Courtesy Posting: Office Of The Child’s Representative-El Paso County Office Of Guardian Ad Litem: Mid Level Coordinator

POSITION INFORMATION

***This is a courtesy posting for the Office of the Office of the Child's Representative.***

Salary: $4,630 - $5,703/month depending on experience-full time with benefits*

• Each position within the Judicial branch has a certain salary range assigned to it. Based on experience and other factors, newly hired employees typically begin their employment towards the beginning of the pay range.

MISSION STATEMENT

OCR Mission and Vision

The Office of the Child’s Representative (OCR)'s mission is to give children and youth a voice in Colorado legal proceedings through high-quality legal representation that protects and promotes their safety, interests, and rights.

Our Vision: Justice, opportunity, and healthy families for all court-involved children and youth.

OCR Values

• Accountability: Colorado’s children, attorneys, families, and communities can count on OCR to ensure that each decision we make and action we take advances our mission in a fair, equitable, inclusive, and transparent manner.
• Efficiency: OCR strives to accomplish its mission and conserve resources by streamlining efforts, adhering to deadlines, resolving conflict constructively, and honoring well-defined projects, processes, and roles. We balance our drive to achieve with thoughtful planning and implementation.
• Empowerment: OCR cultivates an environment of respect, honesty, and equity. We value the diverse experiences and expertise of the children we serve, our attorneys, and our staff. We invest time to reflect and connect, focus on strengths, value feedback, and recognize success. We stand for justice and support each other in our mission to empower children.

OCR Overview

The OCR is an independent agency within the State of Colorado Judicial Branch that provides attorney guardian ad litem (GAL), child's legal representative (CLR), and counsel for youth services to children and youth in dependency and neglect (D&N), delinquency, and other proceedings throughout Colorado. The OCR’s El Paso County Office is responsible for providing GAL services in D&N and delinquency cases and counsel services for youth accessing Colorado’s Transition Age Youth program.

The OCR’s El Paso County Office currently constitutes the OCR’s only office providing these services through state employees (12 FTE attorneys, 5 case consultants, and 3 administrative staff) rather than independent contracts. As such, this office provides a unique opportunity to protect the interests and advance the rights of individual children through high-quality multidisciplinary legal representation, to influence systemic change through coordinated and strategic advocacy, and to incubate and implement best practices in legal representation.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Information About the Position:

The Mid-Level Case Consultant/Coordinator position is a full-time, non-classified position that is exempt from overtime under the Federal Labor Standards Act, serving at the pleasure of the Managing Attorney at the El Paso County Office. All prospective employees of the Colorado Judicial Branch are subject to background investigation prior to hiring.

The Mid-Level Case Consultant/Coordinator is responsible for providing expert social work consultation on higher level cases managed by the Office of the Guardian ad Litem. The Mid-Level Case Coordinator will work collaboratively with the Managing Case Coordinator, assigned attorneys, and community partners. The Mid-Level Case Coordinator will assist in implementing training to Entry-Level Caseworkers under the direction and supervision of the Managing Case Coordinator. The Mid-Level Case Coordinator must also possess a good and competent working knowledge of all policies, procedures, processes, and ethical standards, to be readily available to ensure quality consultation and ability work independently.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

HOW TO APPLY:

Email cover letter, resume, writing sample and references to:

sstephenson@guardianadlitemelpaso.org

Applications will not be considered that are late or contain documents that are illegible, or incomplete or are in a file format OCR cannot open or read (PDF preferred, Microsoft Word is acceptable). Be sure your application materials specifically address your experience and qualifications for the position described on this document. Successful applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview.

The Office of the Child’s Representative is committed to providing an environment free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. The OCR is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse work force. The OCR invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality and perspective of GAL, CFY and CLR practice.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Ensuring that the OCR El Paso County Office’s case consultant unit supports the provision of effective and exemplary multidisciplinary legal representation to children and youth in El Paso County.
• Contacts with family, school personnel, medical personnel, treating professionals, caregivers and other service providers and social supports for children to obtain information regarding the children or youth’s well-being and needs.
• Attend various types of staffing with the Department of Human Services (DHS), schools, and other community organizations to gather and contribute information relating to the well-being and needs of the children or youth.
• Assess appropriateness of Department of Human Services proposed treatment plans and service providers as it pertains to the strengths and needs of the children or youth’s family.
• Reviews discoveries and prepares social histories as assigned by Attorneys.
• Monitors individual compliance with treatment plans and timelines, as requested by the assigned attorney.

• Engaging in problem solving and exploration of available community resources to support meeting the needs of children, youth and their families.

• Acts as liaison between assigned Attorneys and all parties of the case.

• Complete other case related tasks as requested by the assigning attorney, including tasks that support compliance with the Colorado Chief Justice Directive 04-06.
• Explores available community resources as it pertains to the strengths and needs of the family.
• Conducts independent inquiries at the direction of the assigned Attorney, as assigned and needed.
• Maintaining appropriate documentation of work completed.
• Maintaining strict confidentiality of all clients, including HIPPA laws, and office business.
• Meets with children, family members and interested parties, completes home visits, as requested by assigning Attorney.
• Works collaboratively with the Managing Case Coordinator to identify training needs for attorneys and case consultants/coordinators within the El Paso County Office and more broadly OCR.

Supervising Responsibilities

The Mid-Level Case Coordinator may assist the Managing Case Coordinator as an individual contributor who may explain work processes, serve as a resource, guide others, and promote a healthy working team approach to the execution of duties. Supervisory elements will not be formal in nature.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Minimal Educational / Professional Qualifications:

• Undergraduate Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology. or related field
• 2 years’ experience as Caseworker or related field.
• Experience with Software applications, including MS Word.
• The ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with others. Valid Driver’s License is required. A CBI background is required. Personal transportation is required. Proof of Auto Insurance is required.

Work Environment

This position is currently working as hybrid in-office and remotely from home. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position routinely handles emergency or crisis situations and may be frequently subject to interruptions, multiple calls and inquiries.

Other Duties/Travel

The OCR El Paso County Office of the GAL’s primary work takes place in El Paso County; however, special projects or duties outside the primary scope of the position may require travel to events outside of the Front Range, including meetings, trainings, and conferences (state and national). The estimated amount of work time related to travel outside of the Front Range for this position is less than 10 percent.