Core Services Worker Generalist (School Based)

Chaffee County Department of Human Services seeks a full-time (40-hour) Core Services Worker- School Based. Live and work in beautiful Chaffee County! We offer a four-day workweek, Monday through Thursday. This schedule enables employees to enjoy all that the local and surrounding areas have to offer in terms of culture and activities.

To obtain an employment application and apply visit: https://www.chaffeecounty.org/Finance-and-HR-Employment-Opportunities

POSITION SUMMARY:

Core services worker will be working within the school system to provide services to students that enhance their emotional well-being and improve their academic performance while focusing on life skills. Core services worker will support families and youth with navigating the school system and finding success with their education.

The core services worker will be part of the district’s staff, assisting the Administrative Team to implement a system-wide approach for student challenges. The Core services worker will bring ideas for professional development opportunities that could help teachers alleviate barriers between school life and home life. The Core services worker will be expected to lead and manage communications between the county Department of Human Services and the school district. The Core services Worker will work in direct collaboration with the School Resource Officer. The Core service worker will help families and youth connect to resources in the community that can support the family to be successful in their academic pursuits.

The position will also provide intake and ongoing casework services for a variety of program areas such as child abuse and neglect cases, youth in conflict cases and Interstate Compact of the Placement of Children (ICPC) cases, as directed by the Department of Human Services. They will also provide emergency on-call availability and response, arrangement for and monitoring of core services, transportation for clients and family to promote successful completion of treatment plans, and information and referral services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other non-essential or marginal duties that may be required. The County reserves the right to modify, change or add duties or essential functions of this job at any time, with or without advance notice.

• Liaison between schools, families, child welfare division and community partners.
• Participates in school staffing, Family Engagement meetings, Foster Care Review, multi-agency treatment plan reviews, child protection team meetings, court dockets, other community meetings as assigned and meets with other professionals involved with the child.
• Provide ongoing support to school staff regarding student engagement.
• Participate in comprehensive crisis management services, including assessing for safety.
• Advocates for student services and student’s best interests.
• Initiate support for families facing challenges with truancy & at-risk behaviors.
• Educate students & families in the identification of appropriate resources, navigation of systems and enrollment in services.
• Provides intake assessments and evaluation, conducts investigations of allegations of child abuse, neglect and parent/child conflicts; determines if situation warrants placing children outside of the home.
• Supervises placement of children in foster care and coordinates parent/child visits; and determines when and if to recommend that children return to their home.
• Develops effective case plans and provides counseling services to families regarding parenting skills, family problems, parent/child relationships and problems with the community. Assesses any new child abuse or re-abuse complaints and provides crisis intervention in these situations.
• Provides ongoing case management and supportive services as well as case planning to a variety of cases family conflict and youth in conflict cases.
• Determines the need for recommending placement of clients into foster care.
• Makes home visits with clients, organizes services, such as core services, day care, transportation, financial assistance, health (physical and mental) and legal and provides information on available services.
• Organizes and attends Best Interest Determination (BID) meetings with students, families, school staff, department staff and other professionals deemed appropriate to attend meetings.
• Testifies in court on a variety of cases and/or shelter hearings in initial stages of child welfare cases, makes recommendations to the courts on abuse and neglect cases, placement of children, truancy cases and on custody investigations.
• Develops and writes reports for appropriate documentation of case plans, recommendations, contacts, assessments, etc.; develops and files case information in accordance with state mandates and standards; completes forms and writes correspondence.
• Collects and provides data to both department and school district leadership regarding students and families supported and served through position as well as any significant trends in data.
• Performs duties of School District Child Welfare Educational Liaison (CWEL) as needed – this includes facilitating communication between the department and school district regarding youth in foster care and advocating for their enrollment in school and appropriate accommodations if deemed necessary.
• May provide transportation services to children and families to various scheduled appointments, visits and placement activities.
• Cross-train staff at DHS and Salida School District on policy and procedures in partnering agencies.
• Educate staff of other community agencies on DHS agency policies and Colorado Children’s Code with training sessions.
• Carry ongoing child welfare cases and support the child welfare team when short on staff for ongoing cases, assessments, visitation and any other needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Social Caseworker positions are classified in three levels: Entry Level, Journey Level and Senior Level, differentiated by education requirements, acquired experience, level of supervision required and level of responsibility.

Entry Level: These are professional training level positions in which assignments are planned and devised to develop and teach professional casework techniques and concepts appropriate to the assigned program areas. Basic foundations of professional theories, concepts, and principals are required.

Journey Level: These are positions that require a working knowledge of established theories, principals, and concepts of social work practice related to the assigned program areas. Incumbents are not expected to utilize extensive diagnostic oriented skills as are required at the senior level. Employees continue to develop knowledge and utilize professional techniques and concepts beyond the mere application of detailed rules and procedures.

Senior Level: These are positions that require thorough knowledge of the theories, principles, and concepts of social casework practice (assessment and treatment oriented) related to all of the assigned program areas. Knowledge of social group work principles and methods. Knowledge of medical symptoms related to injuries or failure to thrive in children. Knowledge of the battered child syndrome, and the laws dealing with child abuse, neglect and other dependency conditions. Knowledge of the problems of the elderly, physically disabled, mentally impaired,, emotionally disturbed, alcoholics, drug addicts, and senile. Knowledge and skill in interviewing techniques, crisis intervention methods, and relevant treatment modalities. Knowledge of community resources, agency rules, regulations, and procedures related to assigned program areas. Ability to establish support with multi-problem, dysfunctional clients. Ability to independently analyze complex situations, formulate plans, and make quick decisions as needed. Ability to clearly and concisely express oneself both verbally and in written format. Ability to establish and maintain harmonious professional relationships with other employers, outside agencies and the public. Ability to testify effectively in court hearings.

DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

Entry Level: The complexity at this level is significantly restricted in scope. The incumbent handles overall cases appropriate to experience levels while learning regulations, laws, and procedures and developing knowledge of casework techniques and methodology. Guidelines used are directly applicable to the assignments. Only the most routine case management decisions are made without supervisory review.

Journey Level: The scope of the work at this level is somewhat restricted. Incumbent is not expected to handle difficult and complex cases without consultation and supervisory review. Critical decisions are made regarding difficult case situations only with the involvement and concurrence of the supervisor. Incumbent is expected to develop skill in the application of various case work techniques and methodology.

Senior Level: The incumbent independently evaluates each case assigned and develops extensive ongoing case plans. The incumbent is expected to deal with unusual and/or difficult cases when they arise with appropriate supervisory assistance. The incumbent is expected to be knowledgeable of guidelines and regulations available covering the work done, including but not limited to the Children's Code, Title XX, Senate Bill 94, Volume VII of the Department of Human Services Rules and Regulations, which regulate procedures to be followed, but do not provide the worker with instructions about how to treat or assess dysfunctional clients. There are a wide variety of recognized social casework techniques, and the incumbent must use judgment and situational evaluation to determine which are appropriate for each of the cases assigned.

RESPONSIBILITY:

Entry level: All critical decisions in assessment and ongoing cases are made with direct input from the supervisor. Close, detailed supervision is provided before and during the course of work. Incumbent keeps the supervisor informed of the progress of each case.

Journey Level: Detailed instructions are often received from the supervisor, normally when cases are assigned and during the progress of cases that involve extensive assessment and diagnosis of dysfunctional individuals and families. Case management functions are expected to be performed with little supervision. Work is reviewed for compliance to procedures, methods, general conclusions, final results, and accuracy on a regular basis through staffing and supervisory reviews.

Senior level: Instructions may be received from the supervisor when cases are assigned and during the progress of the case. The supervisor may provide instructions and act as a consultant. Work is reviewed for compliance to policy, general conclusions, staffing’s, and supervisory meetings.

MINIMUM EDUCATION:

Entry Level: Four-year college degree in a behavioral science area. Must comply with CDHS rules regarding education requirements.

Journey and Senior Level: Four-year college degree in a behavioral science area such as Social Work, Behavioral Social Science, Sociology, Psychology.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE:

Entry Level: Is not available for this position.

Journey Level: One full year of full-time professional casework experience in a public or private social services agency in an assignment appropriate to the position acquired after the degree. Substitution may be permitted for experience: Master’s degree in one of the behavioral science fields or a BSE degree accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Senior Level: Two years of full-time professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency in an assignment appropriate to the position acquired after the degree. Once year of the experience must be at Journey level work. Substitutions: Master's degree in one of the behavioral science fields or a BSW degree accredited by the Council of Social Work Education may substitute for one year of the required experience. MSW degree accredited by the Council on Social Work Education may substitute for the required education and experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the workings of the juvenile justice system, civil court processes related to dependency and neglect and guardianship actions, the Children’s Code, and Volume Seven of the rules and regulations governing the provision of Title XX services.
• Knowledge of dynamics and effects of abuse/neglect and the laws governing intervention.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development.
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize family assessment techniques.
• Skill in crisis intervention.
• Ability to testify in court.
• Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to use appropriate facilitation skills.
• Ability to exhibit a positive demeanor, be respectful and collaborative.
• Ability to manage work so that it is organized, prepared, meets deadlines and follows through on commitments.
• Demonstrates appropriate physical appearance.
• Delivers significant, noteworthy contributions to the team and organizational goals.
• Ability to handle disagreements and conflicts in a diplomatic manner that does not result in decreased effectiveness.
• Displays willingness to learn new information.
• Maintains ethics, legal responsibility and confidentiality.
• Develops and maintains rapport and effective relationships with children and adults contacted in the course of work by using courteous, diplomatic, collaborative, supportive, and professional conduct.
• Actively contributes to the goals and success of all teams and team members through collaboration, cooperation, and flexibility in team discussions, activities, and decision making.
• Ability to accept and provide constructive feedback.
• Ability to understand and convey the role within each school setting.
• Ability to work directly with and contact legal, medical, psychiatric/psychological professionals, member of the judicial system, community organizations and resources, foster parents, and other members of the agency for the purpose of developing effective treatment plans for clients and to help clients solve problems, as well as to educate the community about protection of clients and services available.
• Ability to operate and drive a motor vehicle.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Stands 10% of the time, walks 10% of the time, and sits 80% of the time.
• Ascends or descends ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like using feet and legs, hands and arms.
• Bends body downward and forward by bending legs, bending spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Reaches, extending hands in any direction.
• Exerts up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push and pull or otherwise move objects.
• Uses hands to handle, seize, hold, grasp, turn objects.
• Uses fingers to pick up, pinch, objects.
• Close vision, clear at 20 inches or less, distance vision clear at 20 feet or more, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Clearly understand and speak the English language. Multilanguage skills an asset, such as Spanish.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

Approximately 50% of the work is generally performed in a standard office environment. The balance of the work is performed out of the office. The noise level is generally moderate but may become loud on occasion. The employee may be exposed to conditions such as fumes, noxious odors, dust, mists, gases, and poor ventilation that affect the respiratory system, eyes, or the skin. Disease of known or unknown origin, blood-borne pathogens, body fluids and tissue, the threat of direct or indirect violence/conflict by other individuals, and other unanticipated circumstances associated with the position.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $31.49 - $39.36 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Weekdays

Work Location: In person

Salary : $31 - $39