Social Caseworker B - Family Time Coach

***The schedule for this role is Tuesday - Saturday***

Our Mission: Arapahoe County Department of Human Services (ACDHS) builds strong communities by promoting the safety, independence and stability of individuals and families.

Our Vision: To end the cycle of poverty and prevent abuse and neglect of children and vulnerable adults (using an integrated Two-Generation approach)

ACDHS uses an integrated Two-Generation (2Gen) approach to address all of the basic human services needs of the entire family unit. The 2Gen approach begins with a mindset focused on family-centered program design, continues with the alignment of services and resources within the department as well as across multiple organizations, resulting in coordinated services to children and adults together (family) in order to create long term stability and sustainability.

The 2Gen approach builds well-being for families by focusing equally and intentionally on high-quality services in five areas of focus: early childhood education, adult education and employment pathways, economic security, health and well-being, and social capital. This approach will help us achieve our core mission of breaking the generational cycle of poverty, preventing neglect and abuse, and building strong communities.

The Family Time Coach provides coaching to families whose children have been removed due to abuse/neglect of their children. A family is referred to parenting time when the family's needs rise to the level of such intervention that the children are no longer in the parent's custody due to safety factors within the family system. The families referred to this program are considered to be at high risk for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to substance abuse, domestic violence, criminal involvement, gang-related activities, severe physical abuse or neglect, sexual abuse, and/or developmental disabilities and mental health issues.

Family Coaching is a structured, proactive process that directly addresses the conditions that led to the referral. Parent Coaching involves the completion of therapeutic goals between parents and children, assisted by the Parenting Time Coach. These goals include the healing of past trauma, the communication of feelings, improving the parent's response to the needs of the child, the development of appropriate parenting skills, and preparing for reunification. Parenting time can include a combination of therapeutic focus as well as monitored play-time for the visiting parent and child.

During the supervised parenting time the Family Time Coach will intervene in a therapeutic and educational manner as well as give redirection to the parents in their interactions with their children. The Parenting Time Coach will utilize a number of evidence based interventions in order to provide the parents with the tools to best parent their children in order for the family to be reunified. Additionally, this caseworker will testify in court and write monthly progress reports for the child protection caseworker assigned and participate as a treatment team member.

* Anticipated Hiring Range - Min: $60,625.76- $73,817.38.

***The schedule for this role is Tuesday - Saturday***

Works in collaboration with the assigned child protection caseworker to develop treatment plans specific to the needs of the parents and children requiring an intensive level of intervention, or in complex and high-risk cases of child abuse and neglect with a goal of preventing re-incidence.
* Monitors the treatment plan objectives related to parenting time and adjust services as necessary regarding parenting time.
* May work with other professionals who are also providing a similar service and will be able to coordinate the services for maximum effectiveness.
* Completes assessments of the parent(s)'s ability to act as a competent parent, including the provision of basic necessities, and ability to meet the child(ren)'s emotional and psychological needs, and provide nurturance.
* Provides parent coaching and training that may include attachment and nurturing skills.
* Acts as an active part of the treatment team that makes recommendations for critical decisions such as permanent placements, termination of parental rights, foster care placement, and/or adoptions.
* Provides therapeutic parenting time to assure safety within the visit, to improve parent/child relationship and bond, to support re-unification and permanency for child, and to increase parent's ability to read child's cues and to meet child's needs effectively.
* Assesses parent-child interaction to determine safety of child/ren and or family.
* Responds to family parenting time crisis in an appropriate and timely manner, following timelines and other regulations.
* Demonstrates the ability to assess urgency of crisis and to make necessary prioritization and changes in regular schedule.
* Show good judgment and flexibility in prioritizing.
* Seeks supervisory guidance when situations of overload occur or when conflicting top priorities exist.
* Involves necessary and appropriate professionals and agencies to respond to crisis. If not working in the office when crisis happens, willing to answer questions and to be available per telephone, if possible.
* Demonstrates clinical skills in treatment and in planning of interventions as well as ability to meet treatment goals.
* Provides appropriate monitoring of parents' progress towards treatment goals in order to prevent unnecessary separation between the child and his/her family.
* Shows ability to advocate in a strong, clinical, and professional manner for agreed upon treatment plan. This will be apparent, especially in situations where there is resistance from other agencies or professionals and available to staff to discuss how to meet treatment goals.
* Provide expert testimony in court hearings as necessary. Confers with attorney, judges, and witnesses. Plans and writes court letters and for court trials.
* Facilitates parenting groups on a weekly basis.
* Attend meetings with supervisors, families, attorneys, service providers and state foster care reviewers.
* Compile and maintain statistical records.

