Kinship Lead Worker - 164651

The Social Caseworker IV - Kinship Foster Care Certification and Support Lead Caseworker will provide intensive short term and ongoing/as-needed case management services and support to kinship providers. They will ensure completion of a home safety assessment of kinship providers to ensure children are placed in a safe, stable and supportive environment with kinship caregivers for a short or long-term basis. They will assist with development and ongoing facilitation of kinship orientation, kinship training and/or other kinship support opportunities. 

The successful candidate will participate in and assist the Kinship Support Supervisor in the provision and implementation of all services and activities that are currently provided and offered by the Kinship Support and Services Team, as well as the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (PSSF) which includes participation in any future programs and services developed. 

The successful candidate will also function as a lead/specialist by providing leadership to the team in close partnership with the Kinship Services and Support Supervisor. In the absence of the supervisor the lead caseworker will: train, mentor, support, guide, and oversee the Kinship Services and Support team members; assist with the assignment of tasks to co-workers, participate in any/all ongoing projects and assist with any newly developed services that are implemented by our team/program. Primary Goal: Act as the primary caseworker for certified kinship providers by offering background checks, formal assessments, ongoing supervision, behavioral coaching, and maintaining stability of the placement, in addition to providing leadership to the team through actions and modeling Adams County Norms and Values.

• Supporting kinship foster families regarding their existing placement with the goal of returning the child home, reducing the level of care, and/or identifying a more stable/appropriate home for the child(ren).
• Provide Kinship providers with on-going support, behavioral coaching, and the training necessary to provide quality care for children, including training.
• Embedment at the main CYF offices of Adams County Human Services Department.
• Working directly with the child(ren)’s caseworker to identify supports and services needed to ensure the family’s and child(ren)’s needs are being met. 
• Ensuring requirements are met to achieve/maintain initial and annual certification, providing support to families to ensure their ability to care for children in kinship foster care, yearly completion of home study updates intended to provide continual assessment of the family's ability to care for foster children.
• Have proficient knowledge of all rules and regulations for certified kinship care, including waivers for items not related to safety.
• Engage in monthly contact with the family in the home to build/maintain rapport, stabilize placement, and increase provider’s parenting skills.
• Providing excellent customer service by returning all telephone calls as soon as possible or at the latest within 24 hours of receipt. Voice messages shall mention availability for the day and supervisor’s name and telephone number if immediate attention is needed.
• Documenting contacts with providers into TRAILS monthly. Significant or atypical information shall be communicated to the child’s treatment team immediately through telephone and/or email.
• Assist providers with CCAP referrals for childcare.
• Contact each kinship family by phone with 2-3 business days of every kinship placement and begin assessment/support plan.
• Complete and review thorough kinship background checks.
• Collaborate with the community and collaborative partners.
• Locate resources/agencies/community organizations that exist within our Adams County communities that can assist kinship and other resource families in a variety of ways.
• Develop new partnerships with community agencies/centers with the common goal of helping to strengthen families.
• Assist with data collection and reports.
• Assign kinship foster care families and have oversight of program policies and compliance measures/audits in partnership with Supervisor. 
• Actively participate in agency activities, including division work groups, quality practice teams, and leadership opportunities.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required, 

Other Expectations:

• Knowledge of community resources and ability to do ongoing research to locate and develop additional resources in the community for children and families.
• Possess thorough knowledge of child welfare practice, state regulations, county policies and child protection services and continue to participate in ongoing training as needed, recommended, or requested.
• Provide leadership to the team in close partnership with the Supervisor and in the absence of the Supervisor; training, mentoring, supporting, and oversight of Kinship Support team members.
• Assist with the assignment and monitoring of tasks requested of team members, with any/all ongoing unit/agency projects and with any newly developed services/activities that are implemented by the team.
• Actively demonstrate a commitment to and an ability to practice the agency mission, vision, values, and cultural norms.

• Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. 
• Strong active listening skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Ability to communicate information and ideas verbally and in written in a manner that fosters clarity and understanding.
• Skilled in negotiation and able to work towards resolution of differences in an objective manner.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to set priorities which accurately reflect the relative importance of job responsibilities.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with team and agency staff members.
• Ability to ensure and incorporate the cultural needs and practices of the family.
• Skilled in use of Microsoft Office Products such as Word, Power Point, Excel & Publisher to prepare reports and other products along with knowledge, ability to learn and actively utilize other computer programs and database which include but are not limited to Trails, Court Databases, Lexis Nexis, etc. 
• Familiarity with and knowledge of State regulations as they pertain to child welfare and child protection as well as the Colorado Children's Code, State Department of Social Services Manual-Volume VII, Agency Policies and Procedures and Agency/County/State letters, County Policy, etc.
• Experience within the child protection field a social caseworker and knowledge of the court and legal system, dynamics of child abuse and neglect, separation and loss issues, and family systems theory.
• Ability to work in potentially unsafe situations, effectively manage stress, utilize active listening skills, process/analyze/interpret large amounts of data and family history, problem solve, and de-escalate angry/upset clientele. 
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to organize and manage time effectively.
• Interact professionally, respectfully, and diplomatically at all times with agency staff, professionals and all outside organizations/programs/agencies.

Experience: Three (3) years of full-time, professional social casework experience acquired after the degree in a public or private social services agency in an area appropriate to the position.
 
Education and Training: 

• Bachelor's Degree in one of the human behavioral sciences fields.  
• An MSW may substitute for 2 years of the required experience.  
• Proof of education, (degree or transcripts) and license (if candidate has received one) are required. 

License or Certificate: 

• Colorado Child Welfare certification required, and must be completed within 3 months of employment, through the Colorado Training Academy (State Child Welfare).   Certification through another State will require proof of completion and may substitute for all, or part of the training required by Colorado.  
• Possession of a valid Colorado Driver's License and proof of automotive insurance is required.

 Background Check: Must pass a criminal (CBI) background check

 Other: 

• Willingness to work extended hours prior to and/or after typical work hours of Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to meet the needs of children and families.
• Must utilize a personal vehicle to get to many appointments in the Adams County community and surrounding areas within Colorado.

Salary : $60,687 - $66,467