Child Protective Service Worker Senior

About the role

Elevate Your Impact as a Lead Advocate! Are you an experienced caseworker ready to take on higher-level responsibilities and serve as a pillar of expertise for your team? We’re looking for a Child Protective Service Worker Senior to handle our most complex cases and provide peer leadership within the unit. This role is designed for the seasoned professional who excels in high-stakes clinical decision-making, mentors junior staff, and serves as a primary liaison between the agency and the judicial system.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex Child Protective Services casework under general supervision.
• Exercise advanced judgment concerning multifaceted cases involving abuse/neglect/exploitation of minors.
• Attend necessary training to keep up with evolving case work procedures.
• Demonstrate effectiveness to train, assign, and review the work of others as a lead worker.
• Handle serious and complicated casework requiring advanced judgment of possible dangerous situations to both worker and client.
• Manage a specialized caseload involving high-risk or high-profile cases that require advanced intervention strategies.
• Serve as a Lead Worker, providing technical assistance, coaching, and peer review of documentation for Associate and regular-level CPS workers.
• Conduct “Joint Investigations” with law enforcement and medical specialists in cases of severe trauma or criminal intent.
• Draft and present complex permanency plans to multidisciplinary teams, advocating for the long-term stability of children.
• Act as a hearing officer or agency representative in administrative reviews and high-level court hearings when the Supervisor is not available.
• Perform related work as required.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Experience: Three (3) years of full-time or equivalent part-time experience performing social services, probation and enforcement services, or community support and welfare services for adult and child protection.
• Experience Substitution: Additional education may substitute based on a year-for-year basis or as determined by the Office of Shared Administration Equivalency Chart.
• Special Requirements: Valid driver’s license.
• Internal Applicants Only: One (1) year of full-time or equivalent part-time experience as a Child Protective Service Worker may substitute for the required experience.
• Licensure: Applicants hired into this classification must obtain licensure as a social worker from the West Virginia Board of Social Work within a timeframe established by the appointing agency. Until licensure is obtained, they may not perform duties that require a licensed social worker under state law or Board regulation.
• Background check: Successful completion of a background check is required for employment.

Qualifications

• Advanced clinical expertise in identifying chronic neglect, severe physical abuse, and complex family dynamics.
• Proven mentorship abilities, with a track record of guiding Associate and entry-level workers through difficult field situations.
• Superior analytical skills to review case data, identify trends, and develop creative solutions for families with significant barriers to success.
• Mastery of the legal system