Children's Services/ICW - Child Welfare Caseworker I

Puyallup Tribe; Tacoma (WA); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid medical

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) with profit sharing

Paid holidays

Paid time off including birthday leave

Job summary

Puyallup Tribe of Indians in Tacoma, WA seeks a Child Welfare Caseworker I to develop, implement and evaluate family case plans within Children’s Services/ICW, guiding reunification or permanent placement decisions in the child’s best interests.

You will coordinate with CPS investigators, providers, and tribal court staff; maintain confidential case records; travel for home visits; participate in trainings and staff meetings; a Bachelor’s degree in social services is required, MSW preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social services or related field required.
• MSW or related master’s degree preferred.
• Ability to perform case management duties with diverse populations.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and evaluate case plans for families in Child Services.
• Facilitate family reunification or permanent placement planning.
• Coordinate with CPS investigators, providers, and tribal court personnel.
• Maintain confidential case records and prepare reports for court.
• Conduct regular home visits and participate in staff trainings.

Education

Bachelor’s degree (B.A. in a related social services field or a B.S.W.)

MSW degree

Master’s degree in a related field

Job description

Open: September 28, 2026

Close: October 13, 2026

Job Title: Child Welfare Caseworker I

Department: Children’s Services/ICW

Reports To: Assistant Director

Hours: 40 Hrs/Wk – Full Time

Salary: Based on Salary Matrix+Benefits

Requisition: 907

* Salaries are market competitive. For accurate salary information, call [phone] or email [e-mail]. The Puyallup Tribe of Indians provides a generous benefits package that includes employer paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance, a retirement/401(k) plan with profit sharing, paid holidays, and paid time off including birthday leave.

Position Summary:

To develop, implement and evaluate case plans for families who are working with Puyallup Tribe Children Services. Facilitates family reunification or other permanent placement planning as deemed necessary by the Tribal Court. Initiates life-changing decisions based solely on the best interest of the children.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Level I: Position will work under the general direction of the Assistant Director to train on the following duties, including training on Tribal codes and procedures.

Level II: Responsible for performing the following duties while training on Tribal codes and procedures.

Level III: Responsible for performing the following duties.

1. Works collaboratively with assigned CPS investigators and families in developing initial case plans.
2. Initiates, facilitates and assists in obtaining referrals to outside agencies and professional providers in establishing services necessary to achieve case plan goals in collaboration with parents and families
3. Consistently engage in active efforts throughout the life of the case with children, parents and families.
4. Performs case consultation and collaboration with court personnel, professional therapists, medical personnel, school officials, legal professionals, and other community agencies for optimal outcomes of case plans.
5. Prepares detailed, comprehensive and fact based Social Service reports and testimony to court in accordance to the Child and Family Protection Code. Develops case summaries, and attends predetermined and emergency court proceedings. Stays informed of all court proceedings (i.e. Children in Need of Care, reviews, etc.).
6. Adhere to all of the Child and Family Protection Code timeframes which includes all court required filings.
7. Arranges and supervises (when necessary) visitations between children, parents, siblings and extended family members to maintain familial bond when safe and appropriate
8. Maintains up to date case records of case progress including, but not limited to; case notes, court documents, school and health records, correspondence, placement records, and visitations. Also responsible for administration of financial support records, service agreements, service episode information, tribal affiliation and enrollment.
9. Prepares and presents various case summaries for team, supervisor and the Puyallup Tribe Indian Child Welfare Act Committee when needed and applicable.
10. Maintains and ensures extreme level of confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries regarding clients.
11. Conducts regular and emergent home visits and monthly health and safety with children, parents and placement providers to maintain the wellbeing of children in the care of Puyallup Tribe Children’s Services.
12. Participate in regular case staffing with supervisor and promptly inform of any significant changes in the case.
13. Prioritize workload based on client needs.
14. Transport clients to and from appointments as needed.
15. Completes and prepares in-depth home studies for the purpose of adoption, guardianship and relative/kinship placements of children.
16. Completes all appropriate background clearances prior to placing a child in a home.
17. Available to respond to afterhours emergencies as needed.
18. Ability to adapt and be flexible to constant changes in Tribal and State Children’s Services systems.
19. Adheres to the Child and Family Protection Code; Duty to Report Child Abuse and Neglect.
20. Participates in departmental staff meetings and trainings.
21. Will continuously engage in professional development including but not limited to, cross training throughout the department and keeping up with the latest trends and best practices of child welfare service delivery.
22. Participate in departmental community outreach
23. Responsible for rotating as back-up coverage for after hour emergencies.
24. Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications and Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Level I

Bachelor’s degree (B.A. in a related social services field or a B.S.W.) from a four-year college or university.; Intermediate word processing skills (Microsoft Word) is required. Knowledge and experience using spreadsheet applications (Microsoft Excel) is preferred.

Level II

All Level I requirements and two years of experience in child welfare case management working with a diverse population. Or an equivalent combination of a MSW degree and one year of case management experience working with a diverse population. Internship hours completed in a social work setting may count as experience.

Level III

All Level I and II requirements and two years of experience in direct case management and/or training working with Native American children and their families. Or a Master’s degree in a related field and one year of experience in direct case management and/or training working with Native American children and their families. Experience interviewing children and families is preferred.

Note: Level I and II employees will move to the next level once they meet requirements and can demonstrate the ability to perform all required job duties. Employee will move to the grade commensurate with the higher level position for which they qualify. Time spent working in a practicum will be counted toward experience as long as it can be verified.

Note: Part‑time work is prorated in crediting experience (e.g., if you work 20 hours per week for a 12‑month period you will be credited with 6 months of experience).

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability

Must possess independent decision making skills, have or be willing to learn de‑escalation and crisis intervention techniques. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Licenses Or Certificates

Current First Aid and CPR certification and HIV/AIDS training certificate.

Must pass Washington State Department of Social and Health Services criminal history and CPS background inquiry every two years unless otherwise indicated.

Must have and maintain a valid and unrestricted Washington State driver’s license and proof of insurance. Driver’s License must not contain any restrictions that would otherwise prevent an employee from driving a GSA vehicle. Must be insurable to occasionally drive Tribal vehicles.

Must be willing to obtain and pass a TB (tuberculosis) test.

Willing to attend training for professional development.

Other Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of legal requirements of Puyallup Tribal Court- Children’s Code, and U.S. Federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.

Knowledge of Native American family dynamics. Sensitive to and familiar with the social/cultural needs of Tribal children and their families.

Must pass tuberculosis test.

Knowledge of DCYF systems and procedures.

Willing to travel with little or no notice.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Requires the ability to operate a typewriter, personal computer, multi-line telephone, calculator, facsimile and photocopier.
• Requires the ability to read, write, communicate, and interpret information accurately in English.
• Requires the ability to concentrate and consistently produce accurate work.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required talk or hear.
• The employee is frequently required to sit.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; reach with hands and use hands to finger, handle and feel.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level is low to moderate.
• The physical exertion is low to moderate.
• Work is performed in an office setting with some occasional outside travel.
• There are frequent employee contacts and interruptions during the day.
• Position may be stressful at times due to the sensitive or confidential issues being addressed.
• Requires local travel using employee’s personal transportation.
• May be required to respond after normal business hours.

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

Indian Preference Employer as Required by Law

3009 E. Portland Ave., Tacoma, WA 98404