Case Worker Foster Care Recruiter Las Animas County Department of Human Services

ANNUAL SALARY:
Position is a salaried position with an annual wage range of $45,511 up to $49,941 annually after successful completion of a minimum ninety (90) day probationary period. (Salary will be $3,759.25 up to $4,078.52 per month during 90-day probationary period).

BENEFITS:
The following benefits are offered as a full-time permanent employee:
Health Insurance, Retirement Plan, Paid time off (PTO)/Vacation after 90 day probationary, Sick (immediate access), Personal Leave (16 hours)(provided to FTE every January).

A DYFS Caseworker (CW) provides prevention, assessment, and/or ongoing casework services for Program Areas 4, 5, and/or 6. This includes interacting with families in their home environments, interviewing children and adults, completing safety assessments and other job duties, in accordance with Colorado Code of Regulations (Volume
7) and Colorado Revised Statutes Title 19. Caseworkers complete accurate and thorough documentation of all interactions with families, collaterals and partners in the “Trails” system. Caseworkers are also responsible for maintaining physical files in compliance with Volume 7 and Title 19.

Ongoing Caseworkers assess the needs of the family and develop family services plans, make referrals for services, identify supports and monitor progress and continuing needs. It is the primary job of a caseworker to ensure that reasonable efforts are being provided to prevent out of home placement of children by working collaboratively with families, care providers, schools, service providers, community partners, legal professionals and the courts.

A Foster Care Recruiter recruits and/or supervises certified foster family care homes, certified and noncertified kinship family care homes, and adoptive family homes;
Conducts home studies, grants certifications, and monitors the quality of care provided in foster family care homes, certified and non-certified kinship care homes, and adoptive family homes;
Provides individual and/or family counseling on an ongoing or crisis basis to children and/or youth and their parents, families and/or caregivers;
Provides training to local community partners regarding the referral, assessment, and service provision process.

The department is required to have a certified caseworker available to respond to emergency situations at all times. Therefore all caseworkers are required to take “On Call” shifts as assigned. On Call workers must be available to respond to emergency situations anytime, day or night, including weekends and holidays, carry a department issued cell phone, laptop and other equipment. On Call shifts are 14 days and are assigned on a rotating basis.

Each Caseworker typically completes 5 On Call shifts per calendar year.

Position requires a thorough knowledge of human behavior, the dynamics-of child abuse and neglect youth in conflict and other areas related to service delivery focused on children and youth, casework principles and practices.

Qualified candidates must possess extensive skill in case planning and the handling of high conflict families in a trauma informed manner.

Must possess skill in writing and editing reports; skill in interpreting rules, regulations, laws and procedures; an ability to deal with stress and emergencies; a knowledge of the court system and its workings with respect to child welfare;
Ability to resolve conflict; evaluate staff and clients, knowledge of agency, state, and federal guidelines and laws and Colorado Children's Code.

Position provides guidance on child abuse and neglect, youth in conflict, foster care, placement alternatives, day care, and adoptions.

Follow guidelines set in Volumes VII and VIII of the CDHS manual, the Children's Code, state statutes, and if applicable, the Child Abuse Team. Considerable judgment may be required in interpreting the guidelines for a particular case situation.

Assess safety of children in their current living environment in accordance with…