Child Welfare Licensing Social Services Specialist IV
Print (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado/jobs/newprint/5031128)
Apply
?
Child Welfare Licensing Social Services Specialist IV
Salary
$71,544.00 - $93,024.00 Annually
Location
Denver Metro, CO
Job Type
Full Time
Job Number
IHA 07326 08/04/2025
Department
Colorado Department of Human Services
Division
OCYF - Child Welfare
Opening Date
08/15/2025
Closing Date
8/31/2025 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA
Determined by Position
Type of Announcement
This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address
Statewide travel in Colorado required
FLSA Status
Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information
Amber.Holcomb@state.co.us
How To Apply
Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Description
Benefits
Questions
Department Information
This position is open to current Colorado residents only.
Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details! (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/state-of-colorado-employee-benefits)
Description of Job
Please Note: This position is remote based because this position requires extensive travel within the state of Colorado to include overnight stays and the licensing of childcare agencies and facilities during all shifts, 5 days a week. This is due to being a staff in the 'field' and spends anywhere from 3-5 days a week in licensed facilities and agencies performing their job functions. The licensing specialist are required to be in person for PSU team meetings once per month. Typically the work schedule goes past 5 PM and/or require them to travel across the state and stay overnight in other locations to fulfill their job duties.
About this Unit:
The position is located in the Division of Child Welfare, Provider Services Unit. The Division is responsible for the ongoing implementation of child welfare services in Colorado and supervises county departments of human/social services in the administration of Child Welfare programs, as well as privately operated 24-hour child care facilities. The Provider Services Unit exists to license, manage, supervise, and provide statewide oversight for privately operated 24-hour childcare facilities and agencies, to include Residential Child Care Facilities, Secure Residential Treatment Centers, Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs), Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs), Homeless Youth Shelters, Specialized Group Homes and Centers, Child Placement Agencies, Adoption Agencies, Respite Child Care Centers (RCCC), and Day Treatment Facilities across the State of Colorado. The goals of the unit are to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the youth served in those facilities. The work unit is responsible for comprehensive integrated (Interagency) licensing and monitoring of the 24-hour child care facilities and to audit and investigate reports/allegations involving licensing violations, facility or agency culpability, and to ensure the safety of children in out-of-home placements using Volume 7 rules and regulations, the Licensing Act, and all other applicable rules and statutes.
About this Position:
This position has been delegated staff authority for licensing oversight of 24-hour child care facilities across the state of Colorado by Division management. Consults with agency management to influence decisions concerning essential, wide-ranging, critical program or policy direction to ensure facility practice is in compliance with regulatory agency's standards. This position implements the Division's audit process to include sample reviews, technical assistance and training, issuing reports of inspection, issuing fines, authorizing licensure, and recommending adverse action against a facility or agency. This position determines whether the 24-hour child care facilities are operating in compliance with applicable internal guidelines, rules, policies, regulations, and standards. This position identifies and recommends opportunities for improving standards of practice for programs to meet operational expectations. This position is responsible for researching adoption practices, such as, implementation and fidelity to the Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) standards and implementing national standards and safety as they relate to foster care settings overseen by licensed Child Placement Agencies as well as private domestic and intercountry adoption settings. This position provides support to the other Licensing Specialists with regard to private adoption services provided within the Unit's licensed facilities and agencies. This position ensures that youth are receiving safe and adequate care and treatment by evaluating the physical plant, treatment planning, staff and care provider qualifications, training, and supervision as well as financial stability, interviews with youth in care, and required corrective actions. This position also is responsible to handle and safeguard confidential information regarding youth in care as well as specific to provider staff background checks. This position requires extensive travel within the state of Colorado to include overnight stays and the licensing of childcare agencies and facilities during all shifts, 5 days a week. This position is home-based and the physical and permanent work address is the employee's home address.
