Child Social Worker

maricopa; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Hybrid schedule

Growth opportunities

Healthcare for you and dependents

Child care benefits

Job summary

The Office of the Public Advocate in Maricopa County seeks a Child Social Worker to join our dynamic legal team. You will work with attorneys representing children in dependency, severance, and delinquency matters, focusing on the expressed interests of the child and their unique needs.

Responsibilities include communicating with children 8–17, educating them about the court process, and coordinating with treatment centers and services.

Qualifications

• One year of direct experience within the child protection system as a case worker, family advocate, or social worker.
• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Child Development, Behavioral or Social Science, or other closely related field.

Responsibilities

• Meets with and communicates with the child in a juvenile detention facility, the office, and/or at various placements in the community to discuss their history, services, and needs
• Educates the child in the court process, case plan, and recommended services
• Identifies appropriate residential treatment centers, group homes, foster homes, and outpatient treatment programs as a resource for the child
• Participates in meetings with other professionals/stakeholders to obtain additional and current information as the case progresses
• Attends multi-disciplinary meetings with professionals/stakeholders to advocate for and advance the client's expressed interest and takes notes for the attorney
• Interprets all written, verbal, and nonverbal information obtained; advises other professionals/stakeholders regarding the direction a case should take or services that need to be provided to the child
• Reviews police reports, pictures of evidence collected by detectives, forensic interviews, medical records, psychological and psychiatric evaluations, developmental assessments, counseling records, parent aide reports, educational assessments, substance abuse treatment records, and any other potential exhibit pertaining to a child abuse and neglect case
• Confers with the authors of the above reports as well as with other persons with knowled

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Child Development, Behavioral or Social Science, or other closely related field

Job description

Posting Date

10/07/26

Application Deadline

10/13/26

Pay Range

Anticipated Hiring Range: $25.25 - $33.75 hourly

Full Pay Range: $25.25 - $42.25 hourly

Job Type

Unclassified

Department

Public Advocate

About the Position

Come be a part of a dynamic legal team as a Child Social Worker at the Office of the Public Advocate!

The Child Social Worker serves as a key member of our legal team, working closely with attorneys who represent children in dependency, severance, and delinquency matters, ensuring that the expressed interest of the child is emphasized. This position will involve working with our child clients, typically between the ages of 8 and 17, and their specific needs.

We are looking for a skilled problem solver who can diffuse situations and resolve conflicts using good judgment while providing the critical communication and support necessary to keep our most vulnerable community members safe.

If this describes you and you highly value serving our community, join our team and make a difference!

About Us

The Office of the Public Advocate seeks professionals, both attorneys and legal staff members, to join our legal defense team!

We're committed to the mission of protecting the fundamental rights of our clients. We're dedicated to providing effective legal representation to all indigent persons, those individuals who are not able to afford the services of private lawyers, when appointed by the Maricopa County Superior Court. Our clients include juveniles charged with criminal offenses, parents, and children in dependency and severance matters (loss of parental rights), and people facing court-ordered mental health evaluation and treatment.

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose
• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work-life balance, with hybrid and alternative work schedule options
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to the Maricopa County Kids Club , dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring an 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

We Require

• One year of direct experience within the child protection system as a case worker, family advocate, or social worker
• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Child Development, Behavioral or Social Science, or other closely related field

We Also Value

• Master's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, or other closely related field
• Two or more years of direct experience working within a child protection system as a case worker, family advocate, or social worker
• Casework within a public defender organization, an Arizona criminal justice agency, Arizona court department, or a probation department
• Experience applying policies, procedures, and state/federal laws related to child welfare within the state of Arizona
• Experience working with youth
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills

Job Contributions

• Meets with and communicates with the child in a juvenile detention facility, the office, and/or at various placements in the community to discuss their history, services, and needs
• Educates the child in the court process, case plan, and recommended services
• Identifies appropriate residential treatment centers, group homes, foster homes, and outpatient treatment programs as a resource for the child
• Participates in meetings with other professionals/stakeholders to obtain additional and current information as the case progresses
• Attends multi-disciplinary meetings with professionals/stakeholders to advocate for and advance the client's expressed interest and takes notes for the attorney
• Interprets all written, verbal, and nonverbal information obtained; advises other professionals/stakeholders regarding the direction a case should take or services that need to be provided to the child
• Reviews police reports, pictures of evidence collected by detectives, forensic interviews, medical records, psychological and psychiatric evaluations, developmental assessments, counseling records, parent aide reports, educational assessments, substance abuse treatment records, and any other potential exhibit pertaining to a child abuse and neglect case
• Confers with the authors of the above reports as well as with other persons with knowled

Want to learn more about the County's Qualifying and Compensation Philosophy? Follow this link to learn more! Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