Lead Prevention Caseworker

Lead Prevention Caseworker

Employment Type :   0 - Full-time Regular

Pay Range :   $68, - 103,

Location :   Castle Rock, Lone Tree, or Highlands Ranch, CO

Overtime Exempt :   Y

Elected Office / Department :   HUMAN SERVICES

The Lead Prevention Caseworker develops community connections to create sustainable commitment to system improvement, strategic planning, and community improvements as they relate to citizen needs, specifically the need for the prevention of child protective services involvement. Such partners will include, but are not limited to school districts, the judicial system, law enforcement, medical and behavioral health providers, and other community partners, with the goal of decreasing the need for protective service system involvement and enhancing community partnerships. This position exists to improve their collaboration with community partners and to contribute towards improved agency practice and outcomes with the children and families including reducing recurrence / recidivism. This position will also work closely with and / or act as a liaison between Child Welfare and the Youth Care Compact, Mental Health Division Resource Specialists, and the Youth Crisis Response Team. This position will support the work of external community partners who manage prevention referrals including Manna Resource Center, the Juvenile Assessment Center and Douglas County Public Health Nurse Support Program.

Generally, the hiring range is $68,953-$86,191 annually.Qualifications, education and experience as it relates to the position will be

taken into consideration when determining hiring salary.

Your

future is important to us.

Douglas County offers a comprehensive benefits package — including medical,

dental, vision, and retirement plans — plus a wide range of additional

resources to support your health, growth, and overall well-being.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Participates in the development and implementation of comprehensive planning and community development programs and services to respond to families in need with intent to prevent abuse and neglect.
• Participates in developing, managing and evaluating complexly integrated community based and system-based initiatives, programs and strategies to increase the community level response to the needs of families with the goal of decreasing the need for protective services.
• Participates in the design, implementation, management and evaluation of a community-based prevention system, including a comprehensive response and programs that capitalize on community development strategies and established partnerships.
• Participates in developing, implementing and monitoring short and long-term plans, goals and objectives focused on achieving the Department’s mission, vision and goals; contributes to the development of and monitoring of the performance of community partners.
• Represents the Department of Human Services at relevant meetings; informs and advises these groups, as well as the Manager and Associate Director, on local and regional community development and infrastructure planning issues.
• Presents Department information to community constituents and citizen-facing committees, commissions and other forums including presentations on special projects and community and program planning issues to increase understanding of the child protection system and opportunities to respond to and assist families in a community-based manner that serves to prevent abuse and neglect.
• Participates in developing, integrating and evaluating a community-based response team for families referred multiple times to protective services and / or economic assistance to assure that basic needs and protective issues are properly identified and resolved to impact the multi-generational use of such government systems in a sustained manner.
• Analyzes data resources with respect to recurrence and recidivism in the child protective system and participates in the design and implementation of effective strategies to positively impact such.
• Clinical consultation and guidance to assure child safety and well-being drives decision making but also ensures community connection and partnership enhancement are prioritized and drive decision making.
• Contacts community resources, such as schools, law enforcement and medical and mental health personnel to obtain additional information, coordinate services, or secure their assistance.
• Through a multi-disciplinary lens, participate in staffings with schools, agencies and other professionals involved with the family members reported to the child protective services system, that do not meet the statutory threshold for formal department involvement.
• Serves as information and referral source to other employees and to the public.
• Provides a variety of ancillary assignments as needed including accessing, preparing and maintaining client records and completing required forms and reports.
• Facilitate meetings with families and community partners to develop support or response plans.
• Demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of social casework principles, concepts and ethics by using a strength-based and solution focused practice.
• Independently analyze complex situations, formulate plans and make quick decisions as needed.
• Practice strategies that result in effective engagement of community partners and families.
• Mediate difficult interactions between parties.
• Carries Program Area 3 Prevention Caseload

OTHER DUTIES :

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE :

Prior to application, must meet the minimum requirements of a Caseworker B - Bachelor's degree in a human behavioral sciences discipline plus a minimum of 2 years supervised social service practice in a private or public setting. Required to have State of Colorado Certified Caseworker and / or other state equivalent caseworker certification. At least 1 of the 2 years must include experience as an Intake or Permanency Child Protection Caseworker or in child maltreatment prevention services with a Human Services Agency. Master’s degree preferred.

In order to meet the minimum educational requirements of a human behavioral science degree, the employee must have a degree with major course work (equivalent to 30 semester hours or 45 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 from an accredited institution.

Individual must successfully complete (or be waived by the Colorado Department of Human Services) all mandatory new child welfare caseworker training within the first four (4) months of employment. Must maintain the required 40 hours annual child welfare training. Individual must complete any state or County required child welfare or adult protection training.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS :

This position requires successful completion of a criminal background check including fingerprinting through a national database. Must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s License upon hire, with complying insurance. Review of motor vehicle record is required at time of hire and periodically throughout employment.