Social Caseworker III - Assessment & Permanency

Adams County•Westminster, CO

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Adams County values workplace flexibility, offering both hybrid-remote working arrangements and flexible scheduling options after an initial 90-day training period. This role is classified as hybrid, allowing for both onsite and remote work scheduled weekly. Employees are expected to be onsite one to four days per week, based on County needs and determined by the Department Director. Hybrid roles may allow for more onsite days based on employee preference. The guiding principles of Adams County Children and Family Services emphasize treating everyone with dignity and respect, valuing input, and striving to do no harm. This includes honoring unique expertise and perspectives through collaboration, shared decision-making, and providing a safe environment. The best interests of children, families, and the community guide all approaches, perspectives, and decisions. It is believed that children and youth belong in families and have a right to connections, and that families have the inherent capacity to safely care for their children. Accountability is held for oneself and the system towards each other, families, and the community. Social caseworkers may encounter reports or evidence of domestic violence, negligence, physical abuse, and sexual abuse, and may work with individuals from birth through age 21. Workloads are varied and caseloads may fluctuate based on community needs. This position can perform a combination of Assessment and Permanency duties depending on agency needs.

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, as well as 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 the safety of a child/youth 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 to ensure effective entry of information into statewide client information system (TRAILS), as well as 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.
Ability to meet all required state and agency trainings requirements on an annual (or as required) basis.
Participates in red teams, group supervision and staffings.
Ability to demonstrate professionalism during court proceedings.
Ability to meet state and federal mandates and time frames.
Professional, internship, or volunteer work experience in a human services-related agency.
Bachelor's Degree in one of the human behavioral science fields.
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.
Certification through another State will require proof of completion and may substitute for all or part of the training required by Colorado.

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 a family’s 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 hearings and proceedings, and consults with attorneys, judges, and guardians-ad-litem.
Provides case-specific documentation including development of family service plans, court documentation, TRAILS entries of ROC notes and other documentation, assessment completion, placement paperwork, service referrals, family time assessments, and other related tasks.
Reviews reports from service providers to ensure service effectiveness.
Provides face-to-face contact with clients as required by regulatory standards and agency policy, which may include 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 on caseload.
May facilitate goodbye sessions between parents and children when termination of parental rights is necessary.
Performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.