Social Worker - Investigative​/Assessment and Treatment; Child Protective Services

Social Worker - Investigative/Assessment and Treatment (Child Protective Services)

Department: Social Services

Hiring Range: $61,588 - $73,902 yr ($29.61 - $35.53 per hour)

Additional pay possible for fluent Spanish/English or Hmong/English (bilingual proficiency testing required).

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Advanced level of social work position that involves initiating and assessing reports of alleged child abuse, neglect and/or dependency, and to provide legally mandated, non‑voluntary protective services to children and families that are designed to ensure child safety and protect children from repeat occurrences of maltreatment. This position works with families/legal caretakers to support and improve their parent/caregiver abilities in order to ensure children have a safe home environment.

When imminent child safety risk(s) are present in families, this position is responsible for helping parents/legal caretakers make temporary safety placements while working with the caretakers to remedy unsafe child caring conditions or removing children from their homes when the severity of child safety warrants this action. This position is full‑time and would carry out backup CPS On‑call duty on a scheduled, rotating basis with other CPS social work staff.

Other job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, adhering to all federal and state laws and program policies that govern Child Protective Services, using and completing the state‑required assessment and documentation tools related to providing Child Protective Services, making contact with collaterals related to protective services cases, arranging for medical, psychological, substance abuse assessments and treatment services in the provision of protective services, and working collaboratively with professionals in the community such as school personnel, medical and mental health practitioners, substance abuse treatment providers, and parenting educators.

• Thorough knowledge of social work principles, techniques and practices and their applications to complex casework, treatment, and investigation of abuse or neglect of children;
• Thorough knowledge of policies and procedures of federal and state law related to child protection;
• Thorough knowledge of individual and group behavior, family dynamics, and medical, behavioral and/or psychosocial problems;
• Considerable knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community;
• Ability to interact and engage individuals who may not agree with the laws, rules or policies of the process or the programs;
• Ability to prepare documentation such as written investigative reports for the court and case records;
• Ability to testify in court;
• Ability to use advanced case management interview techniques to establish a supportive relationship and involve families in the initial assessment for the need of services;
• Ability to quickly assess the risks and safety of the client environment during daylight hours, after dark and in high crime areas;
• Ability to analyze and assess child development safety issues in relation to risk factors;
• Ability to analyze tense family situations and make decisions about removing children when their safety is in imminent danger;
• Ability to communicate effectively and establish supportive relationships with clients and professionals in the community.

• Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work and one year of social work experience; or
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of social work and two years of social work or counseling experience; or
• Master’s degree in a counseling field and two years of social work or counseling experience; or
• A four‑year degree in a human services field or related curriculum and three years of social work or counseling experience; or
• Graduation from a four‑year college or university and four years of experience in rehabilitation counseling, pastoral counseling or a related human service field providing experience in the techniques of casework, group work or community organization; or
• An equivalent combination of training and…