Child Protective Services Caseworker

State of Maine • Portland, ME

1d • $32 - $42

About The Position

If you’re in search of a career that is professionally and personally rewarding, offers exceptional training and educational opportunities, and supports children and families in Maine, this could be your next career opportunity. As a Child Protective Services Caseworker you will: • Perform professional social work in the areas of child protection, children’s services, and adoption. • Engage families to assess child safety and make plans which best meet the safety, well-being, and permanency needs of their children. • Create a team for each family consisting of family, staff, and community resources to support safe solutions for children. • Reach factually supported safety decisions in a timely and thorough manner, with input from parents, children, extended family, and community stakeholders to assure child safety. • Assess: o child safety, abuse, and neglect, and signs of danger. o family strengths and capabilities. o family functioning; • Separate unsafe caregivers from children in need of protection when court action is required to make children safe. • Make appropriate plans for children, focusing on their safety needs, preservation of family relationships, reunifying children when appropriate, or achieving a permanent placement in another family if needed. • Maintain accurate case records of assessments, activities, and plans; summaries; reports; letters and memos. • Follow federal and state laws, mandates, policy, and timeframes to achieve child safety, well-being, and permanency. Perform case planning and when needed, petition for protective custody and placement of children

Requirements

• detail oriented
• able to effectively manage and meet deadlines.
• A Bachelors Degree from an accredited educational institution in Social Work/Social Welfare; OR a Bachelors Degree in a related social service/social welfare/social work area which includes at least 12 courses in behavioral science, social science, or social work; AND must have or be eligible for conditional or full licensure as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) as determined by the Maine State Board of Social Worker Licensure.
• Applicants must have or be eligible for conditional or full licensure at the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) level as issued by the Maine State Board of Social Work Licensure.
• An LSW requires an earned BA/BS in social work/social welfare.
• An LSW-Conditional requires an earned BA/BS in a field related to social work/social welfare.

Responsibilities

• Perform professional social work in the areas of child protection, children’s services, and adoption.
• Engage families to assess child safety and make plans which best meet the safety, well-being, and permanency needs of their children.
• Create a team for each family consisting of family, staff, and community resources to support safe solutions for children.
• Reach factually supported safety decisions in a timely and thorough manner, with input from parents, children, extended family, and community stakeholders to assure child safety.
• Assess child safety, abuse, and neglect, and signs of danger.
• Assess family strengths and capabilities.
• Assess family functioning
• Separate unsafe caregivers from children in need of protection when court action is required to make children safe.
• Make appropriate plans for children, focusing on their safety needs, preservation of family relationships, reunifying children when appropriate, or achieving a permanent placement in another family if needed.
• Maintain accurate case records of assessments, activities, and plans; summaries; reports; letters and memos.
• Follow federal and state laws, mandates, policy, and timeframes to achieve child safety, well-being, and permanency.
• Perform case planning and when needed, petition for protective custody and placement of children

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($12,845.82 - $15,112.76 annual value), depending on salary.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($395.72 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.11% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
• All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave.

What This Job Offers

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