Social Caseworker Sr. - Protective Services presso Pueblo County, CO

About the Department

Performs professional senior level social casework services for a variety of programs, requiring expert working knowledge of established theories, principles and concepts of social casework related to the assigned program area

*Cases are typically complex and difficult, requiring advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities

While the full salary range is posted, this position has a budgeted starting salary of $4,813.56 per month

Position Duties

• Conducts home visits with clients and family members.
• Documents all observations and interactions; maintains record of activities; writes monthly reports of activities with clients, collateral contacts, observations, client progress and functioning.
• Provides transportation as necessary.
• Assists and advocates for access and use of community services; organizes services.
• Ensures and monitors quality and quantity of services are delivered.
• Assists with life skills activities of daily living.
• Completes intake assessment; document assessment and observations, determines best course of action for placement of client.
• Develops effective case plans, provides counseling services to families, assesses abuse or re-abuse complaints and provides crisis intervention when needed. 
• Makes home visits with clients, provides information regarding available services and coordinates the provision of the services.
• Testifies in court regarding ongoing cases and makes recommendations on abuse and neglect cases, placement guardianship and investigations.
• Performs related work as required. 
• Perform complex intake and case management of high risk or specialized cases to include assessing allegations and safety risks; assessing need for appropriate placement; and providing crisis intervention and counseling.
• Conducts and facilitates family team meetings for children, youth and families.
• Performs advanced level work providing a full range of intake and/or ongoing social services for program areas related to child abuse and neglect cases and youth in conflict cases.
• Develops effective case plans, provides counseling services to families, assesses new child abuse or re-abuse allegations and provides crisis intervention when needed. 
• Conducts investigations of alleged child abuse and neglect, determines if children should be placed outside the home, monitors foster care/adoptive placement and parental visits and determines when and if recommendation will be made to return children to home. 
• Locates foster care placement appropriate to client's needs and monitors client's progress in placement. 
• Recruits new foster and adoptive homes, conducts home studies and monitors quality of care provided in foster homes.
• Monitors foster care placement and parental visits and determines when and if recommendation will be made to return children to home. 
• Receives certification of successful completion of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) New Worker Child Welfare Training Academy and receives a total of forty hours of in-service training per a year in areas relevant to Child Welfare Services.
• Assists with life skills activities of daily living including teaching and modeling effective parenting methods.
• Provides child protective services as defined by all relevant Colorado State Statutes and Rules. 

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION:

• A bachelor’s degree from a higher education institution with course work related to the job responsibilities of child welfare social caseworker. 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 required.

EXPERIENCE:

• One (1) year of professional, internship, or volunteer work experience in a human services related agency required.

• Valid driver’s license at time of application, and a Colorado driver's license at time of hire, required.

• Must successfully pass background check.

Other Qualifications

• Comprehensive Benefits package (medical, dental, vision, etc.) for full-time employees
• Generous Vacation and Sick Leave Accrual
• Remote & Hybrid working opportunities
• County Retirement Program
• Autonomy to grow and find your career path with supportive leadership.
• Truly inclusive and diverse environment
• Fitness Center (Historic Pueblo Courthouse Building)
• 4-week Paid Parental Leave Benefits
• May be eligible for up to 12-weeks Paid Parental Leave Benefits (full-time employees)