Case Aide- Child Welfare

Alamosa County, Department of Human Services – Child Welfare Unit

About the role

This position provides supervision and care for children and parents, transporting children and/or parents to parental visits, day care, home visits, medical appointments, and other community resources.

Responsibilities

• Observes and monitors supervised visitations per visitation guidelines.
• Intervenes and/or redirects parents or children during supervised visitations to ensure safety of children.
• Supervises and provides transportation to and from child and parent visitations.
• Handles aggressive or upset children to maintain order and control.
• Works positively with clients, other agencies, and the public.
• Maintains contact with Caseworker, Supervisor, and other professionals involved in the case to coordinate services.
• Receives assignments from Supervisor and/or Caseworker for services to be provided to clients.
• Makes referrals to protective services for children when abuse or neglect is suspected.
• Maintains and keeps records of all case aide activities in the computer system and provides reports of supervised visitations to Supervisor and Caseworker.
• Coordinates appointments between clients and foster parents and keeps records of transportation services provided.
• Spends 50-75 percent of time in the field conducting supervised visits, transports, home visits, and other ancillary functions as assigned by Supervisor.
• May require overnight travel to conduct transportation of children and parents, training, or meetings.
• Serves as a Hotline Screener during regular work hours to receive reports of child abuse and neglect as necessary.

Requirements

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or two to three years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Valid Colorado Driver’s License required.
• Obtain 6 hours of Hotline Screener Training.
• Maintain 10 hours of Child Welfare In-Service Training annually.
• Extensive driving, both in-state and out-of-state.
• Flexibility or modified work schedule as required to meet job duties or assignments.

Knowledge

• Child development.
• Appropriate and various parenting methods and conflict resolution techniques.
• Extensive community resources and services.
• Proficient communication in English, both written and verbal.
• Documentation as required by program.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Skills

• Role modeling, instructing, demonstrating, and interacting with parents and children.
• Computer skills adequate to perform work tasks.
• Ability to learn and operate software specific to DHS.

Abilities

• Follow policies and procedures of the County and DHS.
• Work well in a team or independently as required.
• Perform physical requirements listed below.
• Follow a work schedule as set by supervisor or program.
• Perform basic arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and compute rate, ratio, and percentages.
• Read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Write simple correspondence.
• Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Work in a stressful environment.

Physical Requirements

• Minimal physical effort generally required under typically office conditions.
• Ability to operate a computer keyboard at an efficient speed, involving repetitive hand movement and fine coordination.
• Frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, and to reach with hands and arms.
• Required to stand, sit for long periods of time, talk, and hear.
• Hearing and vision correctable to normal ranges; close-up vision and the ability to adjust focus across an audience.
• Occasionally may stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, carry, twist, and push/pull light to moderate amounts of weight (up to and including 25 pounds).
• Must be able to communicate both orally and in writing.
• Must be able to reach and manipulate objects, tools, or controls, drive, and lift.
• Noise level may vary from very quiet to noisy depending on the situation.
• May be required to drive in a variety of weather conditions both locally and throughout the state.

Pay

$17.00/hour