Arapahoe County Hiring for Social Caseworker B – Permanency (Hybrid Work Model) at Aurora, CO  Full Time

Our Mission: Arapahoe County Department of Human Services (ACDHS) builds strong communities by promoting the safety, independence, and stability of individuals and families.

Our Vision: To end the cycle of poverty and prevent abuse and neglect of children and vulnerable adults (using an integrated Two-Generation approach)

ACDHS uses an integrated Two-Generation (2Gen) approach to address all of the basic human services needs of the entire family unit. The 2Gen approach begins with a mindset focused on family-centered program design, continues with the alignment of services and resources within the department as well as across multiple organizations, resulting in coordinated services to children and adults together (family) in order to create long term stability and sustainability.

The Permanency Social Caseworker B will apply learned and trained knowledge and abilities in professional casework under the direct supervision and oversight of identified Child Welfare staff. The Permanency Case Worker is responsible for working with families through the closure of their case by providing continued assessment of needs and safety, provides recommendation and implementation of services as followed by a treatment plan, assists family in building of a positive support network and sustainability plan with the goal of permanency and wellbeing for the children, youth and family.

The ideal applicant will have high energy and enthusiasm with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. They should enjoy flexibility and variety in their job duties and have a desire to work with families and other professionals in a team setting.

* Provides professional ongoing case management by working with family and other professionals to develop and modify treatment plans that address the root cause of the referral, monitor case progress, and identify barriers to permanency and work with family to eliminate barriers, implement additional services that promote increased parental protective capacities with the goal of preventing re-incidence.
* Collaborates with families and collaterals such as law enforcement, medical personnel, CASA’s, GAL’s, treatment providers, schools, and family support networks to obtain additional information and coordinate services, schedule, or participate in any crossover or transfer meetings.
* Monitors progress of supervised visits between children and families, to include working with Arapahoe County Visitation staff to understand parenting needs to include in treatment plan when possible.
* Collaborates with Foster Care Coordinator and/or Kinship Navigator to maintain successful placement ensuring that Foster Family and/or Kinship Family understands the goal and steps for permanency and actively participates in Foster Care Reviews and audits as required.
* Establishes rapport with family, attends family meetings, service reviews and staffing to develop knowledge of the case. Provides timely communication and reviews all pertinent documentation/reports to ensure effective services.
* Works to ensure permanency for children/youth within 12 months of case open and completes at least monthly face-to-face contacts with children and families to ensure effective assessment and decision-making related to case disposition. Responsible for making all efforts to achieve permanency for youth and children through permanent custody, guardianship, and adoption when children/youth are not able to return home.
* Provides case-specific documentation including development of family service plans, court documentation, TRAILS entries of face-to-face contact notes and other documentation, assessment completion, placement paperwork, service referrals, visitation assessments and other related tasks within regulated timeframes.
* Gathers and consolidates background information to present as documentation for court hearings, as progress reports in judicial reviews, or as summaries in facilitating appropriate placements. Attends court hearings and testifies in court as necessary, confers with lawyers, children, parents, witnesses, and significant others in reference to their respective roles.
* Participates in scheduled supervision, team meetings, unit meetings and division meetings. Perform as an active team member in RED team, Family Team Meetings, and other professional development work groups. Complete required and continuing education annually and obtains training or additional professional knowledge when needed.

Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

• Ability to adapt to fast-paced and high-volume work environment and be able to handle high stress and complex situations while remaining calm and professional. Must be well versed in effective conflict resolution and possess ability to deescalate hostile situations and confidently make decisions.
• Ability to effectively communicate in a positive and professional work environment. Establish and maintain professional working relationships with parents, foster parents, relative care providers, staff, peers, supervisors, providers, state officials, and other community partners.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong ability to prioritize tasks, take initiative, and multitask.
• Ability to effectively present information, write reports and business correspondence and respond to court, managers, customers, other agencies, co-workers, and the general public via fax, telephone, and email. Ability to clearly articulate concepts, directives and goals to employees, professionals and state and community representatives.
• Ability to analyze and interpret governmental and legal regulations. Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and state and county computer systems. Ability to learn and apply new computer skills on a regular basis.

Behavioral Competencies (these are required for all positions at ACG):
Accountability Accessibility Inclusivity Integrity

Education and Experience:
A bachelor’s degree in social work or a human behavioral science field from an accredited institution with a minimum of fifteen (15) semester credit hours or (25) quarter hours in a human behavior science field* and at least one (1) year of professional casework, case management, or human services experience in a public or private human services agency or (1) year of volunteer and or internship in child welfare or human services working at least 20 hours per week or a successfully completed 16 hour/week internship in a child welfare county department.

OR

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in an unrelated field (such as biology, physics, geology, etc.) with a minimum of fifteen (15) semester credit hours or (25) quarter hours in a human behavior science field* and a minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in casework, case management, or human services in a public or private agency.