REQUIREMENTS:
Skills, Abilities and Competencies:
* Ability to adapt to fast-paced and high-volume work environment and be able to handle high stress and complex situations while remaining calm and professional. Must be well versed in effective conflict resolution and possess ability to deescalate hostile situations and confidently make decisions.
* Ability to effectively communicate in a positive and professional work environment. Establish and maintain professional working relationships with parents, foster parents, relative care providers, staff, peers, supervisors, providers, state officials, and other community partners.
* Excellent organizational skills and strong ability to prioritize tasks, take initiative, and multitask.
* Ability to effectively present information, write reports and business correspondence and respond to court, managers, customers, other agencies, co-workers, and the general public via fax, telephone, and email. Ability to clearly articulate concepts, directives and goals to employees, professionals and state and community representatives.
* Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and state and county computer systems. Ability to learn and apply new computer skills on a regular basis.

Behavioral Competencies (these are required for all positions at ACG):
Accountability Accessibility Inclusivity Integrity

Education and Experience:
A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a major in a human behavior science field* and one (1) year of professional casework, case management, or human services experience in a public or private human services agency. Some examples of appropriate work experience could include: clinical experience, residential child care experience, milieu experience, domestic violence case manager, paid victim's advocate, probation officer, law enforcement, para-professional work, and/or other case management experience.

OR

A Bachelor of Social Work degree and successful completion of an approved field placement in a county Department of Human Services.

OR

A Master of Social Work or a human behavioral science field*.

* In order to meet the minimum educational requirements of a human behavioral science degree, the applicant must have a degree with major course work (equivalent to 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours) in either development of human behavior, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures or therapeutic techniques such as social work, psychology, sociology, guidance and counseling, and child development.

Categorically Eligible Degrees:
For the purposes of meeting minimum educational requirements, the following degrees obtained from an accredited university will be considered "categorically eligible," meaning no review of transcripts is required - Bachelor of Arts and/or Master of Arts degree in the following areas of study: psychology, sociology, social work, counseling, child development.

Areas of study that will be considered to meet the minimum educational requirements as outlined in Volume VII:
1. Psychology
2. Sociology
3. Social Work
4. Counseling
5. Child Development
6. Criminal Justice courses relevant to child welfare: This includes courses covering topics in juvenile justice, family law, family conflict, general court procedures, interviewing techniques, dispute resolution, and mediation.
7. Foreign language courses
8. Anthropology courses relevant to cultural development and history, linguistic development, and communications. Physical anthropology courses do not count toward minimum requirements.
9. History courses relevant to family and cultural development

* Anticipated Hiring Range - Min: $60,625.76- $73,817.38.

Pre-Employment Additional Requirements:
* Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) and background check.
* Possession of a valid Class "R" Colorado Driver's License or the ability to obtain one within two weeks of employment.

Post-Employment Requirements:
* Security clearance required: will require fingerprinting and a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) background check.
* Position is deemed essential and permanency casework staff must be available for winter storm and other emergency events. Permanency caseworker staff may be asked to be available to work on-call on a rotation basis.
* Must have already successfully completed the Colorado Pre-Service Training Academy program or if hired must successfully complete and pass all required State of Colorado training in order to be certified as a caseworker. Maintain Child Welfare Certification through 40 or more hours of yearly training.
* Work locations and facilities are subject to change based on business need.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
* Work involves a considerable period of time (20-40%) away from standard office environment, much of which consists of driving to and from home visits, collateral contacts and in transporting children and
clients. At times more than normal physical exertion is required in transporting children. Work my occur in situations in which incumbent is threatened with physical harm by hostile/angry clients.

* Anticipated Hiring Range - Min: $60,625.76- $73,817.38.

***The schedule for this role is Tuesday - Saturday***

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The following are some of the physical demands commonly associated with this position.
* Spends 50% of the time sitting and 50% of the time either standing or walking.
* Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 20 lbs.
* Occasionally uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 20 lbs.
* Occasionally climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
* Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
* Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
* Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work-related equipment.

Below, please list any special physical demands associated with this position. For instance, exposure to hazardous environments, blood borne pathogens, extreme heat/cold, use of power equipment or machinery, wearing of PPE (personal protective equipment).

Definitions:
Occasionally: Activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.
Frequently: Activity exists between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.
Constantly: Activity exists more than 2/3 of the time.

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to: https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/pslfFlow.action#!/pslf/launch

Privacy Rights 24
https://arapahoeco.gov/Human%20Resources/Work%20for%20Arapahoe%20County/Privacy%20Act%20Statement.pdf

Privacy Rights 25
https://arapahoeco.gov/Human%20Resources/Work%20for%20Arapahoe%20County/Noncriminal%20Justice%20Applicant%20Privacy%20Rights.pdf

** In accordance with Senate Bill 23-058, applicants understand that Arapahoe County will not request or require the applicant to include their age, date of birth, or date of attendance/graduation date on the initial application. Applicants understand that Arapahoe County can request or require an individual to provide documentation including copies of certification, transcripts, and other materials created by a third party. The applicant understands that the applicant can redact, if they so choose, information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation from an educational institution on those requested/required certification, transcripts and other materials created by a third party.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (i.e. uploading or attaching documents to your online application), call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627. Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application, first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt uploading (attaching) it.