Child Protective Services Caseworker

Job Details

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Opening Date: September 1, 2026
Closing Date: Open Continuously
Job Class Code: 5077
Grade: 24
Salary: $32.35 - $42.34 per hour*
* Hourly rate includes a $7.50/hr. recruitment and retention stipend
Location: Rockland
Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

• Perform professional social work in the areas of child protection, children’s services, and adoption.
• Engage families to assess child safety and make plans which best meet the safety, well-being, and permanency needs of their families.
• 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.

Successful candidates will be:

• detail oriented
• able to effectively manage and meet deadlines.

• A Bachelors Degree from an accredited educational institution in Social Work/Social Welfare; OR a Bachelors Degree in a related social service/social welfare/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.

Need to 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/social welfare. An LSW-Conditional requires an earned BA/BS in a field related to social work/social welfare.

• No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto— Dirigo  or  I lead —as they provide essential services to Mainers every day.
• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. When you or immediate members of your family are ill, utilize 12 days of sick leave per year.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($12,213.60 - $13,650.48 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.06% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to…