CHILD WELFARE ONGOING CASEWORKER

Montezuma County Department of Social Services has an opening for one Child Welfare Ongoing Caseworker

Applications may be obtained from MCDSS, or online at www.montezumacounty.org.  Applications accepted until filled.     Questions please call 970-564-4138.   AA/EOE

Please see complete position description below:

 Job Title:    Child Welfare Caseworker Ongoing

Reports To: Child Welfare Supervisor Ongoing

FLSA Status: Full-time, exempt

Department:   Social Services

Salary Range: $51,597.00  plus Health, Dental, Vision, Life, EAP, HSA Insurance, 10 paid Holidays, Paid Annual and Sick Leave and a 401K match.

SUMMARY:

The Child Welfare Caseworker Ongoing/Intake works to preserve families in their home while protecting children’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being through child protection, adolescent services, placements, and/or permanency plans. Coordinates services and is responsible for primary-decision making of child protection practices including, but not limited to safety, permanency, and well-being. Intake Caseworkers spend the majority of their time working on incoming referrals and connections to resources. Ongoing Caseworkers provide assistance to reunite families or support children at-risk of removal to remain in their home. All Caseworkers at MCDSS are required to perform generalist duties.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (The following statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other assigned duties)

• Manages a specialized caseload of difficult/complex child protection cases
• Screens and investigates child abuse or neglect referrals; determines risk and safety and initiates safety decision-making and action steps, including initiating court action if needed
• Coordinates child abuse or neglect investigations with law enforcement personnel; determines proper jurisdiction
• Conducts forensic interviews and shares relevant information with pertinent parties related to the reported incident
• Completes required documentation regarding investigations in a timely manner
• Attends and testifies in court hearings and mediations; completes appropriate paperwork, documentation, petitions, reports, reviews, etc. for court hearings; monitors clients’ compliance with court orders; serves temporary custody notices and petitions the court for verbal orders.
• Assesses and evaluates child abuse or neglect issues; determines the need for medical treatment and assesses the health safety and welfare of the child
• Makes arrangements for alternative living situations, contacts appropriate reporting channels if abuse or neglect is suspected, develops and implements safety plans as required
• Develops treatment plans with families and children to resolve the issues that led to Department involvement
• Provides ongoing review and revision of treatment plans based on clients evolving needs
• Conducts home or office-based meetings with clients on regular basis to determine current status, needs and safety of clients
• Works with the Family Engagement Coordinator to schedule and coordinate case management meetings between family members, other service agencies or facilities as needed
• Provides home or office based information to clients and/or their family members and caregivers on topics such as: safety, decision making, resources and referrals, and improving communication among family members
• Initiates court petitions for civil actions for Dependency and Neglect petitions; participates in civil and criminal court proceedings as required
• Writes court reports regarding treatment plan compliance/case status; prepares case files for court hearings and submits their reports seven days prior to scheduled hearing
• Prepares for and gives expert testimony in court as required
• Assesses financial and social needs of clients; consults and coordinates with other Department staff to provide needed services and benefits for which clients and families are eligible
• Collaborates with community partners and resources to ensure appropriate referrals and use of community resources
• Identifies systems/community issues for future collaboration and resource sharing; prepares referral packages when referring clients to service providers; consults with service providers to monitor client progress; and participates in development, monitoring, and evaluation of new methods/programs for community agencies to assist clients
• Develops interdisciplinary treatment teams; performs ongoing case management, including review and revision of treatment plans as needed; prepares required caseload documentation; compiles periodic status reports of work performed; maintains lists of current participants
• Composes meeting minutes and distributes, letters, reports, and other documents
• Provides emergency services on an on-call basis.
• Screens referrals and coordinates referral review process with other staff members
• Works with families to develop Family Time in accordance with MCDSS protocol
• Interviews clients and develops appropriate treatment plans 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.
• Makes home visits and monitors clients’ progress and 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
• Provides crisis management and coordinates support services for clients to resolve problems and conflicts
• Prepares for and participates in Red Team, Child Protection Team meetings, Family Engagement Meetings, Community Engagement Team, Multidisciplinary Team and Dependency and Neglect Treatment Team Meetings.
• Addresses child safety issues in the home to mitigate safety concerns; ensures that children in MCDSS custody or supervision receive necessary interventions
• 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
• Connects families with needed therapeutic services through prevention and CORE case activities
• Prepares for and participates in meetings and staffings to include unit meetings, caseworker staffings, treatment facility staffings, school staffings and family meetings

