Child Welfare Caseworker

Please note: The salary range above represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $76,742 to $105,868, based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

WHO WE ARE

Montgomery County is located adjacent to Washington, D.C., and with over one million residents, is the most populous County in the State of Maryland. The County is also the most diverse County in the State and ranks among the top ten most diverse Counties in the nation. Montgomery County contains many major U.S. government offices, scientific research and learning centers, and business campuses. The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for delivery of the County's public health and human services that meets the needs of our community's most vulnerable children, adults and seniors. The Department provides services through more than 120 programs at more than 20 locations. With over 2,000 employees, the Department of Health and Human Services is the largest County Department. As a department, we believe the health and wellness of the county can only be achieved by ensuring that every resident has fair opportunities to reach their fullest potential. This means access to quality housing, transportation, education, employment, health care, human services, safe neighborhoods, and healthy food. HHS provides critical services for residents who face a variety of obstacles in achieving their full potential. HHS plays an essential role in building a healthy and strong community.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Child Welfare Services (CWS) is committed to the safety, well-being, and permanency of children in Montgomery County. The agency works in collaboration with families and community partners to build, strengthen, and support stable family life. Child Welfare Services is currently recruiting for an enthusiastic, caring, knowledgeable, and experienced individual to provide clinical case management services to children and families served by the agency. This position provides services to Child Welfare Services clients. The primary case workload will consist of one of the following: Investigations/Child Protective Services Family Preservation/In-Home Services Foster Care/Kinship/Adoption Resource/Foster Homes Other caseload assignments may include screening abuse/neglect reports; completing home studies for and/or supporting foster/adoptive families; and/or handling other specialized projects and responsibilities. Duties of this position will include, but are not limited to: Conducting in-person home, school, and community visits with children and families Writing Reports and case plans/service agreements Implementing and monitoring service agreements Supervising parent-child visits Collaborating with professional and community resources such as hospitals, schools, and other providers Preparing court reports and testifying; and, Maintaining files and statistics, electronically and manually, as required

Work Schedule:

Although the normal hours of operation for CWS are from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., staff providing direct services to children/families may be required/expected to work earlier or later (for example, home visits, an emergency removal, extended court hearings, etc.) Selected candidates for this position will be subject to a pre-employment medical exam, and drug screening and criminal history records checked through the Maryland State Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Candidates will also be checked through the Maryland Registry for Child Abuse and Neglect and federal and state sex offender registries. Any applicant who fails the medical exam, background check or whose name appears on either of the registries may be disqualified from employment for this position. This position

REQUIRES

possession of a valid driver's license from the applicant's state of residence and the ability to drive a County vehicle to conduct home, school, and community visits; transport or accompany children and families to court hearings, appointments, or service activities; and respond to case-related emergencies or time-sensitive situations.

Experience:

One (1) year of professional experience in casework management which included short-term counseling of individuals in the areas of family relationships and personal adjustments/development.

Education:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.

Equivalency:

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

LICENSE:

Following appointment, successful completion of Maryland State mandated pre-service training and competency testing will be required for continuation in this class.

DRIVER'S LICENSE

Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver's license from the applicant's state of residence.

Medical Protocol:

This position requires successful completion of a pre-employment medical evaluation, which includes a physical examination and drug screening. The applications of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevancy of training, and experience in the following areas: Experience providing case management to children and families, including assessment, service planning, and coordination. Experience working directly with children, parents, and family systems in home, school, community, or therapeutic settings. Experience preparing case documentation, including case notes, assessments, service plans, and court-ready reports. Experience conducting risk and safety assessments in child welfare settings, including evaluating safety concerns and documenting risk factors. Experience responding to urgent or crisis situations involving children or families and following established safety or crisis protocols. Experience collaborating with community partners and multi-disciplinary teams, such as schools, medical providers, therapists, law enforcement, and legal representatives.