Child Welfare Ongoing Caseworker

• Conducts investigations of alleged physical abuse, neglect, and parent–child conflict. Determines if removal from the home is necessary and oversees placement of children in foster care. Coordinates parent/child visits and evaluates readiness for family reunification.
• Develops individualized case plans and provides counseling, education, and referrals to families to improve parenting skills, strengthen family relationships, and address social or behavioral challenges.
• Participates in the RED Team process to assess new reports of child abuse or re-abuse and provides crisis intervention as needed.
• Provides intake, assessment, and case management services for a variety of cases, including adults unable to protect their own interests, family conflict, and youth in conflict.
• Recommends and arranges foster care or other placements based on client needs and monitors progress and adjustment in placement settings.
• Conducts home visits to assess living conditions and ensure safety. Coordinates supportive services such as child care, financial assistance, health care (physical and mental), and legal resources.
• Recruits, evaluates, and supports foster home parents. Monitors the quality of care provided in foster placements.
• Prepares and presents reports, case plans, and recommendations to the courts related to abuse and neglect, child placement, guardianship, and custody cases. Provides expert testimony as required.
• Documents all case activities, assessments, and communications in accordance with agency standards.
• Participates in an on-call rotation to respond to after-hours emergencies; on-call assignments are compensated with additional pay.

• Not Applicable

• Bachelor’s degree in the field of human behavioral science or public administration.
• Preferred at least one year of casework with families and knowledge of child welfare law.
• Travel to conferences or events within and outside of the state of Colorado may be required.

• Principles and practices of social casework, including assessment, treatment planning, and family engagement.
• Indicators and medical symptoms of abuse, neglect, and failure to thrive in children.
• Child protection laws, including statutes regarding child abuse, neglect, and dependency.
• Issues affecting vulnerable populations, including the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and those experiencing mental health or substance use challenges.
• Interviewing techniques, crisis intervention strategies, and evidence-based treatment approaches.
• Local community resources, and agency regulations and procedures relevant to assigned program areas.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, service providers, and colleagues.
• Conduct sensitive and thorough interviews with individuals and families.
• Evaluate complex family dynamics and determine appropriate interventions.
• Adapt to changes in regulations, policies, and best practices.
• Prioritize tasks and respond to crises with sound judgment.
• Prepare clear, concise, and legally defensible reports and documentation.

• Requires regular sitting, standing, walking, bending, and reaching.
• Involves frequent driving to conduct home visits, attend meetings, and participate in court proceedings.
• Must be able to lift and carry files, equipment, or supplies weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Requires sufficient vision, hearing, and speech to communicate effectively with clients, families, coworkers, and partner agencies.
• May involve extended periods of computer and desk work for documentation and case management.
• Work is performed both in an office setting and in the community, including client homes and other field locations.
• May involve exposure to hostile or emotionally distressed individuals, unsanitary or unsafe living conditions, and a variety of weather conditions.
• Regular travel within the county and occasional travel outside the area are required.
• Position may require flexible scheduling, including evening, weekend, and on-call hours to respond to emergencies.
• The environment can be emotionally demanding due to exposure to sensitive and distressing case situations.

EOE Statement

Lake County is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Assistance or accommodation during the application process due to a disability is available upon request.

Notice of Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be authorized to lawfully work for any employer in the United States. Lake County is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

Notice of Emergency/Disaster Responsibilities

All Lake County Employees may be required to work as a Disaster Service Worker when a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared by the Board of County Commissioners. To be prepared for this role, all employees and emergency service function (ESF) leads will attend emergency management trainings and exercises as requested by the Director of Emergency Management. With advanced notification from OEM, employees will make reasonable efforts to attend training events in coordination with other employees and supervisors.

Other Duties

Please note that this job description does not intend to cover or contain a full comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Expected Duration of the Application Process

Due to the nature of the application and selection process for Lake County full-time positions, applicants can reasonably expect the application process to take a significant amount of time to complete before a decision is made to hire or not to hire. Typically, it takes approximately two (2) to four (4) weeks from the date of application to complete the entire selection process. The length of time it takes to complete the process can vary depending on a variety of factors. Please note that this is an estimated duration of the selection process.