Education:

Preferred: Bachelor degree in one of the human behavioral sciences fields; will accept Bachelor degree with a minimum of 3 credit hours in one of human behavioral sciences. Human behavioral sciences degree is defined as: Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Guidance and Counseling and/or Child Development

Experience:

Preferred: One year of post-degree experience in casework or case management, willing to review applicants with limited experience

Special Requirements:

Valid Colorado Driver’s License and satisfactory driving record. Must pass background check, drug screen and motor vehicle record check. Must complete and pass Colorado Child Welfare Academy and maintain credit hours at 40 annually.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• General office procedures, policies and practices, as well as basic knowledge of standard office equipment to include computer, fax machine, copier, and telephone.
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Record keeping, filing and preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Basic accounting and budgeting principles and practices.
• Applicable state, federal and local ordinances, laws, rules and regulations.
• External governmental bodies and agencies related to area of assignment.
• Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines and following up assignments with a minimum of direction.
• Must be able to communicate orally and in writing with internal staff, citizens, and other departmental staff in order to give and receive information in a courteous manner.
• Researching, compiling, and summarizing a variety of informational and statistical data and materials.
• Applying logical thinking to solve problems or accomplish tasks; understanding, interpreting and communicating complicated policies, procedures and protocols.
• Ability to act with discretion, maintain confidentiality and be professional.
• Ability to make decisions in stressful situations, ability to exercise sound judgment
• Ability to cooperate and problem solve with hostile parents, law enforcement professionals and other community organizations
• Ability to research statues, Children’s Code, Volume VII, and cooperatively work with attorneys

Office Technology/Computer Skills:

Must be able to effectively use modern office technology and equipment, including computers, calculators, telephone, copiers with scanning and faxing capabilities. Must have extensive experience in word processing, database manipulation, and email with a high degree of accuracy. Must be able to learn the software and programs related to the position and the County.

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and stand for long periods of time; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; and reach with hands or arms. The employee is required to stand; walk; climb or balance; twist; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Must be able to respond to the customers’ needs and perform tasks requiring extensive hand and eye coordination. Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse and other devices and objects. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Ability to work extended shifts and attend training when asked and the ability to work in stressful situations

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job operates in a variety of environments that includes: office, client homes, and community agencies and may involve exposure to hazardous and/or violent environments. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Ability to tolerate and be productive in a quiet to high noise level in the work place. Employee will have periodic exposure to hazards in the field such as driving and inclement weather and potentially hostile clientele. Exposure to computer screens. May visit client homes and encounter a variety of housekeeping standards and household pets. May be exposed to potential communicable health conditions and angry, hostile, frustrated individuals and those with behavioral and/or cognitive challenges. May travel to rural areas.

USE OF THIS JOB DESCRIPTION

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE INCUMBENT IN THE POSITION.

Nothing in this position description restricts Montezuma County Department of Social Services’ ability to assign, reassign or eliminate duties and responsibilities of this job at any time. The description reflects Montezuma County Department of Social Services assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Critical features of this job have been described. Those features may change at any time due to reasonable accommodation, as the needs of the Department change or other reasons deemed appropriate by Montezuma County Department of Social Services.

I have received the Child Welfare Services Caseworker job description on ____________. I understand that I am to become familiar with its contents.

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