Adult Protective Services Caseworker (Child Welfare Support)

FLSA Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Position Summary

The position provides a full range of intake and/or ongoing Social Casework services for a variety of program areas such as child abuse and neglect cases and youth in conflict cases.

Benefits:

• Employer-Sponsored Medical and Dental Insurance Plans
• 100% Employer Paid Vision Plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Employer-Sponsored Short-Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance 
• 100% Employer Paid Term Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance Plans
• 401(a) and 457(b) Retirement Plans with a 9% Employer Match
• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, Personal Days and Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounts on concerts, major sporting events, electronics, travel, cars and more! 
• Wellness Stipend of $427
• Personal PTO hours available upon your start date
• Paid Continuing Education for ongoing professional development
• Work-Life Balance with flexible working conditions
• Merit and cost-of-living raises to ensure competitive compensation
• Please review the 2024 Benefits Guide for full details.

General Statement of Duties:

This position is primarily responsible for delivering comprehensive Adult Protective Services (APS) casework, including intake, screening, investigations, and ongoing services for vulnerable adults in Lake County. The APS Caseworker ensures the safety and stability of at-risk adults through collaboration with community partners, advocacy, and intervention. During periods of high demand, this position may also support Child Welfare casework functions as needed to assist with overflow cases, based on agency needs and community priorities.

Essential Job Duties:

• Conduct investigations of APS referrals to determine whether abuse, neglect, or exploitation has occurred, including observation, interviews, and coordination with family members and community partners.

• Develop and implement effective, individualized case plans for at-risk adults by leveraging family, friends, and local support systems to promote client safety and well-being.

• Accurately document all case activities including assessments, contacts, and plans using the CAPS electronic case management system.

• Advocate on behalf of clients and work collaboratively with law enforcement, legal entities, healthcare providers, and other professionals.

• Determine appropriate protective actions, which may include removal from unsafe environments or court petitions for guardianship. Provide court testimony when necessary.

• Participate in screening and evaluating incoming APS referrals with the Protective Services Supervisor and team to determine assignment eligibility.

• Maintain compliance with state and agency requirements, including successful completion of the Adult Protection Academy and ongoing annual training.

• Support child welfare services in a caseworker capacity during overflow periods, assisting with intake, assessment, and follow-up as assigned.

• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the protective services team and broader agency mission.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience in protective services, social work, or a related human services field.

• Strong interpersonal, investigative, and documentation skills.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment.

• Difficulty of Work:
  • Work is performed on a variety of cases that will have similar and dissimilar problems. Each case is substantially different and often involves complex family relationships. The Caseworker independently evaluates the case and develops ongoing safety plans, case plans.
  • The Caseworker is expected to deal with unusual and/or difficult cases with appropriate supervisory assistance.
  • There are numerous guidelines and regulations covering the work, such as the Children’s Code, Volume VII of the Department of Human Services Rules and Regulations, which regulate procedures to be followed. There are a wide variety of recognized social casework techniques, and the Caseworker must use judgment and situational evaluation to determine which are appropriate for each of the cases assigned.

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.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Instructions may be received from the supervisor when cases are assigned and during the progress of a case. The supervisor is available to provide instructions and to act as a consultant at the request of the Caseworker. Work is reviewed for compliance to policy and general conclusions through spot checks, staffing, supervisor conferences, and judicial involvement.

Requirements

• Knowledge of:
  • Theories, principles, and concepts of social casework practice (assessment and treatment oriented) related to all of the assigned program areas.
  • Medical symptoms related to injuries or failure to thrive in children.
  • The laws dealing with child abuse, neglect and other dependency conditions.
  • Skill in interviewing techniques, crisis intervention methods and relevant treatment modalities.
  • Community resources, of agency rules, regulations and procedures related to assigned program areas.
• Ability to:
  • Establish rapport with clients.
  • Independently analyze complex situations, formulate plans and make quick decisions as needed.
  • Clearly and concisely express oneself both verbally and in written format.
  • Establish and maintain harmonious professional relationships with other employees, outside agencies, and the public. 
  • Testify effectively in court hearings.
  • Travel in order to make home visits and to visit foster parents and children in placement.
• Experience and Training Guidelines:
  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a major in a human behavior science field, or a degree with 30 semester hours, or 45 quarter hours, of course work in development of human behavior, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures or therapeutic techniques such as social work, psychology, sociology, guidance and counseling, and/or child development; and,
  • Two (2) years of professional caseworker, case management, or human services experience in a public or private human services agency; OR,
  • A bachelor’s of social work degree and successful completion of an approved field placement in a county department of human services; or,
  • A master’s degree in social work or a human behavioral science.
  • Preferred bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Training: Initial Certification Requirements
  1. Complete the pre-service training for new social caseworkers;
  2. Complete all required transfer of learning exercises with the assistance of a supervisor, or supervisor’s designee; and,
  3. Demonstrate competence through pre- and post-tests, trainer observation, and verification by the county department as outlined in the request for certification.
  4. Upon initial certification as a social caseworker, the staff person receives dual certification as a hotline worker.
  5. If a newly hired social caseworker has been certified as a social caseworker in the state of Colorado within the previous four (4) years, pre-service training for new social caseworkers is not required.                             
• Equipment Utilized: Standard office equipment and vehicle for considerable travel.
• Contact with Others: 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 protection of clients and services available.
• Supervisory Requirements: Instructions may be received from the supervisor when cases are assigned and during the progress of a case. The supervisor is available to provide instructions and to act as a consultant at the request of the Caseworker. Work is reviewed for compliance to policy and general conclusions through spot checks, staffing, supervisor conferences, and judicial involvement.

Hazard Notice

In making client visitations incumbent may encounter angry, hostile clients, verbal abuse and unsafe conditions in homes.

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.