Criminal Background Check Lead

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration (DELLA) is the State’s lead agency in planning and implementing public child care policy. The Division is responsible for the licensing and monitoring of child care facilities, ensuring the health and safety of children in early care and education environments. The Division of Early Childhood Background Check Unit is the lead State’s agency in providing a comprehensive pre-licensing background program for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and the Colorado Department of Human Services to reduce the risks to vulnerable persons. This position exists to assist with oversight and lead of the Background Investigation Unit as well as provide technical assistance by utilizing independent judgment, technical knowledge, and computer skills and employing research tools available to the Department of Early Childhood employees, agencies, and the public through the interpretation of laws, rules, policies, and procedures and processes directly related to background investigation functions. The incumbent applies knowledge of and/or interpretation of information and advises and educates others on technical background investigation issues or matters as needed. Researches and draws on learned knowledge to exercise judgment in providing quality customer service. The position reviews and makes recommendations to the Supervisor regarding the overall content, order, and format of Background Investigation procedures and processes. Deliver solutions to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, and comprehensible format to ensure the continued success of the Background Investigation Unit. This position assigns, trains, supervises, and reviews the work of the unit, regarding the BIU’s background program, policies, practices, and procedures. Assign tasks, monitors progress, and review work for quality, consistency, and accuracy. Assist with the management of information and support systems as they relate to the Background Investigation Unit.

Requirements

Four (4) years of experience in child welfare, criminal justice, background investigations, human services, a regulatory / licensing environment, or investigative / analytical work involving case review; which must have included: At least one (1) year of experience applying and interpreting state and federal statutes, regulations, or policy.
Bachelor's Degree in human services, social work, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, public safety / administration, law, or other fields directly related to investigations, public service, or child welfare. Which must have also included: At least one (1) year of experience applying and interpreting state and federal statutes, regulations, or policy.
Additional related experience may substitute for the education on a year-for-year basis.
Additional appropriate education in a related field may substitute for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis.
Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience researching, analyzing, and interpreting the law (State and Federal), constitutions, statutes, rules, applicable case law, the rules of Civil Procedure, the Rules of Evidence, and policy to advise management in developing sound legal strategies.
Ability to effectively engage people, organizations, and partners in developing goals.
Experience in organizational skills that include the ability to prioritize, multi-task, and meet deadlines.
Experience in reviewing or processing background checks.
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Clear and effective written and oral communication skills.
Ability to effectively transmit ideas, instructions and information through clear and concise written and verbal communication methods.
Demonstrated experience in statutes and licensing rules and regulations for child care facilities.
Proficient computer skills.
Ability to communicate and work with people of diverse backgrounds.
Investigative practices/techniques.
Time Management.
De-escalation techniques for volatile situations.
Bilingual, able to fluently speak and write in Spanish.

Responsibilities

Serves as the work unit’s technical expert in the area of Child Care backgrounds (i.e. analysis of CBI and FBI fingerprint checks, court dispositions, Colorado State Courts/ICON, Trails, legal reporting requirements, address inconsistencies, creating/modifying internal procedures, processes, training manuals, consultation, etc.)
Independently researches and analyzes interprets and applies rules, procedures, statutes, policies and practices regarding facilities licensed by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood as it pertains to criminal background investigations.
Research information from the Colorado State Courts Data Access system to identify arrest histories that match Colorado Bureau of Investigation arrest records and determine if CSC Data Access has any additional arrest information.
Incumbents must be well-versed in the Vulnerable Persons Act, Child Care Law Act, Licensing Rules and Regulations. Knowledge of Criminal Codes for all 50 States, CDEC Policies & Procedures, Colorado Bureau of Investigation Policies and Procedures, Federal Bureau of Investigation Policies and Procedures, Trails Guidelines and Laws, Colorado Revised Statutes.
Identifies and analyzes criminal records and supporting documents for matching and non-matching records based on the disposition of the arrest, decides whether a licensing investigation should be conducted and if licensing staff should proceed with negative licensing action or if to proceed with licensing.
Evaluates criminal records through the analysis of Colorado Bureau Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint checks and court dispositions.
Reviews and analyzes all data received on the National Sex Offender registry (NSOR) to be in compliance with federal and state statutes.
Reviews and evaluates criminal records and supporting documents, and based on evaluation determines whether a licensing investigation should be conducted or if negative licensing is required.
Conducts follow-up reviews of completed investigations that were conducted for accuracy to ensure Child Care Licensing Act criteria have been met and to determine if the investigation process obtained sufficient information to support the appropriate licensing action.
Serves as work leader for the background investigation unit.
Responds to regular and escalated complaints from customers concerning unit processes using independent judgment and professionalism.
Provides interpretation of gray areas of policy, procedure, statute, rule and dispositions.
Provides training to BIU department, county staff as well as other customers on the processes and procedures involved in the background screening function.
Assists with overseeing unit, by monitoring that operational goals and employment criteria are being met.
Communicates changes in organizational and business priorities to staff in ways that encourage action and support.
Assists with training Division of Early Learning, Licensing and Administration, Division of Child Welfare Provider Services Unit, Division of Early Learning, Licensing and Administration Contractors and Exempt CCCAP Specialist.
Works with BIU Supervisor and team members to develop procedures, evaluate and improve forms and produce information summaries as requested.
Support supervisor with the implementation of performance plans and evaluations for the positions the incumbent is work leader over.
Assists in monitoring that employment criterion is being met and assesses suitability of applicant’s qualification while meeting department and legislative requirements by interpreting legislation and policy intent.
Researches subsequent arrest information received with the Colorado Judicial Department’s CSC Data Access system to identify arrest histories that match CBI arrest records received and determines if CSC Data Access system has any additional arrest information.
Provides complete and thorough interpretive information to supervisors and/or appointing authorities as a baseline for their decision concerning eligibility for continued employment of employees with Child Care Licensing Act.
Independently researches, analyzes, interprets and applies rules, procedures, statutes, policies and practices regarding child care, foster care, adoptions, kinship care, mental health, RCCF’s, camps and individuals as it pertains to Child Care Law Act and the Vulnerable Persons Act.
Responsible for translating and integrating the information from confidential TRAILS and FBI information into an acceptable format with information that can be released outside the department in accordance with TRAILS, FBI and other regulations by utilizing knowledge of various laws, rules, requirements, etc.
Provides technical consultation regarding statutory requirements, addresses inconsistencies and provides interpretive authority regarding procedures, policy and practices in relation to employment rules of child care facilities, foster care, adoptions, kinship care and licensing issues as related to backgrounds.
Performs other duties as requested.