Permanency Social Caseworker - 161851, 162044

Adams County•Westminster, CO

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Adams County Children and Family Services is seeking a Permanency Social Caseworker. This role offers workplace flexibility with hybrid-remote working arrangements and flexible scheduling options after an initial 90-day training period. Hybrid roles involve a combination of onsite and remote work, with employees typically scheduled onsite one to four days per week, based on county needs and department director determination. Employees may choose to be onsite more frequently. The agency's guiding principles emphasize dignity, respect, collaboration, and the best interests of children and families. Social caseworkers may encounter situations involving domestic violence, negligence, physical abuse, and sexual abuse, and work with individuals from birth through age 21. Caseloads can vary in number and discipline based on community needs. This position may perform a combination of Assessment and Permanency duties.

Requirements

Child welfare knowledge including healthy child development, understanding of the dynamics and effects of abuse and neglect, and the interface of culture and family systems.
Experience working with children and youth ages 0-18.
Ability to demonstrate empathy and a strength-based trauma-informed approach with families involved in the child welfare system.
Ability to assess child/youth safety and make decisions based on available information.
Ability to utilize critical thinking skills to work difficult or complicated cases.
Ability to build, maintain, collaborate, and foster positive and harmonious working professional relationships with varied backgrounds and disciplines.
Ability to prioritize, manage time effectively, show initiative, and organize oneself.
Ability to effectively partner with others to solve problems and concerns, including conflict resolution with upset clients and manage crises in a calm manner.
Ability to type, utilize computers, and computer programs required for effective entry of information into statewide client information system (TRAILS), and to complete referrals through agency platforms and other computer-based systems.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
Ability to effectively review documents and synthesize into accurate, professionally written documents.
Ability and willingness to accommodate clients' schedules by meeting outside of normal business hours at times.
Ability to engage in scheduled supervision, team meetings, section meetings, and division meetings.
Bachelor's Degree in one of the human behavioral science fields.
Colorado Child Welfare Caseworker certification required and must be completed within three (3) months of employment, through the Colorado Training Academy (State Child Welfare). Certification through another State may substitute.
Possession of a valid driver's License and proof of automotive insurance.
Must pass a criminal background check.
Ability to work in a standard office environment.
Ability to utilize personal vehicle or other mode of transportation to make visits to client homes, travel to court, and other public facilities in all types of weather.
Ability to carry large case files.
Ability to conduct home visits in unknown and uncontrolled settings which may include animals, feces, airborne contaminants, gang members, weapons, and other environmental hazards.
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

Bilingual applicants are preferred and may receive a Language Pay incentive based on usage.
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.
Employees who are currently in a case manager/case-carrying position in Children and Family Services (CFS) may have a 120-day delayed transfer/promotion period prior to moving into any new position in Human Services.

Responsibilities

Responds to allegations of abuse and neglect of children/youth.
Assesses reports of abuse and neglect of children.
Interviews and observes victims, offenders, witnesses, caregivers, and collateral agencies to ensure child safety and determine allegation validity.
Recognizes and identifies risk factors and dynamics of child abuse, child neglect, and family functioning.
Provides crisis intervention while evaluating and assessing family needs.
Completes assessments within 60 days and determines if long-term support and services are necessary for child/youth safety and well-being.
Prepares court reports, attends court hearings, testifies in court, and consults with attorneys and judges.
Provides case-specific documentation including family service plans, court documentation, TRAILS entries, assessment completion, placement paperwork, and service referrals.
Reviews reports from service providers to ensure service effectiveness.
Provides face-to-face contact with clients as required, potentially including in-state and/or out-of-state travel.
Engages family/youth in finding permanent connections and participates in Family Engagement Meetings and Permanency Roundtables.
Supervises parenting time for children and families.
May facilitate goodbye sessions between parents and children when termination of parental rights is necessary.
Meets all required state and agency trainings annually or as required.
Participates in red teams, group supervision, and staffings.
Demonstrates professionalism during court proceedings.
Meets state and federal mandates and time frames.