Child and Adult Protective Services Caseworker

Child Welfare Intake Caseworker

This position is primarily responsible for conducting intake assessments for Child Protective Services (CPS), with assistance in overflow casework tied to Adult Protective Services (APS). The positional duties include intake, screening, investigations, and ongoing services for families and vulnerable adults in Lake County. The caseworker is responsible for ensuring the safety and stability of families and at-risk adults through collaboration with community partners, advocacy, and intervention.

General Duties and Responsibilities Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Essential Functions

• Conduct investigations of CPS and 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 families and 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 TRAILS electronic case management system for CPS and CAPS for APS.
• Advocate on behalf of clients and work collaboratively with law enforcement, legal entities, healthcare providers, the school system, and other professionals.
• Determine appropriate protective actions, which may include removal from unsafe environments. Provide court testimony when necessary.
• Participate in screening and evaluating incoming CPS and 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 Child Protection Academy with ongoing required annual training.
• Support APS in a caseworker capacity during overflow periods, assisting with intake, assessment, and follow-up as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities Not Applicable

Requirements State Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a Social Science such as social work, counseling, psychology, or sociology.
• An applicant may be eligible if they have an adjacent degree to a social science, for instance, communication, political science, nursing, or public administration. The county is required to petition the state for acceptance of this degree. This will be evaluated with previous experience in casework.

Required to be On Call on a rotating basis. This is compensated at a flat rate per day.

• Difficulty of Work:
• Work is performed in a variety of cases that will have similar and dissimilar problems. Each case is substantially different and often involves complex family relationships. The case worker independently evaluates the case and develops ongoing safety plans and case plans.
• The case worker 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.

Requirements

• Preferred 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 and adults.
• The laws dealing with child abuse, neglect, and other dependency conditions.
• Skill in interviewing techniques, crisis intervention methods, and relevant treatment modalities.
• Community resources, 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:
• Two (2) years of professional caseworker, case management, or human services experience in a public or private human services agency.
• Preferred bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Training:
  Initial Certification Requirements
• Complete the pre-service training for new social caseworkers
• Complete all required transfer of learning exercises with the assistance of a supervisor, or supervisor's designee
• Demonstrate competence through pre- and post-tests, trainer observation, and verification by the county department as outlined in the request for certification.
• Upon initial certification as a social…