Child Protective Services Caseworker

Department of Health and Human Services; Rockland (ME); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Child Protective Services Caseworker to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and families across Maine. This rewarding role involves providing essential case management services, engaging with families to ensure child safety, and collaborating with community resources. The position offers exceptional training opportunities and the chance to work within a supportive team environment. If you are passionate about social work and want to contribute to the well-being of children, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

13 paid holidays

12 days of sick leave

3+ weeks of vacation leave

Health Insurance Coverage

Dental Insurance

Retirement Plan

6 weeks of fully paid parental leave

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field required.
• Must be eligible for LSW licensure in Maine.

Responsibilities

• Perform professional social work in child protection and adoption.
• Engage families to assess child safety and create supportive plans.
• Maintain accurate case records and follow legal mandates.

Skills

Social Work

Case Management

Child Protection

Assessment Skills

Family Engagement

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work

Bachelor's Degree in a related field

Job description

Opening Date: March 31, 2025

Closing Date: April 30, 2025

Job Class Code: 5077
Grade: 24
Salary: $32.35- $42.34 per hour*
* Hourly rate includes a $7.50/hr. recruitment and retention stipend

Link to realistic job preview

Want to make a real difference in the lives of Maine children? The Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) within DHHS is looking for people committed to protecting the rights and well-being of children by providing professional case management services for our clients throughout the State of Maine. As a Child Protective Services Caseworker, you will develop investigative and case management skills and build extensive contacts within the judicial, law enforcement, educational, and social services communities. If you’re in search of a career that is professionally and personally rewarding, offers exceptional training and educational opportunities, and supports children and families in Maine, this could be your next career opportunity.

We have current vacancies in our Augusta, Skowhegan, Portland, Lewiston, Rockland, Bangor, Sanford, Biddeford, Machias, Ellsworth, and Caribou offices.

As a Child Protective Services Caseworker you will:

• Perform professional social work in the areas of child protection, children’s services, and adoption.
• Engage families to assess child safety and make plans which best meet the safety, well-being, and permanency needs of their children.
• Create a team for each family consisting of family, staff, and community resources to support safe solutions for children.
• Reach factually supported safety decisions in a timely and thorough manner, with input from parents, children, extended family, and community stakeholders to assure child safety.
• Assess:
  • child safety, abuse, and neglect, and signs of danger.
  • family strengths and capabilities.
  • family functioning;
• Separate unsafe caregivers from children in need of protection when court action is required to make children safe.
• Make appropriate plans for children, focusing on their safety needs, preservation of family relationships, reunifying children when appropriate, or achieving a permanent placement in another family if needed.
• Maintain accurate case records of assessments, activities, and plans; summaries; reports; letters and memos.
• Follow federal and state laws, mandates, policy, and timeframes to achieve child safety, well-being, and permanency. Perform case planning and when needed, petition for protective custody and placement of children.

Minimum Qualifications:

In order to qualify, you must have a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited education institution in Social Work/Social Welfare, or a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited educational institution in a field related to social work/social welfare* as determined by the Maine State Board of Social Work Licensure.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Applicants must have or be eligible for conditional or full licensure at the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) level as issued by the Maine State Board of Social Work Licensure. An LSW requires an earned BA/BS in social work/social welfare. An LSW-Conditional requires an earned BA/BS in a field related to social work/social welfare.

*Chapter 10 of the Maine State Board of Social Worker Licensure regulations defines a field related to social work or social welfare as including but not limited to: “behavioral science, social and behavioral sciences, childhood development, education and human development, mental health and human services, psychology, psychology/educational psychology, rehabilitation services, and sociology.”

The board will consider degrees in other areas on an individual basis. For additional information on degree requirements, contact the Maine Board of Social Work Licensure at [phone].

Application Information:

For additional information about this position please contact Lisa Bullard, Recruitment and Retention Specialist at [phone] or by e-mail at [e-mail]. To apply, please upload a resume and state your degree information as identified in the Minimum Qualifications Section.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($10,523.28-$12,380.40 annual value), depending on salary.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 13.41% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.