Caseworker Generalist - Human Services Department

San Miguel County, Colorado
JOB POSTING

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Caseworker I

Department: Social Services Department
Job Title: Caseworker Generalist
Job Type: Exempt, Full-Time 40 hours per week
Compensation Range: Grade 32, Steps 2 ($66,123.20) to Step 6 ($72,987.20) annually
Location: Miramonte Building (Telluride, Colorado)

POSITION SUMMARY

The Full-Time, Exempt Caseworker is responsible for assisting residents of San Miguel County by working to achieve the safety, permanence and well-being of all residents and administering various protection programs offered through the Social Services Department. This position provides a full range of intake and/or ongoing social caseworker services for child abuse and neglect cases, youth-in-conflict cases, and adult protection cases. Provides evaluation and assessment of need for services; provides crisis intake and/or develops long-term service plans appropriate to the affected children, adults, and families that are in the Child Welfare or Adult Protection programs. Monitors progress of clients and modifies case plans as needed; evaluates the need for short-term (crisis) and long term or permanent placement when appropriate; assesses available placement facilities and/or institutions such as foster care, residential treatment, nursing homes or other residential care for the most suitable alternate living situation. Supervises the placement of children to assure established needs, treatment and care plans are met. Provides testimony and case presentation to court. Performs after hours and weekend on-call.

The position will report directly to the Human Services Director. This is an Exempt position. Starting salary is a Grade 32, Step 2: $66,123.20 annually. Compensation may be higher based on relevant experience. This position possesses no supervisory responsibilities, but will require frequent interaction with the general public. As a full-time position, the Caseworker Generalist will be eligible for all County-sponsored insurance and benefit plans summarized in SMC 2025 Summary of Benefits Link, and subject to applicable waiting periods.

The position will be primarily based out of the County’s Miramonte Building,Telluride, Colorado

Supervision Received: Receives direct supervision from the Human Services Director.

Supervision Exercised: This position possesses no supervisory responsibilities, but will require frequent interaction with the general public.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The following statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other nonessential or peripheral duties that may be required. San Miguel County retains the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of the job at any time.

