Department of Social Services

Montezuma County Department of Social Services has an opening for a Family Preservation Caseworker/ Family Engagement Coordinator

SUMMARY:

This is a Family Preservation Case worker position with an emphasis on spending half of their time as a Family Engagement Coordinator. 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. Coordinates team meetings, structures meetings and helps implement the goals according to a family engagement model and agreed upon outcomes for each family meeting.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:   Other duties may be assigned. 

• Coordinates, schedules and facilitates family engagement meetings.
• Completes detailed meeting notes, next steps, and sends updates to all team members.
• Ensures family and youth choices are valued during family engagement meetings.
• Facilitation of team meetings that focus on safety, permanency and well-being of the child/ren.
• Develops and writes reports for case plans, recommendations, contacts and assessments.
• 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 services provided.
• 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.
• 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.
• Prepares for and participates in relevant child Welfare meetings that include: Community Engagement Team, Red team, Dependency and Neglect Court and others.
• Addresses child safety issues in the home to mitigate safety concerns; ensures that children in the department’s 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.
• Provides on call emergency services.
• Performs other casework duties as required.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in one of the human behavioral science fields.

Completion of the 7 week Colorado Child Welfare Training Academy is required.  

• Ability to communicate and work effectively with co-workers, clients, other agencies, community professionals, the courts, and the public.
• Ability to work within a team and be able to use a teamwork approach.
• 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 as appropriate.
• Ability to use standard office equipment to include computer, fax machine, copier, and telephone.
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance.
• Must have a valid Driver’s License
• Must pass background check, drug screen and motor vehicle record check. College transcripts required prior to date of hire.

SALARY:    $23.63/hour – plus Health, Dental, Vision, Life, EAP, HSA Insurance, 10 paid Holidays, Annual and Sick Leave and a 401K match

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.

Work is typically performed in a variety of environments including the office, client homes, community agencies and schools, and may involve potential exposure to hazardous and/or violent environments and/or clients.  Working conditions are typically quiet, but may be loud at times.  The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms and performs repetitive motions with wrists, hands, and fingers.  The employee may have to sit or stand for long periods of time, and may be required to walk, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to ascend and descend stairs, walk on snow and ice and walk in rural environments. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee will have to verbally communicate to exchange information. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.   Working time may require irregular hours and/or on-call status. 

Applications are available online at www.montezumacounty.org or from Montezuma County Department of Social Services.     Please return applications to MCDSS, 109 W Main Room 170, Cortez, CO or by dropping them in the MCDSS Drop Box. Open until filled.   Questions please call 970-564-4138.   AA/EOE