Child Protective Services Caseworker

The Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is seeking a Child Protective Services Caseworker to provide professional case management services across the State of Maine. The role requires investigative and case management skills and building extensive contacts within the judicial, law enforcement, educational, and social services communities.

• Perform professional social work in the areas of child protection, children’s services, and adoption.
• Engage families to assess child safety and make plans that best meet the safety, well‑being, and permanency needs of their children.
• Create a team for each family consisting of family, staff, and community resources to support safe solutions for children.
• Reach factually supported safety decisions in a timely and thorough manner, with input from parents, children, extended family, and community stakeholders to assure child safety.
• Assess:
  • child safety, abuse, and neglect, and signs of danger;
  • family strengths and capabilities;
  • family functioning.
• Separate unsafe caregivers from children in need of protection when court action is required to make children safe.
• Make appropriate plans for children, focusing on their safety needs, preservation of family relationships, reunifying children when appropriate, or achieving a permanent placement in another family if needed.
• Maintain accurate case records of assessments, activities, and plans; summaries; reports; letters and memos.
• Follow federal and state laws, mandates, policy, and time frames to achieve child safety, well‑being, and permanency.
• Perform case planning and, when needed, petition for protective custody and placement of children.
• Work requires frequent overtime, emergency standby coverage, and regular travel within the geographic area served by a District Office.

• A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited educational institution in Social Work/Social Welfare; or a Bachelor’s Degree in a related social service, social welfare, or social work area that includes at least 12 courses in behavioral science, social science, or social work; AND must have or be eligible for conditional or full licensure as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) as determined by the Maine State Board of Social Worker Licensure.
• Applicants must have or be eligible for conditional or full licensure at the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) level issued by the Maine State Board of Social Work Licensure. An LSW requires an earned BA/BS in social work or social welfare. An LSW‑Conditional requires an earned BA/BS in a field related to social work or social welfare.
• The board will consider degrees in other areas on an individual basis.