Summary of Job Duties:
This position is located in the Provider Services Unit within the Division of Child Welfare. The purpose of the licensing specialist position is to work with the entire Provider Services Unit as the regulatory body responsible for agency and facility culpability and adherence to licensing regulations and statutes. The team values transparency, collaboration, communication, and high ethical standards as well as adherence to the regulations and laws that govern licensed entities. Busy seasons are July to October, but can also vary depending upon the caseload of the licensing specialist. The unit is also particularly busy during the legislative session from January through May.
Licensing of Agencies and Facilities and Technical Assistance:
Provide or research options for and coordinate technical assistance to licensed facilities and agencies in order to support the delivery of quality care to youth and to increase their compliance with State and Federal rules, with particular focus on child protection and safety.
Oversee and direct providers to improve programming to ensure the safety, care, and well-being of children in placement.
Technical assistance expert for the Division of Child Welfare in the areas of licensing, child care/child welfare, and treatment planning related to these populations. Serve as the staff authority on child care and child welfare treatment and the protocols necessary to assure resident safety and well-being. This position is recognized as a staff authority specific to the Licensing Services Team and will be responsible in regard to background check practices as it relates to all facilities licensed by the Provider Services Unit. Management relies on this position's expertise for determining best practices for obtaining and reviewing background records for all staff members, foster parents, adults over the age of eighteen years living in foster homes, and volunteers working directly with children/youth in agencies licensed under the Provider Services Unit.
Evaluate the quality of programming, practices and policies, and compliance with providers of out-of-home care; specifically, conduct building and site inspections, ensure staff and care providers are supervised and trained according to their individual needs and the needs of the youth served in the facility or agency, assess treatment planning, observe milieu, assess quality of home study evaluations, assess behavioral interventions utilized by facilities, examine medication administration requirements, examine restraint and/or seclusion practices, examine financial documentation to ensure stability of agencies and facilities and that the needs of the youth are being met, and conduct interviews with staff, foster families, and youth to determine quality of care provided.
This position researches and stays up-to-date on areas related to adoption practices, such as, implementation and fidelity to the Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) standards and implementing national standards and safety as they relate to foster care settings overseen by licensed Child Placement Agencies as well as private domestic and intercountry adoption settings.
Provides support to the other Licensing Specialists with regard to private adoption services provided within the Unit's licensed facilities and agencies.
Corrective Action:
Compile and interpret data on patterns of provider deficiencies or gross incidents of non-compliance with Volume 7 in order to determine when adverse licensing actions is warranted. Provide documentation and testimony in summary suspension situations and other adverse action cases. Issue expert opinions, as authorized by the Division of Child Welfare, on child protection and safety that occur within agencies and facilities in order to prompt further actions by other entities within the Department and in the provider community.
Advise management on action steps necessary to rectify ongoing concerns and violations at agency and when adverse action is indicated. Provide follow-up and increased on-site licensing until provider deficiencies are resolved and abuse/neglect or other safety concerns are alleviated.
Licenses, Continuation, and Renewals Approval:
Evaluate and license programs both for initial and ongoing licensure. Evaluate programs initially to determine the most appropriate license @type to serve the populations the provider seeks to support. Thoroughly analyze policies and procedures, behavior management and discipline, staff qualifications, medication administration, and plans for educational, community, and recreational activities, treatment and services to be provided, and site compliance and quality via inspections and interviews. Ensure that facilities meet mandatory requirements of external entities that also oversee facilities: CDPHE, zoning and planning, and fire departments. Conduct reviews at minimum annually, reviewing staff and youth files to ensure compliance with licensing requirements. Complete reports of inspection to identify rule violations. Ensure agency response and timely correction of violations.
Other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Important Note: Please review your application to ensure completion. For the most equitable applicant experience, CDHS' hiring teams consider only the contents of your application to determine meeting minimum qualifications and for the comparative analysis process. Experience is calculated on a full-time equivalency basis, therefore, it is important to accurately notate the hours you averaged per experience section entry. Volunteer work or related @type of experience may be used to meet the qualifications, but must be clearly documented. It is paramount that in the experience portion of the application, the applicant describes the extent to which they possess the education, experience, competencies and background as they relate to the duties outlined in the job announcement.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Option 1 - Experience:
Seven (7) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position
Please note: This experience must be clearly documented on your application and the supplemental questions must be answered.
