Social Caseworker B- Intake

University of Denver; Aurora (CO); Hybrid; USD 61,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Arapahoe County invites applications for an Intake Social Caseworker B. The role supports families in the child welfare system under supervision, focusing on safety assessments and service planning.

You will collaborate with legal, medical and education partners to coordinate services and ensure timely documentation. Required are a bachelor’s degree in social work or related field; a master’s degree meets requirements without experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field required.
• Master’s degree in social work or related field meets requirements without experience.
• Experience in professional casework or human services preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides professional case management by assessing safety and services and promoting permanency.
• Collaborates with families, law enforcement, medical personnel and schools to coordinate services.
• Attends family meetings and court hearings and documents proceedings.
• Completes monthly face-to-face contacts with children and families.
• Maintains case-specific documentation and service plans within timelines.
• Participates in supervision, team meetings, and ongoing professional development.

Skills

Conflict resolution

Communication

Organizational skills

Report writing

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field

Master’s degree in social work or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

State and county computer systems

Job description

Arapahoe County Child and Adult Protection Services positions are hybrid and require 3 days in the office, which could be at either the Aurora or Littleton location.

The Arapahoe County government serves its communities in ways both obvious and obscure. As the beating heart of local and regional government, we’re here for our neighbors on their best days—and their worst. We share our residents’ goals of preserving our quality of life and strive to be the place we’re proud to call home.

Our Mission: ACDHS builds strong communities by promoting the safety, independence, and stability of individuals and families.

Our Vision: To end the cycle of poverty and prevent abuse and neglect of children and vulnerable adults (using an integrated Two-Generation approach)

ACDHS uses an integrated Two-Generation (2Gen) approach to address all of the basic human services needs of the entire family unit. The 2Gen approach begins with a mindset focused on family-centered program design, continues with the alignment of services and resources within the department as well as across multiple organizations, resulting in coordinated services to children and adults together (family) in order to create long term stability and sustainability.

The 2Gen approach builds well-being for families by focusing equally and intentionally on high-quality services in five areas of focus: early childhood education, adult education and employment pathways, economic security, health and well-being and social capital. This approach will help us achieve our core mission of breaking the generational cycle of poverty, preventing neglect and abuse and building strong communities.

This position is specific to an Intake Social Caseworker. The Intake Social Caseworker B will apply learned and trained knowledge and abilities in professional casework under the direct supervision and oversight of identified Child Welfare staff. The Intake Social Caseworker B performs complex case management and providing intake social work services to families where child abuse or neglect is present or suspected. Assignments include the provision of extensive assessment and situational evaluation, counseling, crisis intervention, resource mobilization and information and referral around all areas of child protection.

Anticipated Hiring Range – Min: $61,232.08- $74,555.52

* Applicant must list job duties for each previous position. Applications missing this information will not be considered, and a resume along is not sufficient.*

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF JOB:

The Social Caseworker B will apply learned and trained knowledge and abilities in professional casework under the direct supervision and oversight of identified Child Welfare staff. The Caseworker is responsible for working with families involved in the child welfare system and provides continued assessment of needs and safety, recommendation and implementation of services, assists families in building of a positive support network and sustainability with the goal of permanency and wellbeing for the children, youth and family.

DUTIES:

• Provides professional case management by working with family and other professionals to assess safety and services, address the root cause of the referral, monitor case progress, and identify barriers to permanency and work with family to eliminate barriers, implement additional services that promote increased parental protective capacities with the goal of preventing re-incidence.
• Collaborates with families and collaterals such as law enforcement, medical personnel, CASA’s, GAL’s, treatment providers, schools, and family support networks to obtain additional information and coordinate services, schedule, or participate in any crossover or transfer meetings.
• Establishes rapport with family, attends family meetings, service reviews and staffing to develop knowledge of the case. Provides timely communication and reviews all pertinent documentation/reports to ensure effective services.
• Completes monthly face-to-face contacts with children and families to ensure effective assessment and decision-making related to case disposition.
• Provides case-specific documentation including development of family service plans, court documentation, TRAILS entries of face-to-face contact notes and other documentation, assessment completion, placement paperwork, service referrals, visitation assessments and other related tasks within regulated timeframes.
• Gathers and consolidate background information to present as documentation for court hearing, as progress reports in judicial reviews, or as summaries in facilitating appropriate placements.
• Attends court hearings and testifies in court as necessary, confers with lawyers, children, parents, witnesses, and significant others in reference to their respective roles.
• Participates in scheduled supervision, team meetings, unit meetings and division meetings. Perform as an active team member in RED team, Family Team Meetings, and other professional development work groups. Complete required and continuing education annually and obtains training or additional professional knowledge when needed.

