Child Welfare Social Case Worker

Mesa County•Grand Junction, CO

About The Position

Mesa County Department of Human Services is hiring a Child Welfare Social Case Worker in its Child Welfare Division. During the first 12 months, the role is a professional training-level position with intensive supervision and/or coaching. Assignments are limited to no more than 50% of the county’s average workload or 10 assessments and/or cases at a time, whichever is less, and are designed to develop professional social casework techniques and foundational knowledge. The position works collaboratively with families and community partners using a strength-based approach. The role provides case management under agency, state, and federal requirements; conducts family, safety, and risk assessments; and works with families and service providers to develop and monitor treatment plans. Depending on the assigned function, work may include hotline screening, abuse and neglect assessments, permanency planning, youth transition support, family searches, coaching, adoption services, or placement resource management. The position involves home visits, community meetings, court hearings, extensive documentation, and daily travel. Work is generally in a standard office environment, with some evening and weekend hours and occasional exposure to hazardous situations and communicable or blood-borne hazards. Applicants may be hired at the Social Caseworker I, II, or III level based on experience. Advancement levels are associated with time from hire and, for the higher levels, good standing or the ability to carry a full workload. Employment is contingent on criminal history, motor vehicle record, and education verification. A valid driver’s license is required; out-of-state hires must obtain a Colorado license within 30 days of hire and must not have a major violation, including DUI, DWI, or DWAI, in the preceding three years.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a higher education institution, with coursework related to child welfare social casework responsibilities.
Professional, internship, or volunteer work experience in a human-services-related agency.
Submit bachelor’s degree transcripts with the application to be considered.
Valid driver’s license; out-of-state hires must obtain a valid Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of hire.
No major driving violations, including DUI, DWI, or DWAI convictions, in the past three years.
Ability to meet physical requirements, including standing, stooping, sitting, bending, twisting, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
Ability to travel daily and periodically throughout and outside Colorado.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish skills are desired.
Prior Child Welfare Case Management experience is preferred for Professional Development Coach, Facilitator/Diligent Search, and Family Empowerment Social Caseworker positions.
Prior Child Welfare Permanency Case Manager experience is preferred for the Adoption Social Caseworker position.
Coursework examples include human behavior development, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures, or therapeutic techniques.

Responsibilities

Provide case management services in accordance with agency, state, and federal guidelines and laws, with a caseload of no more than 10 cases.
Conduct family, safety, and risk assessments.
Gather assessment information and jointly establish and monitor treatment plans with families and service providers.
Use solution-focused practice to mitigate risk, enhance child safety, and support case resolution.
Complete comprehensive reports and extensive case documentation.
Conduct home visits, attend community meetings, and participate in court hearings; provide court testimony as needed.
Authorize and coordinate supportive services, make community referrals, and collaborate with partner agencies.
Work with and advocate for families experiencing crisis or challenges such as trauma, substance abuse, mental health concerns, domestic violence, poverty, child abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse.
For specialized assessment assignments, answer the Child Protection Hotline, screen referrals, complete fatality, near-fatality, egregious, and institutional abuse assessments, provide public training on identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect, and represent Child Welfare at community interdisciplinary meetings.
For assessment assignments, assess abuse and neglect referrals, engage families to maintain children safely in the home, and facilitate removal when safety cannot be maintained.
For permanency assignments, collaborate with families, providers, community members, and courts to establish permanency through reunification, allocation, guardianship, or adoption; monitor treatment-plan progress and identify barriers.
For Family Empowerment assignments, support non-court-involved families in mitigating risks, maintaining child and youth safety, and promoting well-being through intensive in-home engagement.
For Adolescent Permanency assignments, manage cases primarily overseen by the juvenile delinquency court system and oversee youth placed in residential treatment facilities.
For Youth in Transition assignments, complete training on engaging youth in a coach-like way, support youth in voluntary cases with locating housing, and help them develop independent living skills.
For Chafee Program Coordinator assignments, help youth develop independent living skills and promote youth and agency participation in the Chafee program.
For Facilitator/Family Search assignments, use family engagement models, conduct Permanency Roundtable meetings, and search for kinship supports and potential placements.
For Professional Development Coach assignments, develop and present group coaching sessions and trainings, conduct individual co-active coaching, oversee the mentorship program, and create and monitor structured learning plans.
For Adoption assignments, collaborate on concurrent case planning before termination of parental rights, manage cases after termination, prepare adoption documents, establish adoption-assistance eligibility, and recruit adoptive families.
For Placement Resource Manager assignments, evaluate prospective foster, kinship, and adoptive families through home studies, background investigations, inspections, and interviews; certify and recertify families; provide training; monitor provider compliance; and participate in recruitment and retention events.
Demonstrate proficient writing skills and perform other related duties as assigned.