Caseworker III

Primary Responsibility: Provides intake and ongoing social casework services to adults, children and families where abuse or neglect is present or suspected. Assignments include the provision of extensive assessment and situational evaluation, counseling, crisis intervention, resource mobilization and information and referral around all areas of child and adult protection.

Work will involve each of these areas:

• Child Protection Intake: Assesses allegations of abuse/neglect and refers clients to appropriate services.
• Child Protection Ongoing: Carries ongoing caseload that specializes in child protection, family and adolescent crisis response, delinquency and parent/child conflict, emancipation planning and facilitating adoptions. Assessing for safety continues throughout the life of each case.
• Adult Protection: Actively participates in the intake process of taking referrals; the investigation and assessment of allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation to those who are aged, vulnerable or disabled; crises intervention; assessment of client’s strengths and capabilities; case management; advocacy and referrals to other agencies to further support the client. When required, petitions to the courts for legal/judicial intervention if it is in the best interest of the client. This includes decision making on behalf of the adjudicated client for whom the county department is the legal guardian.

Department: Human Services

Immediate Supervisor: Child & Adult Protection Program Manager

Supervises: N/A

Pay Grade: NE11 - $28.84 - $37.43

Hiring Range: $28.84 – $33.13

Status: Full-Time

Classification: Non-Exempt

Primary Place of Work: 15193 HWY 119 Black Hawk, CO 80422

Main Job Duties:

• Conducts assessments of alleged physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect; determines if situation warrants the recommendation of placing children outside the home; supervises placement of children and coordinates parent/child visits; works with treatment teams to determine when and if a child should be recommended to return to the home.
• Completes extensive case documentation as required at all levels in child and adult protection assessments and cases, which includes preparing court reports and social histories. Develops and writes reports that demonstrates appropriate, clear and professional documentation for court reports, case plans, recommendations, contacts, assessments, etc.; develops case file information; completes forms and writes correspondence.
• Makes evaluation and assessment of need for services; provides crisis intake and/or develops long-term case plans appropriate to the adult, child(ren) and family.  Monitors progress of clients and modifies case plans and services as needed.
• Answer hotline calls for child welfare and adult protection. Receive incoming calls of a possible crisis nature. Gather all information needed utilizing screening questions and document in the state-wide data bases.
• May provide individual or family counseling on an ongoing or crisis basis to children and their parents who are experiencing parent-child conflict.
• Makes home visits with clients on a regular basis. Organizes services such as life skills, childcare, day treatment, therapy, parenting support, Medicare/Medicaid resources, assisted living or nursing facilities and in-home services. Provides information on available services.
• Works proactively and positively in collaboration with our community partners to include law enforcement, District Attorney’s Office, courts, hospitals, home care providers, service providers, schools, assessment centers and any other community partner pertinent to the assessment or case.
• Makes contacts with community resources such as law enforcement and medical personnel to obtain additional information, coordinate services or secure their assistance.
• Participates in staff meetings with school, mental health facilities, child protection review teams and other professionals involved with the family members.
• Testifies in court on a variety of ongoing cases; makes recommendations to the courts on abuse and neglect cases, placement of children, guardianship of adults and custody investigations; confers with lawyers, children, parents, witnesses and significant others in reference to their respective roles.
• Serves as an information and referral source to the public.
• Provides a variety of ancillary assignments as needed including preparing and maintaining client records, completing required forms and reports and entering computer information.
• Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars and training programs as appropriate.

Additional Job Duties:

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Human Services Director and any duties needed to stabilize an emergency situation.
• Cross-trains employees as needed.
• May provide Adult Protective Services for the County that involves investigations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults. Provides ongoing services as needed.

Hours:

• Must be available for on-call coverage.

Salary : $11 - $29