Case Worker I (Child Welfare) at County of Huerfano (CO) – Walsenburg, Colorado

JOB SUMMARY:

Case Workers work under direct supervision while learning job tasks and developing skills and knowledge. They meet with supervisor frequently for direction and make significant decisions only with supervisor oversight. All documentation is reviewed by supervisor. Case Workers provide case work services for various programs offered through Department of Human Services; perform initial intake and Supervisor assisted ongoing case management; perform initial assessments and evaluations of individual or family needs and safety; assist in providing crisis intervention; provide basic direct and core services; recommend service referrals to community resources, core and direct services, and/or protective services; develop plans to assist clients and submits for supervisory review; and maintains records, documentation and reports related to services provided.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Assesses allegations and safety risks of referral cases to include receiving referrals, completing intake and assessment forms, and assessing safety of home and/or need for out-of-home placement.
• Provides crisis intervention and on-going counseling as needed to assist families in decision-making and problem resolution; act as advocate for client.
• Coordinates client services and safety with other County departments, professionals, and outside collateral agencies (i.e. law enforcement, medical personnel, school staff, and foster care services).
• Designs a treatment or service plan to address risk and needs assessments, establishes goals and objectives, and coordinates client services and referrals.
• Prepares and presents case information and documentation to the courts, state review proceedings, and for communications with attorneys and/or other professionals.
• Refers clients to outside state and community resources.
• Monitors compliance or non-compliance; determines appropriate course of action.
• Appropriately handles emotionally charged people and situations, and deals with a variety of types of human suffering.
• Develops and writes a variety of documentation, completes necessary forms, and writes correspondence relevant to each case.
• Performs data entry and on-going case updates in the system as assigned.
• Accurate timelines for data system entry and reports are consistently met.
• Maintains the confidentiality of all clients.
• Supervises visits as needed.
• Regular and predictable attendance is required. This position is not eligible for work from home or hybrid working schedules.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Performs additional tasks as assigned, including filling in for other staff as necessary and/or required.
• May be required to work alternate schedules and/or in other work locations.
• Possess oral and written skills to communicate effectively, including but not limited to communicating actively, clearly, and regularly with supervisors and/or co-workers on all work-related topics.
• Understands, observes, enforces, and complies with all County and Departmental policies, procedures, and protocols when performing job duties both on and off County premises.
• Establishes and maintains professional working relationships with all County employees, customers, vendors, and community members.
• May be required to effectively manage multiple projects, deal with stressful situations, and adapt to sudden and unexpected changes in work assignments.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Colorado Bureau of Investigation Proper System Usage Training within 30 days of hire.
• Pre-employment background check and drug screen by employer during the hiring process.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities may be qualifying.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Social Work, Psychology or a related human behavioral science.
• A newly hired Child Welfare Caseworker is required to successfully complete the Colorado Department of Human Services training requirements for caseworkers within the mandated timeframes to be eligible for continued employment.
• In order to meet the minimum educational requirements of a human behavioral science degree, the applicant must have a degree with major course work (equivalent to 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours) in either development of human behavior, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures or therapeutic techniques such as social work, psychology, sociology, guidance and counseling, and child development.

EXPERIENCE

• Two years of experience in a directly related field or in the performance of similar duties and responsibilities.

Licenses

• Valid State Driver's License
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, New Worker’s Certification for child protection and adult protection programs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Established theories, principles and concepts of social casework practice.
• Human physical, emotional, psychological and social stages of development.
• Addiction, domestic/family violence, developmental disabilities and mental health issues, signs/symptoms.
• Child and/or adult protection issues and investigative procedure, laws and time lines, including Native American Child Welfare laws.
• Multi-cultural issues and differences.
• Policies, procedures, philosophies, rules, ethics and regulations governing the services to clients.
• Applicable state, federal, Native American Tribal and local ordinances, laws, rules and regulations and how they apply to child/adult protection.
• Community resources available to assist clients.
• All computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential functions of the job.
• Recordkeeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques.
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.

Skilled in:

• Assessing risk in child and adult protection and assessing family functioning to insure safety of individuals.
• Assessing evidence, to include determining if a client's injuries are consistent with reported abuse.
• Using forensic interviewing techniques.
• Using conflict resolution techniques.
• Using tact, discretion, and initiative within established guidelines.
• Educating families in appropriate parenting skills through teaching, role modeling, demonstrating and various coaching techniques.
• Providing accurate court testimony.
• Assessing environment in regard to personal safety.
• Preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Researching, compiling, and summarizing a variety of informational and statistical data and materials.
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up on assignments with a minimum of direction.
• Applying logical thinking to solve problems or accomplish tasks, and to understand, interpret and communicate complicated policies, procedures and protocols.
• Using mathematics.
• Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to:

• Respond to each client with empathy and respect.
• Deescalate chaotic and/or potentially violent situations and set limits when appropriate.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.
• Collect process and utilize incoming information, define problems, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Make critical decisions in high risk and high stress situations.
• Speak effectively before groups and respond to questions.
• Work/participate as part of a multi-disciplinary team.