REQUIREMENTS:

Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

• Ability to adapt to fast-paced and high-volume work environment and be able to handle high stress and complex situations while remaining calm and professional. Must be well versed in effective conflict resolution and possess ability to deescalate hostile situations and confidently make decisions.
• Ability to effectively communicate in a positive and professional work environment. Establish and maintain professional working relationships with parents, foster parents, relative care providers, staff, peers, supervisors, providers, state officials, and other community partners.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong ability to prioritize tasks, take initiative, and multitask.
• Ability to effectively present information, write reports and business correspondence and respond to court, managers, customers, other agencies, co-workers, and the general public via fax, telephone, and email. Ability to clearly articulate concepts, directives and goals to employees, professionals and state and community representatives.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and state and county computer systems. Ability to learn and apply new computer skills on a regular basis.

Behavioral Competencies (these are required for all positions at ACG):

• Accountability
• Accessibility
• Inclusivity
• Integrity

Education and Experience:

A bachelor’s degree in social work or a human behavioral science field from an accredited institution, including at least 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in human behavior science. Must also have one year of professional casework, case management, or human services experience; or completion of a child welfare internship with direct service to children and families; or one year of volunteer service in a human services agency at 20 hours per week.

A master’s degree in social work or a related human behavioral science field meets requirements without experience.

Bachelor’s degree in unrelated fields may qualify with 15 semester or 25 quarter hours in human behavior science and two years professional experience in public or private human services agencies or master's degree in unrelated fields with one year experience.

Pre-Employment Additional Requirements:

• Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) and background check.
• Possession of a valid Class “R” Colorado Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within two weeks of employment.

Post-Employment Requirements:

• Will require fingerprinting and a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)background check.
• Position is deemed essential and permanency casework staff must be available for winter storm and other emergency events. Permanency caseworker staff may be asked to be available to work on-call on a rotation basis.
• Must have already successfully completed the Colorado Pre-Service Training Academy program or if hired must successfully complete and pass all required State of Colorado training in order to be certified as a caseworker. Maintain Child Welfare Certification through 40 or more hours of yearly training.
• Work locations and facilities are subject to change based on business need.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work involves a considerable period of time (20-40%) away from standard office environment, much of which consists of driving to and from home visits, collateral contacts and in transporting children and clients.
• At times more than normal physical exertion is required in transporting children.
• Work may occur in situations in which incumbent is threatened with physical harm by hostile/angry clients.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Spends 50% of the time sitting and 50% of the time either standing or walking.
• Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 20 lbs.
• Occasionally uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 20 lbs.
• Occasionally climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
• Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
• Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
• Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work-related equipment.

Definitions:

• Occasionally: Activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.
• Frequently: Activity exists between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.
• Constantly: Activity exists more than 2/3 of the time.

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch

Privacy Rights 24 https://arapahoeco.gov/Human%20Resources/Work%20for%20Arapahoe%20County/Privacy%20Act%20Statement.pdf

Privacy Rights 25 https://arapahoeco.gov/Human%20Resources/Work%20for%20Arapahoe%20County/Noncriminal%20Justice%20Applicant%20Privacy%20Rights.pdf

** Arapahoe County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation or any other status protected under the law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity in any term, condition, or privilege of employment and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors. Arapahoe County is committed to making employment accessible to persons with disabilities.

** In accordance with Senate Bill 23-058, applicants understand that Arapahoe County will not request or require the applicant to include their age, date of birth, or date of attendance/graduation date on the initial application. Applicants understand that Arapahoe County can request or require an individual to provide documentation including copies of certification, transcripts, and other materials created by a third party. The applicant understands that the applicant can redact, if they so choose, information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation from an educational institution on those requested/required certification, transcripts and other materials created by a third party.