Social Caseworker – Children, Youth, & Family Services

El Paso County; Colorado Springs (CO); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Mileage reimbursement

On-call availability

Job summary

El Paso County in Colorado Springs is seeking a dedicated Child Welfare Caseworker to help families and protect children. This role involves Intake, Ongoing, and Adolescent teams, with front-line duties including home studies, crisis intervention, and coordinating services.

Applicants must upload unofficial transcripts, have a Bachelor’s degree or higher, and may face background checks. Hybrid work may be available after evaluation; in-person presence is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field.
• One year of professional, internship, or volunteer work in a human service-related agency.
• Must pass conditional post-offer background investigation and related checks.

Responsibilities

• Interviews clients and develops treatment plans; initiates home studies and provides intensive casework to families and children.
• Monitors progress, provides referrals, ensures services are provided and plans followed.
• Addresses child safety in the home and coordinates with courts and community professionals.
• Provides crisis management and coordinates support services for clients to resolve problems.
• Attends court hearings and prepares documentation and paperwork for orders and placements.

Job description

To be considered, applicants must upload their unofficial transcripts with their completed application.

Come join our team to help your community and make meaningful connections! We strive to protect our most vulnerable citizens while aiming to keep families together and help them to become self-sufficient. This is a child protection position; child protection includes engaging families. It is reasonable to anticipate the need for flexibility in work hours periodically to accommodate client schedules.

Would you like more information on being a caseworker? Check out the links below:

• Caseworker Realistic Job Preview
• The Reality of Child Protective Services | Tough Jobs

Hiring Range: $57,800.00 - $62,800.00 annually

Anticipated Hiring Rate: $60,538.40 annually

This is a child protection position; child protection includes engaging families. It is reasonable to anticipate the need for flexibility in work hours periodically to accommodate client schedules. The average workday hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Schedule is subject to change. Hybrid schedule may be available upon successful completion of the initial evaluation period; subject to change.

Due to the sensitive nature of this role, additional background checks may be required, including a Government Program Fraud check, Child Welfare Abuse & Neglect database (TRAILS) check, and Child Welfare Caseworker Falsification check.

Overview of Casework Teams:

Adolescent Team

• A community-centered, family-based, and collaborative approach to providing support, services and treatment for adolescents (12 + years) and their families.

Intake Team

• Intake Caseworkers are responsible for receiving & responding to reports of suspected child abuse/neglect in order to gain a greater understanding about the family's strengths, needs, and resources so that children can be safe, and the risk of maltreatment can be reduced.

Ongoing Team

• Ongoing casework is partnering with children and families throughout the span of involvement/intervention to address treatment needs through a focus on safety, wellbeing, and permanency.

Intellectually, Developmentally, Disabled (IDD) Team

• Connecting developmentally appropriate services, support, and treatment in close partnership with The Resource Exchange to serve Intellectually, Developmentally, Disabled children, youth, and families.

0-3 Intake Team

• 0-3 Intake Caseworkers are responsible for receiving & responding to reports of suspected child abuse/neglect in order to gain a greater understanding about the family's strengths, needs, and resources so that children can be safe, and the risk of maltreatment can be reduced, while partnering with Peak Vista Nurse Practitioners to support specific needs of ages zero to 3 years.

Please be advised that this position may close without advanced notice, should we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications.

This position works to preserve and/or rehabilitate families while protecting children's physical, emotional, and mental well-being through child protection, adolescent services, placements, and/or permanency plans. Based on position assignment, coordinates the practice and is responsible for primary decision-making of child protection practices or coordinates the services and secondary-service decisions as related to safety, permanency, well-being and preserving families. This position is part of the Social Caseworker - Children, Youth, & Family Services (CYFS) career progression series, which includes Associate Social Caseworker - Children, Youth, & Family Services and Social Caseworker - Children, Youth, & Family Services. Employment is subject to the terms, conditions, and policies detailed in the Personnel Policies Manual (PPM). This position requires regular in-person presence as an essential job function.

