What are the responsibilities and job description for the Children, Youth, & Family Services Manager – Initial Contact Services position at El Paso County (CO)?
Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced child welfare environment where critical thinking, strong leadership, and meaningful community impact are essential? This role requires a highly people-centered leader with strong supervisory skills, capable of guiding diverse teams through complex, high-stress situations while fostering a supportive and accountable culture. Success in this position depends on exceptional communication and customer service skills, serving as a key liaison with community partners, schools, attorneys, and judicial stakeholders. The position calls for someone who is highly organized, maintains strict confidentiality, and exercises sound judgment. A collaborative team player, this individual is comfortable in a public-facing role and committed to strengthening partnerships and advancing the mission of Children, Youth, and Family Services. This position will hold primary responsibility to oversee the Hotline and Red Team Units and will other duties as assigned.
Hiring Range: $98,000.00 - $110,000.00 annually
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. This position will need to be available on weekends and holidays. Schedule is subject to change. This position is in-person only and not eligible for a hybrid work schedule.
Due to the sensitive nature of this role, additional background checks may be required, including a Government Program Fraud check, Child Welfare Abuse & Neglect database (TRAILS) check, and Child Welfare Caseworker Falsification check.
Please be advised this position may close without advance notice, should we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications.
Manages and administers assigned functional area within the Children, Youth, and Family Services Division of the Department of Human Services (DHS), ensuring high performance of employees and programs in support of the ongoing mission to preserve and rehabilitate families while protecting children. Oversees and coordinates the practice or services and is responsible for primary decision-making of child protection practices as needed including, but not limited to safety, permanency, and well-being. May be assigned to the Practice or Support & Services unit. Employment is subject to the terms, conditions, and policies detailed in the Personnel Policies Manual (PPM). This position requires regular in-person presence as an essential job function.
- Provides administrative oversight and management in planning, organizing, leading, and monitoring of the assigned functional area. Supports the ongoing mission of the DHS and CYFS Division to preserve and rehabilitate families while protecting children, participating in primary decision-making as needed.
- Oversees supervisors, caseworkers, and support staff to ensure the proper procedures, protocols and policies are applied and followed per Volume 7, the Colorado Children's Code, and El Paso County policy. Assists in the development of new protocols and procedures to meet the needs of the division.
- Provides supervision, mentorship, guidance, and training to staff. Conducts performance evaluations and motivates employees to reach peak productivity and performance; participates in the hiring and disciplinary process.
- Consults with the appropriate DHS staff to provide notification regarding serious injury, fatality, near fatality, and egregious incidents or cases.
- Works collaboratively with others to ensure the Children, Youth, and Family Services Division operates efficiently and effectively.
- Provides or ensures appropriate training to staff. Instructs, trains, and updates supervisors in new procedures, guidelines, and protocol; recommends and implements division training plans.
- Organizes and leads division meetings. Recommends, establishes, and communicates goals, objectives, and mission for the division.
- Interprets, communicates, and implements rules, policies, procedures, and regulations for the division.
- Recommends operational and program improvements to accommodate changes in mission and operational demands.
- Assists with monitoring program expenditures in relation to approved budget.
- Ensures compliance with Federal, State, and County laws, outcome measures, rules, and regulations; reviews cases to ensure case plans are developed and implemented.
- Collects, reports, and monitors unit statistics, data, outcomes, and performances; analyzes, approves, and routes financial requests. Tracks trends and informs leadership of findings. Ensures compliance with required state and agency measurements and outcomes.
- Develops, recommends, and implements Children, Youth, and Family Services programs and community partnerships; serves as a liaison to the community.
- Serves on state level committees as needed for oversight of job responsibilities and functions.
- Serves as a resource for DHS personnel and partners.
- Performs other duties as required.
Supervision Exercised: This classification requires supervising and monitoring performance for a regular group of employees or unit(s) including providing input on hiring/disciplinary action and work objectives/ effectiveness, performance evaluations, and realigning work as needed. A first-line or second-line supervisor typically performs these tasks.
Supervision Received: Receives administrative supervision. This classification typically performs job duties and resolves conflict according to their own judgment and initiatives, requesting supervisory assistance only when necessary. Special projects are managed with little oversight, and assignments may be reviewed upon completion. Performance reviewed periodically.Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Working knowledge of casework practices, procedures, and protocol; working knowledge of child safety and family engagement. Working knowledge of intake and ongoing processes, procedures, and protocol.
- Working knowledge of the legal system, community resources and State and Federal laws and regulations.
- Working knowledge of Department of Human Services programs and protocol.
- Working knowledge of various spreadsheet graphics and statistical applications; ability to compose clear, concise, and accurate reports. Proficiency in working with the State TRAILS system.
- Ability to communicate and work effectively with co-workers, clients, other agencies, and the public. Ability to provide excellent customer service.
- Ability to assess situations and make prudent decisions; ability to effectively apply conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to efficiently plan, schedule, and organize.
- Ability to lead and train others; ability to objectively review and evaluate the performance of others.
- Ability to develop and implement new and innovative plans and strategies as the division's needs and focus change.
- Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
- Ability to use standard office equipment including computer, fax machine, copier, and telephone.
- Maintain regular and punctual attendance.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher from a higher education institution with course work related to the job responsibilities of 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.
- Five years of professional, internship, or volunteer work experience in a human service-related agency.
- Master’s degree or higher in a social work or human behavioral sciences field; and,
- Four years of professional, internship, or volunteer work experience in a human services related agency may substitute for the required experience.
- Two years supervisory or demonstrated leadership experience in human services.
- Master’s degree in a human behavioral science field or a Master of Social Work degree.
- Experience in case management in a human services or related field.
- Experience in protective casework.
- Five years of supervisory or demonstrated leadership experience in human services.
- 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.
- Must possess and maintain Colorado State Child Welfare Supervisor Certification or the ability to successfully complete and pass the initial examination within ninety days of enrollment.
- Colorado State Child Welfare Caseworker Certification
- Must pass conditional post offer background investigation, including fingerprinting, motor vehicle record check, and drug screen. College transcripts required prior to the date of hire.
The classification specification above is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities and minimum qualifications; specific job assignments, duties, education, experience, licenses/certifications, and environmental conditions will vary depending on the needs of the department/office and the particular assignment. Changes to this document may only be made by a member of the Human Resources Department.
Salary : $85,780 - $128,750