Social Caseworker III - Woodland Park

Teller County's Department of Human Services located in Woodland Park, CO is seeking an experienced caseworker to provide initial response, child protection and Youth in Conflict services; provides crisis assessments and intervention; supervises placement of children out-of-home; ...

Job description

Teller County's Department of Human Services located in Woodland Park, CO is seeking an experienced caseworker to provide initial response, child protection and Youth in Conflict services; provides crisis assessments and intervention; supervises placement of children out-of-home; involvement with Courts and other community agencies and professionals. 

What You'll Do:

(1) Intervene in youth and child protection crises and perform assessment including investigating cases of alleged physical/sexual abuse and/or neglect in conjunction with law enforcement; assess safety and determine if situation warrants placement out-of-home.

(2) Locate appropriate placement; supervise placement of children out of home; monitor client needs and progress and coordinate child/family visits; determine if and when to recommend return of children to their home.

(3) Provide casework, guidance and support for clients; provide services to adults and caretakers to prevent institutionalization; counsel children, youth and parents to prepare for reuniting of the family.

(4)  Prepare and coordinate service plans and other reports with professional resources in the community; refer clients to other resources.

(5) Testify in court regarding intake and ongoing cases as necessary; make recommendations to the Court.

(6) Prepare and maintain confidential client records and reports on computerized systems i.e. Trails, CBMS; document plans and recommendations; submit files and records for foster care and court review. 

(7) Participate in team and community meetings concerning issues of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation of children, youth and adults.

Requirements

What You'll Bring:

Experience/Education: 

• Bachelors' degree in human or behavioral science 
• Minimum of two (2) years of related professional caseworker experience in a public or private social services agency 
• At least one year of the experience must be post-degree 
• Master's degree preferred 
• Any acceptable combination of education, training and experience that provides the listed knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted

You Also Have: 

Knowledge of: family dynamics and assessing for safety within the family; child development and age appropriate milestones; non-leading interviewing techniques sufficient to elicit information; crisis intervention theory sufficient to be able to perform the duties related to the work assignment; casework practices, procedures and guidelines; principles regarding crises and means of intervention and of assessment of dynamics of conflict and safety of children and adults; Children's Code and court procedures; principles and processes for providing excellent customer service, including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.  

Skilled in: use of basic computer software programs; understanding and applying pertinent laws, rules, regulations and policies; using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines; maintaining confidentiality; organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines and following up on assignments with minimum direction and supervision; applying logical thinking to solve problems or accomplish tasks; understanding, interpreting and communicating complicated policies, procedures and protocols; working in a deadline driven environment; initiating and responding to medium volume of daily calls/contact; interacting with all levels of internal and external professionals while developing strong productive relationships; designing strategies, analyzing results and making recommendations; organization and time management; recognizing and using correct English grammar, punctuation and spelling; communicating information in a succinct and organized manner; expressing information to individuals or groups, effectively considering the audience and nature of the information; making clear and convincing oral presentations; listening to others and recognizing non-verbal cues; dealing calmly and professionally with his stress situations. .

Ability to: effectively assess responsibility and actions regarding child abuse/neglect and Youth in Conflict; effectively and accurately complete paperwork, reports and documentation; establish and maintain effective and professional working relationships with co-workers, other county departments, representatives of other agencies and organizations, and the public; maintain confidentiality and discretion; be a self-starter; successfully accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously while working independently or within a team environment; work with minimal supervision; deal with a variety of people, cultures, problems and circumstances; analyze and resolve problems involving several variables; understand and carry out written and oral instructions, giving close attention to detail and accuracy; contribute to maintaining the integrity of the agency; display high standards of ethical conduct; understand the impact of violating standards; show understanding, courtesy, tact, empathy and concern; deal with people who are difficult, hostile, and/or distressed; encourage and facilitate cooperation, pride, trust and group identity; foster commitment and team spirit and work with others to achieve goals. 

Additional Details About the Role: 

Visual Acuity/Hearing/Speaking: Must be able to write and read; able to hear, see and speak. 

Physical Effort/Dexterity: This position requires daily routine computer usage; the ability to drive a vehicle; light physical exertion and the normal range of motion and dexterity; ability to sit (sometimes for extended periods of time), stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, crawl or climb; ability to lift, pull or drag up to 25 lbs. for short periods of time.

Environmental Factors: Work is performed in an office setting, in clients' homes, school facilities and at other agencies. Elements of weather are sometimes encountered; caution must be exercised when intervening in abuse, conflict cases.

Work Schedule/Characteristics: 40 hours per week; participates in after-hours emergency on-call rotation, availability outside normal business hours to include weekends may be required. 

License/Certification Requirements: Successful completion of Colorado Child Welfare Training Academy within 90 days from date of hire; possession of and ability to maintain a valid Colorado driver's license.

Additional Requirements: Ability to pass background check and drug test. 

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary range: $59, $62,616.96 / Annually

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Location: Woodland Park, on site

When it comes to benefits, Teller County is committed to offering a comprehensive, affordable benefits package that meets the needs of our employees and their families.

· Two Meritain Aetna health plans to choose from –the County pays 50% to 100% of the premium depending on the plan you choose

· HSA plan – the County contributes $1,250 for employee only and $2,500 for employee plus one or more dependents

· Telehealth/Teledoc options – access quality healthcare from the comfort of your home, during your lunch break or while traveling

· Dental, Vision and Prescription drug coverage

· Basic and voluntary life coverage

· 401a retirement plan – employees contribute 4% and the County matches 8%. You are fully vested in five years.

· 457b deferred comp plans – both pre- and post-tax options available

· Time Off: Paid vacation, sick, 12 holidays, 1 floating holiday

· Aflac, wellness programs, EAP, education assistance, employee discounts, uniform allowance

Click here to review our full benefits package

 Applications are accepted: until 4:00pm on Friday, March 6, 2026