OR

A master’s degree from an accredited institution in social work or a human behavioral science field* with no experience.

OR

A master’s degree from an accredited institution in an unrelated field (such as biology, physics, geology, etc.) with a minimum of fifteen (15) semester credit hours or (25) quarter hours of coursework in a human behavior science field*, coursework taken during bachelor’s degree will meet this education requirement *and a minimum of one (1) year of professional experience in casework, case management, or human services in a public or private agency.

* In order to meet the minimum educational requirements of a human behavioral science degree, the applicant must have a degree with major course work (equivalent to 15 semester credit hours or 25 quarter hours) in either development of human behavior, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures or therapeutic techniques such as social work, psychology, sociology, guidance and counseling, and child development.

Categorically Eligible Degrees:

For the purposes of meeting minimum educational requirements, the following degrees obtained from an accredited university will be considered “categorically eligible”. Bachelor of Arts and/or Master of Arts degree in the following areas of study

Areas of study that will be considered to meet the minimum educational requirements as outlined in Volume VII:
1. Psychology
2. Sociology
3. Social Work
4. Counseling
5. Child Development
6. Criminal Justice courses relevant to child welfare: This includes courses covering topics in juvenile justice, family law, family conflict, general court procedures, interviewing techniques, dispute resolution, and mediation.
7. Foreign language courses
8. Anthropology courses relevant to cultural development and history, linguistic development, and communications. Physical anthropology courses do not count toward minimum requirements.
9. History courses relevant to family and cultural development.

Examples of relevant work experience include, but are not limited to:

• Educator/Teacher and or Para-professional Work: Providing support to underserved children in communities where services are essential, including engaging with families of learners.
• Refugee/Migrant Support: Offering aid and advocacy to refugees and/or migrants facing unique challenges.
• Residential Care/PRTF: Experience with children, youth or adults in residential care, day treatment or detention centers, emphasizing hands-on engagement with families.
• Domestic Violence Case Manager: Direct experience in managing cases related to domestic violence and supporting clients.
• Clinical Experience: Experience working with vulnerable/underserved children and families utilizing therapeutic tools or interventions.
• Medical Professionals: Ex. Nurses who have worked in the field with underserved populations providing public health education to families who are vulnerable and need assistance accessing services.
• Victim’s Advocate: Experience working with children and families in the community providing support and resources.
• Probation Officer: Experience providing case management services to individuals, both youth and adults.
• Law Enforcement: Experience working in underserved communities, being called in the field to mitigate risk/de-escalation of citizens struggling with mental health, working with adults/youth in the community. Connecting with families in the community experiencing traumatic life events.
• Internships and Volunteering: Experience gained through internships or volunteering in any of the categories with a commitment of 20 hours per week or more (or 16 hours if internship was within child welfare county department).

Pre-Employment Additional Requirements:
* Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) and background check.
* Possession of a valid Class “R” Colorado Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within two weeks
of employment.

Post-Employment Requirements:
* Security clearance required: will require fingerprinting and a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) background check.
* Position is deemed essential and permanency casework staff must be available for winter storm and other emergency events. Permanency caseworker staff may be asked to be available to work on-call on a rotation basis.
* Must have already successfully completed the Colorado Pre-Service Training Academy program or if hired must successfully complete and pass all required State of Colorado training in order to be certified as a caseworker. Maintain Child Welfare Certification through 40 or more hours of yearly training.
* Work locations and facilities are subject to change based on business need.

Work – Life Balance:

• Vacation hours accrue for all active employees based on scheduled hours and years of service, as shown below:
  • 10 hours per month (with accrual increases every five years)
• Sick Time:
  • 8 hours per month
• 13 designated paid holidays annually (8 hours paid for each holiday)
• 1 additional floating holiday annually (8 hours paid for each holiday)

NOTE: While this is a hybrid option position the schedule would be five working days, consisting of three days in the office and two remote days. This position requires flexibility with scheduling to meet family and county needs. This position is expected to be in the field for up to 80% of the time.

WORK ENVIROMENT:
Work involves a considerable period of time (20-40%) away from standard office environment, much of which consists of driving to and from home visits, collateral contacts and in transporting children and clients. At times more than normal physical exertion is required in transporting children. Work my occur in situations in which incumbent is threatened with physical harm by hostile/angry clients.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The following are some of the physical demands commonly associated with this position.

* Spends 50% of the time sitting and 50% of the time either upright or walking.
* Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 20 lbs.
* Occasionally uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 20 lbs.
* Occasionally climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
* Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
* Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
* Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work-related equipment.

Definitions:

Occasionally: Activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.

Frequently: Activity exists between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.

Constantly: Activity exists more than 2/3 of the time.

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to:

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