• Interviews clients and develops appropriate treatment plans; initiates and/or participates in home studies, and provides intensive casework services to families and children; investigates allegations of child abuse and assesses imminent danger for children; makes referrals to community resources and collateral contacts.
• Monitors and reports clients' progress and provides service recommendations/referrals. Ensures that needed services are being provided, that treatment plans are being followed through in a timely manner and determines the appropriateness of the placement and services provided.
• Addresses child safety issues in the home to mitigate safety concerns; ensures that children in the department's custody or supervision receive necessary interventions.
• Provides crisis management and coordinates support services for clients to resolve problems and conflicts.
• Acts as a liaison for the DHS and consults with other caseworkers and community professionals on case situations, treatment/case plans, issues, and problems.
• Provides casework and assessment services for teams within the Practice Unit.
• Attends and testifies in court hearings and mediations as needed; completes appropriate paperwork, documentation, reports, reviews, etc. for court hearings monitors clients' compliance with court orders; serves temporary custody notices and petitions the court for verbal orders.
• Prepares for and participates in meetings and staffings.
• Documents all contacts and ensures that all paperwork and documentation are accurately completed and filed; completes necessary case information reports, inputs updates into database.
• Arranges and provides transportation for clients to appointments, therapy, school, court hearings, pre-placement visits, etc.
• Ensures compliance with Federal, State and County laws, outcome measures, rules, and regulations; reviews cases to ensure case plans are developed and implemented.
• Provides support to Practice and Support and Services teams within the CYFS Division as needed.
• Collects and reports statistics and data on unit and outcomes and performances.
• Facilitates meetings as needed.
• Performs other duties as required.

Supervision Exercised:

This classification does not have supervisory authority; however, may be required to provide expertise or limited guidance or direction to employees, such as overseeing work quality, training, and guidance. Typically serves as a subject matter expert on the scope of functional area.

Supervision Received:

Receives general supervision. This classification typically performs job duties by following established standard operating procedures and/or policies. Regular direction, guidance, and coaching from supervisor may be expected. There is a choice of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties. Performance reviewed periodically.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of casework practices, procedures, and guidelines.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with co-workers, clients, other agencies, community professionals, the courts, and the public. Ability to provide excellent customer service.
• Ability to efficiently plan, schedule, and organize.
• Ability to assess situations and make prudent and appropriate decisions; ability to apply conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to accurately and efficiently complete paperwork, reports, and documentation.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to use standard office equipment to include computer, fax machine, copier, and telephone.
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance.

Required Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from a higher education institution with course work related to the job responsibilities of child welfare social caseworker as stated in Volume 7. Course work examples can include and are not limited to, the development of human behavior, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures, or therapeutic techniques.
  • A degree in progress that is conferred by the start date may be considered.
• One year of professional, internship, or volunteer work experience in a human service-related agency.
  • Successful completion of a Bachelor’s Degree of Social Work (BSW) or Master’s Degree of Social Work (MSW) internship in a human services-related agency may substitute for the required experience.

Licenses/Certificates

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and proof of automobile insurance as stated within El Paso County’s Personnel Policies Manual.
• Must obtain and maintain necessary certifications as applicable to the position.
• Must possess or obtain Colorado State Child Welfare Caseworker Certification within ninety days of course enrollment and maintain certification thereafter.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Must pass conditional post-offer background investigation, including fingerprinting, motor vehicle record check, and drug screen. College transcripts required prior to the date of hire.

Duties are performed in an office environment, client's homes, schools, jails, and court; must be able to climb stairs in or outside of these environments and able to walk up and down driveways and sidewalks. This position may require occasional lifting, such as files, supplies, children, and car seats. Hybrid remote work environment dependent upon Department discretion and business needs. May be exposed to hostile family situations/individuals, and unsanitary and hazardous conditions. Reliable transportation is required as you will be utilizing your own registered and insured personal vehicle to transport clients as needed; mileage reimbursement is available upon request. This position may require a 24/7 on-call and after-hours rotational schedule. Local and non-local travel, including possible out-of-state travel, may be required.

The classification specification above is intended to describe the general nature of work, key responsibilities, and minimum qualifications. Minimum qualifications reflect the baseline experience required for the classification. Departments may establish additional or preferred qualifications to address operational needs, assignment complexity, and specialized functions, provided such qualifications are job-related, consistent with the intent of the classification, and as approved by the Human Resources department. Specific job assignments, duties, education, experience, licenses/certifications, and working conditions may vary based on the department or office's needs and the requirements of the assigned position. Changes to this classification specification may only be made by the Human Resources Department.