DHS - Caseworker

Pueblo County • Pueblo, CO

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

Performs professional senior level social casework services for a variety of programs, requiring expert working knowledge of established theories, principles and concepts of social casework related to the assigned program area. This position involves conducting home visits, documenting client interactions and progress, providing transportation, advocating for community services, and ensuring the quality of services delivered. The role also includes completing intake assessments, developing case plans, providing counseling, assessing abuse complaints, crisis intervention, and testifying in court. Additionally, it involves facilitating family team meetings, providing human services for child welfare cases, determining child placements, monitoring foster care, and recruiting foster/adoptive homes. The position requires adherence to child protective services statutes and successful completion of specific training.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from a higher education institution with course work related to the job responsibilities of child welfare social caseworker. 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 required
• Professional, internship, or volunteer work experience in a human services related agency required
• Valid driver’s license at the time of application and a valid Colorado driver’s license at time of hire required
• Must successfully pass background check

Nice To Haves

• Receives certification of successful completion of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) New Worker Child Welfare Training Academy

Responsibilities

• Conducts home visits with clients and family members.
• Documents all observations and interactions; maintain record of activities; writes monthly reports of activities with clients, collateral contacts, observations, client progress and functioning.
• Provides transportation as necessary.
• Assists and advocates for access and use of community services; organizes services.
• Ensures and monitors quality and quantity of services are delivered.
• Assists with life skills activities of daily living.
• Completes intake assessment; documents assessment and observations, determines best course of action for placement of client.
• Develops effective case plans, provides counseling services to families, assesses new abuse or re-abuse complaints and provides crisis intervention when needed.
• Makes home visits with clients, provides information regarding available services and coordinates the provision of the services.
• Testifies in court and makes recommendations on abuse and neglect cases, placement of clients, guardianship and investigations.
• Performs related work as required.
• Conducts and facilitates family team meetings for children, youth and families.
• Provides intake and/or ongoing human services for Child Welfare Division areas related to child abuse and neglect cases and youth in conflict cases.
• Determines if children should be placed outside the home, monitors foster care placement and parental visits and determines when and if recommendation will be made to return children to home.
• Locates foster care placement appropriate to client's needs and monitors client's progress in placement.
• Recruits new foster and adoptive homes, conducts home studies and monitors quality of care provided in foster homes.
• Assists with life skills activities of daily living including teaching and modeling effective parenting methods.
• Monitors foster care placement and parental visits and determines when and if recommendation will be made to return children to home.
• Receives certification of successful completion of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) New Worker Child Welfare Training Academy and receives a total of forty hours of in-service training per a year in areas relevant to Child Welfare Services.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits package (medical, dental, vision, etc.) for full-time employees
• Generous Vacation and Sick Leave Accrual
• Remote & Hybrid working opportunities
• County Retirement Program
• Autonomy to grow and find your career path with supportive leadership
• Truly inclusive and diverse environment
• Fitness Center (Historic Pueblo Courthouse Building)
• May be eligible for up to 12-week Paid Parental Leave Benefits (full-time employees)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior