OTERO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES CHILD PROTECTION CASEWORKER

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

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

DUTIES

Conducts investigations of alleged physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect; determines if situation warrants the recommendation of placing children outside the home; supervises placement of children and coordinates parent/child visits; determines when and if a child should be recommended to return to their home.
Makes evaluation and assessment of need for services; provides crisis intake and/or develops long-term case plans appropriate to the child(ren) and family. Monitors progress of clients and modifies case plans as needed.
Provides individual or family counseling on an ongoing or crisis basis to children and their parents who are experiencing severe problems in the parent-child relationships.
Makes collateral contacts with such community resources as law enforcement and medical personnel to obtain additional information, coordinate services, or secure their assistance.
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.
Participates in staffings with school, mental health facilities, and other professionals involved with the family members.
Attends court hearings; confers with lawyers, children, parents, witnesses and significant others in references to their respective roles.
Serves as information and referral source to other employers and to the public.
Provides as variety of ancillary assignments as needed including preparing and maintaining client records and completing required forms and reports.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND DIFFICULTY OF WORK

This position requires working knowledge of casework principles and methods of human needs and behavior pertaining to child development, parenting, attachment, and separation. Knowledge of social group work principles and methods. Knowledge of medical symptoms related to injuries or failure to thrive in children. Working knowledge of the battered child syndrome, and the laws dealing with child abuse, neglect and other dependency conditions. Knowledge and skill in interviewing techniques, crisis intervention methods, and relevant treatment modalities including play therapy, parent effectiveness training, behavior modification, reality therapy, transactional analysis and family therapy. Knowledge of community resources, of agency rules, regulations and procedures related to servicing children. Ability to establish support with harmful or hostile family members. Ability to accept and set realistic limits with multi-problem, dysfunctional clients. Independent ability to analyze complex situations, formulate plan
Work is characterized by working established guidelines as found in the Department of Social Services staff Manuals, the Children's Code, and the Directory of Residential Child Care Facilities, relevant laws, transmittal letters, county procedures and memoranda in determining eligibility for services and the scope of services to be delivered. Cases frequently require individualized judgement to evaluate the nature and degree of intervention and for how long the outside intervention is to continue, including the length of any placement. Incumbent is not expected to handle the more difficult situations without technical supervision.
Must have basic computer skills.

RESPONSIBILITY

Incumbent keeps supervisor informed of the progress of each case. All critical decisions are made by the supervisor. Close, detailed supervision is provided before and during the course of work.

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS

Work requires contact with legal, medical, psychiatric professional; members of the judicial system, clients; community organizations and resources; foster parents and other members of the agency for the purpose of developing effective treatment plans for clients and to help clients solve problems; and to educate the community about child abuse and neglect.

MIMINUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: BA/BS in Behavioral Science or related field or
Experience: Social Services or related field preferred.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Valid Colorado State Driver's license and insurance
Reliable transportation

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by au employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
A notable amount of time is spent outside the office with the sponsoring agencies. Remaining time is spent in a standard office environment requiring normal physical effort.
Position requires fieldwork contact with clients and environments that are unsanitary. The worker is exposed to verbal abuse, possible contagion, and threats of physical abuse. Occasionally, worker uses physical exertion in transporting children and clients. This job requires travel throughout the county and surrounding area.
Must have dexterous use of both hands. Must have corrected vision and hearing. Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds.

POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Formal application, rating of education and experience; written exam; oral interview and reference check. Job related tests might be required.
Employment is contingent upon the applicant passing a pre-employment medical physical and mandatory drug test.
Verification of any combination of driving record, criminal history and/or workers' compensation history.
No medical inquiries will be made or workers' compensation information gathered until a conditional job offer has been given to the applicant.