OR
Option 2 - Experience & Education:
A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to seven (7) years.
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, or Sociology.
Two (2) or more years of work experience related to human services or licensing.
Demonstrated knowledge of child welfare policies and practices, residential best practice standards, and licensing regulations and statutes.
Experience in an advisory or consultative role.
Proven ability to direct research, analyze, and report on complex issues.
Outstanding skills and abilities in verbal and written communications; ability to adapt a style to fit audiences of varying technical levels, and at various levels within an organization, in groups and individual settings.
Demonstrated ability to establish collaborative partnerships and effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external customers and diverse public and private stakeholders.
Demonstrated proficiency working collaboratively with internal teams; and national, state, and community partners.
Knowledge of Volume 7 Rules and Regulations.
Demonstrating knowledge working in CCCLS, TRAILS, I-LINX and multiple databases and scanning systems.
Applied Behavior Analysis work with children/youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)
Conditions of Employment:
This position currently works 100% percent remotely from home address and will be required to use a personal vehicle for frequent travel to the CDHS office, assigned agencies/facilities, and other identified locations for the purpose of related primary job duties as assigned.
This position may be required to complete overnight travel and infrequent extended travel within the State of Colorado.
Auto insurance is also required.
Full Background - A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges. Additionally, you will be required take and pass a drug screen.
Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
APPEAL RIGHTS:
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.
An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.
For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.
A standard appeal form is available at:www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.
Supplemental Information
How to Apply (https://cdhs.colorado.gov/information-for-job-applicants#how-to-apply)
The Assessment Process
For additional recruiting questions, please contactamber.holcomb@state.co.us
About Us:
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs) (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:
Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
BenefitHub state employee discount program
Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
*Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more
information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .
Our Values:
We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.
Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.
We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.
~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~
The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits
Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.
01
Your legal name is used in the hiring process for background checks. Did you use your full legal name in your application?
Yes
No
02
The bottom of this job announcement provides links to additional information on how to apply, the assessment process, toll free applicant technical support, and about how the State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. Please acknowledge below that you have read the information provided in these links.
This information is available to me and I have read this information.
I am unable to access the links with this information on the job posting. (If you select this option, please contact the recruiter, whose information is listed on this announcement, so that they can send this information directly to you.)
03
Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application. In the space below, please provide an explanation as to why the prior termination or resignation should NOT disqualify your application from the current position.
04
If you are a current or former State of Colorado employee, please list your employee number (starts with 997...). Failure to provide this requested information may render your application incomplete, and you may no longer be considered for the position.
05
Due to the youth population served, incumbents of this position must be at least 21 years of age. Are you 21 years of age or older?
Yes
No
06
This position may require in-state travel to downtown Denver and other areas of the state as needed. Are you willing and able to accommodate this condition of employment?
Yes
No
07
Please answer the following application questions in detail and as specific as possible, including your years of experience with each task. These responses are formally reviewed and heavily weighted in the structured application review process. Please acknowledge your understanding of this.
I understand my answers to the application's supplemental questions will be reviewed and assessed in the Structured Application Review process.
08
Describe a time when you coordinated several projects at the same time. How did you prioritize all the projects? How did you keep track of what needed to be done on each one? What tools do you use to check your work?
09
What roles/positions have you held in which coaching and teaching was an essential function? Describe your approach to teaching and coaching.
10
In your approach to teaching and coaching, what strategies have you found to be successful and unsuccessful?
11
Explain your approach to demonstrating effective customer service with both regulatory and technical assistance activities? And provide an example of a time you utilized this approach to facilitate a successful outcome.
12
What is unique about serving youth in out-of-home placement settings? What are the key considerations to providing optimal care foster homes and residential treatment facilities?
Required Question
Employer
State of Colorado
Address
See the full announcement by clicking
the "Printer" icon located above the job title
Location varies by announcement, Colorado, --
Website
https://careers.colorado.gov/
Apply
Please verify your email addressVerify Email
