Child Welfare Caseworker - Specialized Intake

Position Overview

Under supervision and utilizing a team approach, provides direct casework services to children, birth families, kinship caregivers, foster families, and community providers in situations involving abuse, neglect, dependency, risk to harm, and/or families in need of services. Positions in this classification will play an active role in investigations, assessing child risk and safety, and/or providing ongoing, direct casework services to ensure the well-being and permanency of children.

Employees will exercise independent judgement within established policies, procedures, and legal guidelines. Work will include direct interactions and face-to-face contact with children, families, caregivers, and/or community partners, often in complex and high-risk situations. Caseworkers are responsible for developing and implementing service plans, coordinating resources, and monitoring progress towards safety and permanency goals. Work is performed in a combination of office and field settings and is subject to strict, regulatory, legal, and documentation requirements.

Maintains accurate case records, documentation, reports, and data entry in SACWIS or other required systems. Attends court hearings, meetings, case conferences, trainings, and other required proceedings. Collaborates with internal staff, community partners, service providers, schools, courts, medical professionals, and other stakeholders. Assesses client, child, family, placement, or service needs and coordinates appropriate services or referrals. Communicates regularly with families, caregivers, providers, and agency personnel regarding case progress and needs.

Supports child safety, permanency, placement stability, and well-being. Ensures compliance with agency policy, state regulations, and applicable procedures.

If assigned to Intake/Ongoing

• Provides direct casework services to families in which children may be dependent, neglected, or abused, and secures protection for children from potentially unsafe environments.
• Conducts home visits with parents, children, kinship caregivers, and foster families to ensure the safety and well-being of children.
• Assesses family functioning, risk factors, and available supports to develop service plans that reduce safety concerns and improve family stability.
• Assesses client needs and implements services that promote family preservation, placement stability, reunification, concurrent planning, and permanency.
• Collects relevant information for possible legal action and presents factual evidence in court proceedings.
• Develops and supports a team-based approach when working with birth families, kinship caregivers, and foster families.
• Ensures youth receive educational and independent living services.
• Assists families and children in accessing appropriate community resources.
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with agencies serving children and families.
• Maintains regular contact with treatment specialists, educational providers, medical providers, and other service team members.
• Provides support to foster families to maintain placements and facilitate timely reunification, while pursuing alternative permanency plans when necessary.
• Prepares written assessments, reports, and related documentation.
• Provides foster families with guidance regarding the placement process, roles, responsibilities, child needs, and reunification efforts.
• Advocates for both natural families and foster families.
• Participates in placement matching decisions and coordinates pre-placement and post-placement activities.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

If assigned to Intake – Rapid Response

• Conducts Specialized and Third-Party investigations.
• Completes Rules Violation…