CPS Floating Case Worker (CYFD/PSD #10119020)

New Mexico Department of Justice; Taos (NM); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

New Mexico CYFD is seeking a CPS Floating Case Worker to support investigations, permanency planning, and related services across counties. The role involves handling cases from assigned offices, visiting families, and coordinating with courts and providers.

You will assess safety and risk, develop safety plans, complete required documentation, and participate in multi-disciplinary teams. Travel to counties and after-hours responses may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience working directly with children, youth, and families.
• Ability to partner with community service providers.
• Experience working with youth in school settings.
• Ability to determine eligibility for services.
• Experience conducting safety, risk, and needs assessments.
• Developing safety plans and multidisciplinary participation.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel.
• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Initiate CPS investigations and assess safety and risk.
• Provide permanency-planning services and case management.
• Complete required contacts, visits, court reports, and case plans.
• Provide after-hours responses to emergencies on a rotating basis.
• All CASE WORKERS complete required FACTS documentation as per policies.

Skills

Child welfare experience

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Field work experience

Safety assessment

Communication with supervisors

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field

Job description

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Job Title CPS Floating Case Worker (CYFD/PSD #10119020)

For more Job Requirements & Classification Description:

At the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), every role is an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of children, youth, and families across our state. We are committed to building a compassionate, skilled, and dedicated workforce that works collaboratively to ensure safety, promote well-being, and strengthen families. Whether you are in the field supporting families face-to-face, working behind the scenes to improve systems, or helping to shape the agency from a leadership level, your work here has purpose and long-lasting impact. Join a team that values integrity, resilience, and service and be part of meaningful change for New Mexico's future.

This posting will be used to recruit candidates for a CPS Floating Case Worker position whose duties will encompass all three service areas within CYFD's Protective Services Division: CPS Investigations, CPS Permanency Coordinators

This posting may be used for ongoing recruitment and may close at any time. Applicants lists may be screened more than once.

Why does the job exist?

Child Protective Services Case Workers make decisions regarding the safety of a child or vulnerable adult, whether to forward referrals to local field offices for investigation, or whether to refer a family involved in an abuse or neglect situation to supportive services. The Case Worker initiates CPS investigations and conducts case management of Child Protective Services investigation cases, including family services and legal cases, consistent with policy and procedures. This work supports the attainment of federal standards and performance-based budget measures through assigned investigations, permanency cases, or an approved combination of responsibilities of equal weight.

The Case Worker assesses the safety of children alleged to have been maltreated and ensures that appropriate safety decisions are made and services are provided to parents and children to mitigate identified safety threats. On a rotating basis, the Case Worker may provide after-hours responses to CPS emergencies.

CPS Case Workers coordinate assessments and permanency plans for children in the custody of CYFD to promote child safety, permanency, and well-being.

This position serves as a Floating Case Worker and will be housed in an assigned CYFD office. The worker may be temporarily assigned to carry a full or partial caseload originating from another county or office within the approved region or program area, consistent with the worker's training, eligibility, readiness, and approved caseload standards. Although the worker will remain housed in their assigned office, they may be required to conduct home visits, attend meetings or court proceedings, and complete other case-related business in the county where the assigned case originated.

These temporary assignments provide caseworker-level stabilization during vacancies, extended staff leave, excessive caseloads, backlogs, new-worker training periods, or other urgent operational needs while the originating office restores local capacity.

How does it get done?

The following describes the duties for each service area.

INVESTIGATIONS - Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Initiate CPS investigations in accordance with the assigned priority.
Assess the safety of and risk to children and families who are the subjects of CPS referrals.
Conduct investigations by completing the required safety assessment tools and interviewing involved parties.
Notify families of investigation decisions, dispositions, and their rights to an administrative review.
Provide quality practice in the completion of CPS investigations and continuous protective services in accordance with Protective Services Division policies and procedures.
On a rotating basis, provide after-hours responses to CPS emergencies.

PERMANENCY - Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Provide permanency-planning services for children served by the agency to promote their safety, permanency, and well-being.
Conduct ongoing assessments to determine child safety, permanency, and well-being.
Conduct ongoing case activities and collect the information necessary to create appropriate plans that provide safety, timely permanency, and enhanced well-being for children.
Provide case management services for children and families served by the agency.
Complete required contacts, visits, documentation, court reports, case plans, meetings, and other assigned case activities.
Provide quality services to children and families served by the agency.
Work with management to identify positive practice issues and areas needing improvement and participate in local reviews.
Assume limited administrative responsibilities for the unit and perform other duties as assigned to support the agency's mission.
On a rotating basis, provide after-hours responses to emergencies.

All Case Workers will complete required FACTS documentation for children, families, cases, and providers in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have experience related to:
Working directly with children, youth, and their families.
Partnering with community service providers serving children and youth.
Working with youth in a school setting.
Determining eligibility for services that may be needed by children, youth, and families.
Conducting and completing assessments of safety, risk, strengths, and family needs.
Developing safety plans for children, youth, and families.
Participating in multidisciplinary meetings.
Identifying, providing, or arranging timely assessments, evaluations, and interviews.
Conducting medical case management activities for eligible clients.
Managing competing priorities, changing assignments, and work involving multiple offices or geographic areas.
Working independently while maintaining consistent communication with supervisors and involved county or regional personnel.

Bachelor's degree in social work, education, counseling, psychology, sociology, criminal justice or family studies from an accredited college/university. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling four (4) years may substitute for the required education and experience.

Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Pre-employment background investigation is required and is conditional pending results.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office and field setting. Late hours, weekends, on-call, and callback work may be required. The employee will be exposed to regular periods of video display terminal and keyboard use, stressful situations, frequent time constraints, and potentially irate clientele. Travel may be required to complete home visits, court appearances, case meetings, medical appointments, placement activities, and other approved case responsibilities. CPS Floating Case Workers will be housed in an assigned CYFD office but may be required to travel to and conduct case-related business in the originating county or office from which an assigned case was transferred.

Supplemental Information

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement and all terms/conditions of that agreement apply and must be adhered to.