Family Time Coach Social Caseworker III

Adams County•Westminster, CO

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The ACHSD Family Time Program provides a safe, enriching and constructive environment where family time occurs between children and their caregivers. Families are referred to the program when safety needs are considered high risk and ACHSD has intervened for the safety and wellbeing of the child. The Family Time Coach will identify strengths, support cultural traditions, encourage parental/caregiver capacities, promote emotional safety and use a structured approach when working with our families. The Family Time Coach will complete goal setting with parents/caregivers and children and continuously monitor for progress in the family time setting. During supervised family time the Coach will use evidenced based interventions to reduce trauma, monitor and guide families through emotional discussions, and promote parental attentiveness and capabilities to support reunification for children. Maintaining parental/caregiver connections is a critical part of the treatment planning process and is integral to a child’s emotional and social development. The Coach will promote family time to maintain parent/caregiver and child attachment; increase bonding opportunities within families; reduce the trauma of removal for children and anxiety for parents/caregivers; provide an opportunity for parents/caregivers to develop and enhance their parenting skills and put in to practice known skills, family traditions and important familial customs. This team will also promote reunification and prioritize family relationships. Adams County Children and Family Services Guiding Principles We believe in treating everyone with dignity and respect, valuing their input, and striving to do no harm. Honoring all people’s unique expertise and perspectives includes collaboration, shared decision making, and providing a safe environment. The best interest of children, families, and our community will always inform our approach, perspectives, and decisions. Children and youth belong in families and have a right to sibling, family, and community connections. Families have the inherent capacity to safely care for their children. We hold ourselves and our system accountable to each other, our families, and our community.

Requirements

Knowledge of human behavior, family systems, and effective client engagement and change skills.
Practice focus that is child-centered, family-focused and community based.
Child welfare knowledge including healthy child development, understanding of the dynamics and effects of abuse and neglect, as well as experience working with children and youth ages 0-18.
Ability to effectively review documents as it pertains to parenting time and generate reports required of the position.
Must also have the ability to generate training materials and procedure content for the team.
Skill to effectively collaborate with a variety of clients, collaterals, and internal/external personnel from varied backgrounds and disciplines.
Ability to effectively partner with others to solve problems and concerns, including conflict resolution with upset clients.
Ability to type, utilize computers, and computer programs required to ensure effective entry of information into statewide client information system (TRAILS), as well as mange referrals in the county’s internal system (MANGO)
Knowledge of Case Management/Care Coordination experience required.
Ability to identify key areas that need to be addressed to effect change in the family time setting, this includes having strong assessment and facilitation skills.
Ability to work independently, multitask, and manage crises in a calm manner.
Understanding of the important interface of culture and family systems, and ability to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds is key.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Ability to establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Ability to work in a high stress environment and to seek supervisory guidance during crisis situations.
Professional, internship, or volunteer work experience in a human services related agency
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.
An educational waiver is available for those individuals who do not meet the education requirements to be a social caseworker and are currently enrolled in a bachelor’s program from a higher education institute. A bachelor’s degree must be obtained within one (1) year from hire date with related coursework to job duties as outlined in 7.603.1.
Colorado Child Welfare Caseworker certification required and must be completed within three (3) months of employment, through the Colorado Child Welfare Training System (CWTS).
Possession of a valid driver's License and proof of automotive insurance.
Must pass a criminal background check.
Must utilize a personal vehicle to get to many appointments in the local community and surrounding areas within Colorado.
Ability to obtain, maintain, and ensure continued access to State and County systems in strict compliance with all applicable county and state regulations, policies, and user agreements.

Nice To Haves

If a degree is not obtained within one (1) year from hire date, employment with the agency may be impacted including, and up to termination. Employee will be responsible for updating the hiring manager every six (6) months of their education progress.

Responsibilities

Conducts assessment of parent-child interactions to determine need of intervention with the Family Time Program (visitation coaching; supervised visitation; monitored visits; group/communal parenting time)
Works collaboratively with parents and children on goal setting for their time together.
Works collaboratively with the assigned caseworker for the family to develop specific treatment planning goals for family/parenting time. Also works collaboratively with other treatment and case professionals to promote the goals of the family.
Provides continuous assessment of family time and parent-child interactions and makes recommendations based on observations, can identify areas of strength and areas of growth for families.
Ability to intervene during family time if safety concerns are observed.
Provides families with verbal and written feedback.
Generates written progress notes and reports for the assigned caseworker and the Court.
Participates in staffing’s, Family Team Meetings, Group Supervision sessions and Court Hearings.
Provides testimony to the Court as required.
Displays good judgement in prioritizing work needs, can maintain independent work schedule and respond appropriately to crisis situations.
Conducts family/parenting time in the DHS office, at community locations, in the client’s residence, kinship residence or other locations identified as appropriate for the family.
Provides training/support to kinship providers who conduct supervised family time.
Provides orientation for parents and children (age appropriate) that are referred for family time.
Transports children for family time as needed for visits.
Conduct communal parenting time groups.
Display the ability to be a strong professional advocate for families working on their family time treatment plan. This includes use of critical and clinical skills for reporting progress for families during instances of resistance from other professionals and agencies.
Provide support and coverage assistance to teammates.
Participates in scheduled supervision, team meetings, section meetings, and division meetings.
Provides customer service through timely response to phone calls, e-mails, letters, and other communication.
Provides direct problem-solving with clients and collaterals in a professional and courteous manner.
Participates in all required state and agency trainings on an annual (or as required) basis.
Performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.