Child Protective Services Caseworker Supervisor

MaineGuide; Sanford (ME); On-site; USD 80,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Health and Human Services in Maine seeks a licensed social worker to lead and coordinate child welfare services at the Sanford office. The role requires extensive social work experience, licensure, and collaboration with state agencies and providers to improve outcomes for families and children.

With a focus on quality service standards and program-wide improvements, you will supervise casework, mentor staff, and ensure compliance with state and federal requirements while

Qualifications

• Eight years of education and/or professional social work experience, including at least two years as a fully licensed social worker (LSW).
• Licensing/registration/certification requirement: Licensed Social Worker (LSW).
• Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain established quality service standards.
• Counsel workers on casework to assist with difficult cases and caseload problems.
• Review staff performance against standards to assess productivity and training needs.
• Coordinate with other agencies and community resources to deliver services.
• Authorize service provision and client/caseworker expenditures.
• Negotiate contracts with service providers and others to ensure appropriate services.
• Analyze cases to ensure compliance with laws and initiate hearings.
• Direct after-hours coverage to ensure appropriate staffing.

Skills

Child welfare experience

MACWIS/Katahdin knowledge

Licensed social worker experience

Education

Master's degree preferred

Job description

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Opening Date:September 23, 2026

Closing Date:October 6, 2026

Job Class Code:5078

Grade:27 (Supervisory Svcs)

Salary:$80,329.60 – $106,995.20 per year*

*This is inclusive of a $7.50/hr. stipend. This position is eligible for an additional $1.00/hr. stipend for employees possessing a related Master’s Degree.

Position Number:02000-3727

Location: We have a vacancy in our Sanford office.

Core Responsibilities:

• 1.Ensuring established quality service standards are maintained.
• 2.Conferring with and counseling workers regarding casework in order to assist with difficult cases and caseload problems.
• 3.Reviewing and comparing work performance and/or products of staff with established standards to assess employee productivity levels and training needs.
• 4.Connecting with other agencies and community resources to coordinate services, promote necessary community resources, and monitor cooperative agreements.
• 5.Evaluating and recommending program-wide changes and establishing unit procedures and goals in order to upgrade the quality and continuity of services.
• 6.Coordinating activities between unit and service providers to effectively deliver social services to agency clients.
• 7.Authorizing service provision and client/caseworker expenditures.
• 8.Negotiating various contracts and agreements with service providers and others to ensure appropriate services are provided.
• 9.Analyzing and reviewing cases to ensure compliance with state and federal laws, standards, and requirements, and initiate and participate in court hearings.
• 10.Directing, coordinating, and/or participating in after-hours coverage to ensure appropriate staffing.

Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify, your background must include eight (8) years of education and/or professional experience in social work which includes at least two (2) years experience as a fully licensed social worker* (LSW). A Master’s degree is preferred.

LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATIONREQUIREMENTS: Licensed Social Worker (LSW).

Preference will be extended to candidates possessing the following skills/experience:

• 1.Recent experience in professional child welfare casework.
• 2.A thorough knowledge of and recent experience working with MACWIS/Katahdin.
• 3.Four years experience as a fully-licensed social worker.

*Special Note: An LMSW or LCSW automatically meets the two (2) years fully licensed social worker experience requirement.

Please submit a cover letter addressing your skills and/or prior experience in each of the three areas above.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The Office of Child & Family Services (OCFS), within DHHS is responsible for ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families through community networks, local resources, and life-long family connections throughout Maine.

Application Information:

For additional information about this position please contact Amy Cilley, Assistant Program Administrator at 207-286-2466.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit– Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. When you or immediate members of your family are ill, utilize 12 days of sick leave per year.
• Health Insurance Coverage– The State of Maine pays85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($12,213.60 - $13,650.48 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit– Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance– The State pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan– The State contributes the equivalent of 14.06% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leaveis one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing and adoptive parents—receivesix weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated foranything less than full-time.

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.