Job Title: Social Caseworker I
Department: Health & Human Services
Reports To: Casework Supervisor
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Job Summary:
Under direct supervision, provides intake and ongoing social casework services for a variety of program areas such as child abuse and neglect cases, youth in conflict cases, and adults unable to protect their own interests.
Essential Job Functions:
The following statements are illustrative of the duties and responsibilities of the job and may not include other non-essential or peripheral duties that may be required. Rio Blanco County reserves the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of this job at any time.
? Investigates referrals of child abuse and neglect, youth in conflict, and adults in need of protection. Conducts interviews and background checks, and gathers all pertinent information. Assesses and identifies needs.
? Coordinate client services and safety with other county departments, professionals, and outside service agencies (i.e. law enforcement, medical personnel, school staff, and foster care services).
? Provide crisis intervention and on-going counseling as needed to assist families in decision making and problem resolution; act as advocate for clients.
? Design a treatment plan to address risk and needs assessments, establish goals and objectives, and coordinate client services and referrals. ? Prepare and present case information and documentation to the courts, state review proceedings, and for communications with attorneys and/or other professionals and meet all deadlines imposed by the Court and statutory deadlines.
? Refer clients to outside state and community resources.
? Monitor compliance or non-compliance; determine the appropriate course of action.
? Maintains records and completes required paperwork and evaluations.
? Participate in various committees and boards related to program activities and responsibilities.
? Greets customers, answers phones and answers general Human Services questions.
? Perform other duties as appropriate or necessary for the performance of the job.
? May have to perform duties of Case Aide
General Requirements:
? Understands, observes, and complies with all Rio Blanco County and Departmental policies, procedures and protocols when performing job duties.
? Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other County employees, representatives from other agencies and organizations, and members of the community.
? Regular, predictable attendance.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
? Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
? Principles, practices, and objectives as related to case management, risk assessment, crisis intervention, and counseling in a child welfare program.
? Ability to complete the Colorado Child Welfare Academy and take such continuing education requirements as required to maintain certification. ? Scope and application of laws (Colorado Children's Code, Volume VII) and regulations pertaining to physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and child welfare.
? Routine software and business applications including, but not limited to, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, and database. ? Read and comprehend department and county rules, regulations, policies, and standard operating procedures.
? Assess risk, develop treatment plans, and counsel family and clients on methods of problem resolution.
? Maintain sensitive and confidential information.
? Work flexible hours, including holidays and weekends, when performing duties of positions.
? Organize material and present information clearly and concisely in verbal and written form.
? Effectively respond to conflict situations and people in conflict.
? Accomplish the assigned workload in a timely manner and meet established performance standards and objectives.
? Act as a credible witness whentestifying in court.
? Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other county employees, representatives of other agencies and organizations, and members of the community.
Education and/or Experience:
Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
? Equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in a human behavioral sciences field. Examples of degree titles include Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Human Development/Family Studies.
? In order to meet the minimum educational requirements of a human behavioral science degree, the applicant 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.
? Maintain continuing education hours annually, and comply with state training requirements.
Licenses or Certificates:
? Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Driver's License.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee may be required to sit for extended periods of time and is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and must occasionally lift children up to 50 pounds. The employee frequently is required to use their hands and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus such as that used when using a computer or reading.
Work Environment:
Work may involve time away from a standard office environment, which may consist of driving to and from home visits and in transporting children. Work may occur in situations in client's homes, which could be considered a hostile or unsanitary environment. After hours work situations may occur on occasion in order to provide support to families that need services outside of normal business hours. Work office will be established, but employee may perform work at the satellite office when required.
Other:
? Consequence of Error: Failure to achieve results or erroneous judgments may require the allocation of additional resources to correct and/or achieve goals.
? Independent Judgment: Work is accomplished with moderate supervision. Work is evaluated upon completion to ensure objectives have been met.
THIS JOB DESCRIPTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Nothing in this job description restricts Rio Blanco County's ability to assign, reassign, or eliminate duties and responsibilities of this job at any time. This job description describes the County's current assignment of essential functions. Those functions may change at any time as the needs of the County change or for other reasons deemed appropriate by the County
