Children, Youth & Family Services Social Caseworker - Practice

Come join our team to help your community and make meaningful connections! We strive to protect our most vulnerable citizens while aiming to keep families together and help them to become self-sufficient. This is a child protection position; child protection includes engaging families. It is reasonable to anticipate the need for flexibility in work hours periodically to accommodate client schedules.

The average workday hours are 8:00am-5:00pm; however, flex schedule options are available. Schedule may be subject to change. 

Under FLSA guidelines, this position is exempt.

Works to preserve and/or rehabilitate families while protecting children's physical, emotional, and mental well-being through child protection, adolescent services, placements, and/or permanency plans. Coordinates the practice and is responsible for primary decision making of child protection practices including, but not limited to safety, permanency, and well-being. This position is part of the Children, Youth & Family Services (CYFS) Social Caseworker - Practice career progression series, which includes CYFS Associate Social Caseworker - Practice and CYFS Social Caseworker - Practice.

Overview of Practice Casework Teams:
Adolescent Team
- A community-centered, family-based, and collaborative approach to providing support, services and treatment for adolescents and their families.
Intake Team
- Intake Caseworkers are responsible for receiving & responding to reports of suspected child abuse/neglect in order to gain a greater understanding about the family's strengths, needs, and resources so that children can be safe, and the risk of maltreatment can be reduced.
Ongoing Team
- Ongoing casework is partnering with children and families throughout the span of involvement/intervention to address treatment needs through a focus on safety, wellbeing, and permanency.
Intellectually, Developmentally, Disabled (IDD) Team
- Connecting developmentally appropriate services, support, and treatment in close partnership with The Resource Exchange to serve Intellectually, Developmentally, Disabled children, youth, and families.
0-3 Intake Team
- 0-3 Intake Caseworkers are responsible for receiving & responding to reports of suspected child abuse/neglect in order to gain a greater understanding about the family's strengths, needs, and resources so that children can be safe, and the risk of maltreatment can be reduced, while partnering with Peak Vista Nurse Practitioners to support specific needs of ages zero to 3 years.

• Interviews clients and develops appropriate treatment plans; initiates home studies and provides intensive casework services to families and children; investigates allegations of child abuse and assesses imminent danger for children; makes referrals to community resources and collateral contacts.
• Monitors clients' progress and ensures that needed services are being provided, that treatment plans are being followed through in a timely manner and determines the appropriateness of the placement and services provided.
• Provides crisis management and coordinates support services for clients to resolve problems and conflicts.
• Acts as a liaison for the DHS and consults with other caseworkers and community professionals on case situations, treatment/case plans, issues, and problems.
• Attends and testifies in court hearings and mediations; completes appropriate paperwork, documentation, petitions, reports, reviews, etc. for court hearings; monitors clients' compliance with court orders; serves temporary custody notices and petitions the court for verbal orders.
• Prepares for and participates in meetings and staffings.
• Addresses child safety issues in the home to mitigate safety concerns; ensures that children in the department's custody or supervision receive necessary interventions.
• Documents all contacts and ensures that all paperwork and documentation are accurately completed and filed; completes necessary case information reports, inputs updates into database.
• Arranges and provides transportation for clients to appointments, therapy, school, court hearings, pre-placement visits, etc.
• Ensures compliance with Federal, State and County laws, outcome measures, rules, and regulations; reviews cases to ensure case plans are developed and implemented.
• Provides support to Practice and Support and Services teams within the CYFS Division as needed. 
• Facilitates meetings as needed.
• Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate and work effectively with co-workers, clients, other agencies, community professionals, the courts, and the public.
• Ability to efficiently plan, schedule, and organize.
• Ability to assess situations and make prudent and appropriate decisions; ability to apply conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Working knowledge of casework practices, procedures, and guidelines.
• Ability to accurately and efficiently complete paperwork, reports, and documentation.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to use standard office equipment to include computer, fax machine, copier, and telephone.
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from a higher education institution with course work related to the job responsibilities of a child welfare social caseworker as stated in Volume 7. 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.
• One (1) year of professional, internship, or volunteer work experience in a human services related agency.

Licenses/Certificates:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and proof of automobile insurance as stated within El Paso County’s Personnel Policies Manual.
• Must obtain and maintain necessary certifications as applicable to position.
• Colorado State Child Welfare Caseworker Certification or the ability to successfully complete and pass initial examination within ninety (90) days of employment.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Must pass conditional post offer background investigation to include fingerprinting, motor vehicle record check, drug screen, and physical examination. College transcripts required prior to date of hire.

Duties are performed in an office environment, client's homes, schools, jails, and court; must be able to climb stairs in or outside of these environments and able to walk up and down driveways and sidewalks. Hybrid remote work environment dependent upon Department discretion and business needs. May be exposed to hostile family situations/ individuals, and unsanitary and hazardous conditions. Reliable transportation is required as you will be utilizing your own registered and insured personal vehicle to transport clients as needed; mileage reimbursement is available upon request. This position may require a 24/7 on-call and after-hours rotational schedule. Local and non-local travel, to include possible out of state travel, may be required. Occasional lifting of files, supplies, children: exerting 20 lbs. – 50 lbs. occasionally; 10 lbs. – 25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10 lbs. constantly.