Tasks, Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Investigates allegations of abuse, neglect, and parental-child conflict. When safety of the child(ren) warrants, may determine that placing child(ren) outside the home is necessary.
• Locates and supervises placement of children in foster care or another out-of-home placement.
• Develops case plans and provides services to families regarding parenting skills, family issues, parent-child relationship issues, peer problems, and problems in the community.
• Transports program participants to appointments, visits, meetings, placement facilities and court hearings,
• Provides intake assessments, evaluations, on-going services, case planning, and service referrals.
• Assumes responsibility of Child Welfare and Adult Protection on-call shift for after hour and weekend coverage.
• Makes home visits to program participant’s residences to assess progress with treatment plans, coordinate/supervise visitations, coordinate services the clients may need, and provide information on available and appropriate services.
• Works within the legal system along with the Special County Attorney in Child Protection and Adult Protection filings. Testifies in court on a variety of cases. Makes recommendations to the court on abuse/neglect cases, custody investigations, placement issues, and guardianship of adults. Writes reports, assessments, and treatment plans for court hearings.
• Attends child welfare and adult protection related seminars, workshops, and trainings to maintain State certifications.
• Offers community training and education on topics such as Mandatory Reporting, Overview of the Child Welfare Program, and Overview of the Adult Protection Program.
• Prepares for and participates in meetings and staffing, including but not limited to: unit meetings, group supervision, RED Team, treatment facility staffing, ISST staffing, school staffing, permanency roundtables, and family engagement meetings.
• Develops treatment plans and writes reports for appropriate documentation of case plans, recommendations, and assessments. Completes contracts as required.
• Uses TRAILS and CAPS (the State automated systems) to develop case file information per format required by CDHS and maintains child welfare and adult protection records.
• Coordinates with community professionals to ensure the most effective and appropriate services for clients.
• Assesses and evaluates situations in which adults may not be able to care for or protect themselves. Provides case planning and service referrals as appropriate to this population. May work with the Court on these issues.
• Provides crisis management to clients who have emergency financial needs during the absence of the case manager.
• Provides services to youth who are in conflict with parents or other adult caretakers as well as youth who are living independently or transitioning from other levels of care.
• Responsible for ensuring proper condition of department/county vehicles is maintained & reports any unsafe condition(s), mechanical problems, or damage to supervisor immediately.
• Follows oral and written instructions.
• Travels to Norwood, Egnar, Ridgway and Ouray to meet with program participants to perform essential job duties. Also travels to locations within the state for required training.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of concepts of social work practice relating to assessment for clients in all program areas.
• Knowledge of issues of adults, elderly, physically disabled, developmentally disabled, and behavioral health concerns.
• Knowledge and experience in interviewing, crisis intervention, and appropriate treatment methods.
• Knowledge of medical symptoms related to injuries in children.
• Knowledge of laws dealing with child abuse, neglect, and other dependency conditions.
• Knowledge of community resources, agency rules, regulations, and procedures related to program areas.
• Ability to establish rapport with multi-problem, dysfunctional families and clients.
• Must be an ultimate team player and possess the ability to foster and cultivate positive, effective and trustworthy professional relationships with all County employees, Department Heads, and the general public.
• Possesses strong reasoning and analytical skills; must be able make rational decisions through sound logical and deductive reasoning processes to make sound judgments, decision making, and problem solving.
• Possesses strong office technology and computer skills; ability to learn and effectively and accurately use various software programs, such as TRAILS and CAPS, related to the tasks, duties and responsibilities required of the position.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Gmail, Google Sheets and Google Docs.
• Ability to read, understand, and compose written information and instructions.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, both verbally as well as in a variety of written formats, including live and virtual presentations.
• Must be extremely organized and possess the ability to manage multiple tasks and reprioritize workflow and assignments as work situations and needs change.
• Ability to deliver effective results in a fast-paced environment while adhering to scheduled deadlines.
• Ability to work with a culturally diverse community and utilize interpreting services to communicate with program participants in their preferred language.
• Ability to speak one or more foreign languages, particularly Spanish is preferred but not required.
• Possesses an extremely high level of attention to detail.
• Must be honest, truthful, positive and trustworthy and possess a high degree of personal integrity.

DESIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Requires a bachelor’s degree from a higher education institution with course work related to the job responsibilities of a child welfare caseworker. Course work examples can include and are not limited to, the development of human behavior, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures, or therapeutic techniques. Masters of Social Work preferred.

REQUIRED LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS

• State Child Welfare or Adult Protection Academy Certification or the ability to obtain within 3 months of employment.
• Must complete annual ongoing training to maintain required certifications.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado Driver’s License and satisfactory driving record.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• As part of your duties as a county employee, you may be called upon to perform duties outside your day-to-day activities in order to support county emergency operations. All county employees are required to complete National Incident Management System (NIMS) training within their first 6 months of employment.

• Must be able to satisfactorily pass a comprehensive, pre-employment criminal background and motor vehicle check.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Physical Demands: the physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit for long periods of consecutive time at a desk workstation while viewing multiple computer monitors; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; and reach with hands or arms. The employee is required to stand, walk, climb or balance, twist, stoop, kneel, crouch. Must be able to respond to the customers’ needs and perform tasks requiring extensive hand and eye coordination. Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse and other devices and objects. The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Physical ability and mobility to drive a motor vehicle to and from meetings and traverse uneven and rugged terrain as required.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job is performed in a variety of environments, work may be performed in crisis situations that require making major decisions involving people, resources, and property. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Ability to tolerate and be productive in a quiet to moderate noise level in the workplace. Frequently this job requires attendance at community events, and visits to program participant's home or school. Work may be performed in an environment with crisis situations that require making major decisions involving people, resources, and property, and may include at times working and operating a vehicle in severe weather conditions, especially during the winter season.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $66,123.20 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• On call
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $66,123