bring someone in and especially for a background check that could be done at the police station and still be given your results all on the same day.

At least 50 hours per week. The hours on the job posting say 8-4:30. That’s almost never true. You have to schedule in-home meetings with families at times when they can all be at home (usually after 5pm or later). Foster care workers also have to supervisor visits bw parents and children after school/ work hours. Most workers have 25+ cases on their workloads. Many have over 40 cases. It’s impossible to work 40 hours per week in their job.

A month or even two but it really depends on HR and around what time of year because they try to do "group hires" where everyone come in, do orientation and go to their departments. Also you have to think about the fiscal periods as well (January and June) where they just stop the machine for odd reasons and you won't hear back for a while. Your department heads usually know who they want and wanna move fast to get people in but HR just stops everything.

Yes I knew that would run a check

One on one interview and filling out a questionnaire same day interview.

One week, you'll receive and email or phone call.

Do you have any experience in the position you are applying for. Are you a team player. How do you deal with hostile clients.

Scenerios such as "What would you do if a client came into the office and needed food for their family?"." What is an example of a correct work environment?".

Yes I knew that would run a check

Yes, they do a complete state and federal background check.

Education,criminal checks and drug testing required upon hire.