Child Protective Services Caseworker

Job Details

Department:
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Job Class Code: 5077 | Grade: 24

Opening Date:
June 8, 2026 | Closing Date:
Open Continuously

Salary: $32.35 - $42.34 per hour* (Hourly rate includes a $7.50/hr recruitment & retention stipend)

Location:

Houlton, Maine

• 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.

Frequent overtime, emergency standby coverage, and regular travel within the geographic area served by a District Office.

• Bachelors Degree from an accredited educational institution in Social Work or Social Welfare; OR a Bachelors Degree in a related social service, social welfare, or social work area which 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.
• Detail oriented.
• Ability to manage and meet deadlines effectively.

Applicants must have or be eligible for conditional or full licensure at the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) level as 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. Chapter 10 of the Maine State Board of Social Worker Licensure regulations defines a field related to social work or social welfare as including but not limited to: behavioral science, social and behavioral sciences, childhood development, education and human development, mental health and human services, psychology, psychology/educational psychology, rehabilitation services, and sociology.

The board will consider degrees in other areas on an individual basis. For additional information on degree requirements, contact the Maine Board of Social Work Licensure at .

• 13 paid holidays
• 12 days of sick leave
• 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually (accrual increases with years of service; overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave)
• Health insurance coverage: the State pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($12,845.82 - $15,112.76 annual value)
• Health insurance premium credit: participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%
• Dental insurance: the State pays 100% of employee-only premiums ($395.72 annual value)
• Retirement plan: the State contributes the equivalent of 14.11% toward the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS)
• Parental leave: six weeks of fully paid parental leave for all employees, including non-birthing and adoptive parents; additional unpaid leave may be available under the Family and Medical Leave Act
• Other wellness benefits as provided by the Office of Employee Health and Wellness

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment for applicants of all backgrounds, including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

Reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.