Caseworker I/Social Service Worker-DCFS Southwest Region (Cedar City)

State of Utah Office of the Governor • Cedar City, UT

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Utah Division of Child & Family Services is hiring a Caseworker I or Social Service Worker for its Southwest Region office in Cedar City. The position will be filled at the level appropriate to the applicant’s qualifications and is full-time, in-office/on-site, and eligible for a full benefits package. The work focuses on keeping children safely with their families whenever possible, connecting children and families with services, supporting reunification when children have been removed, and finding enduring safety and permanency when reunification is not possible. Employees receive regular professional supervision and complete DCFS Practice Model Training. The role may include 24-hour on-call assignments, depending on the supervisor’s direction, geographic location, and agency demand. Travel is required, and employees may need to use a personal vehicle for work; approved mileage is reimbursable. The position is based at the DCFS Cedar City Office, 106 N 100 E, Cedar City, Utah 84720. Employees must physically work within Utah. The role involves frequent travel, entering client homes, possible physical confrontation, and possible exposure to contagious conditions, parasites, or illegal chemical substances. Offers are contingent on passing a background screening. The position requires a valid Utah driver’s license and is subject to driver eligibility standards.

Requirements

• Four years of full-time education or professional work experience related to working with children, parents, and/or families, or a combination of education and professional work experience totaling four years for the Caseworker I level.
• For the Social Service Worker level, four years of professional work experience related to working with children, parents, and/or families, or a combination of education and experience totaling four years.
• Relevant experience may include DHHS employment; work with residential youth or adults in programs related to domestic violence, abuse, or homelessness; work in a domestic violence or homeless shelter; work for an agency providing mental or behavioral health services; an educational or social-work-related role in a public or private school; work as a foster or kinship provider; work for a contracted DHHS service provider; or another field closely related to child welfare. Experience and education may be combined to meet the four-year qualification where applicable.
• A current, valid Utah driver’s license.
• For the Social Service Worker level, SSW or higher licensure in good standing, as required by UCA 58-60-103.
• Understanding of human development across the lifespan and community resources, and ability to provide support and interventions in a culturally responsive way.
• Ability to interact professionally with all levels of management while managing a diversified workload and challenging situations.
• Ability to deal with people with sensitivity, tact, and professionalism.
• Effective, clear, and concise verbal and written communication skills.
• Part-time work experience must be calculated in comparison with full-time work; for example, two years of half-time work equals one year of full-time work.
• Must pass a background screening application.
• Must meet applicable driver eligibility standards.
• Must physically work within the State of Utah boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Investigate reports of abuse, exploitation, and/or neglect; assess safety, risk, strengths, and barriers; and determine appropriate actions for families.
• Work with families to create plans for children’s safety and ongoing services.
• Coordinate and refer children and families to services offered by community resources, placement providers, collateral agencies, courts, and community partners.
• Supervise visits between parents and children to ensure safety.
• Conduct in-home visits to assess safety and track progress.
• Facilitate Child and Family Team Meetings with families and their formal and informal supports.
• Testify in court hearings about actions, findings, procedures, and protocols.
• Prepare detailed case documentation, including intake records, investigation summaries, safety and risk assessments, family-functioning assessments, service plans, court reports, case histories, and activity logs.
• Perform 24-hour on-call services as needed under supervisor direction; assignments may depend on location or agency demand.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Full benefits package eligibility.
• Job stability through employment within a well-established organization.
• Career growth, including opportunities to develop valuable skills and pursue leadership.
• Meaningful work supporting the community.
• Supportive work environment emphasizing cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.
• Work/life balance emphasized as part of the organization’s culture.
• Approved mileage for work-related use of a personal vehicle is reimbursable through State Finance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed