Practice Coach – Child Welfare

Boulder County Human Services is seeking to hire one (1) Bilingual Social Caseworker C - Practice Coach – in Child Welfare with Intake casework expertise. This position will be within the Family Engagement Section of the Family & Children Services (FCS) Division. This role plays a critical role in strengthening child welfare best practices, supporting workforce development, retention and resilience, and advancing Boulder County’s commitment to family-centered, kin-first, and equity-driven practice.

Practice Coaches provide hands-on, field- and office-based coaching to caseworkers across Intake, Ongoing, Family Time, Kinship, Adult Protection, Administrative Services, and CHAFEE. Coaches partner with both new and experienced staff to enhance critical thinking, strengthen safety assessment skills, and build authentic, trust-based relationships with families. This role is central to implementing and sustaining the Boulder County FCS practice model, mission, and vision.

This is a full-time, benefited position that will work Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm with occasional evening or weekend hours based on program needs. This position will work out of 515 Coffman St., Longmont, Colorado. Under Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines, this position is exempt. Boulder County requires its employees to reside in the state of Colorado as of the first day of work.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group coaching to FCS staff on practice skills, casework responsibilities, and division initiatives
• Conduct field-based coaching, including observation and feedback during home visits, family time, court hearings, family engagement meetings, and professional staffings
• Facilitate group supervision for complex or high-acuity cases, supporting critical thinking and best practice application
• Support development, delivery, and evaluation of training programs and in-service learning opportunities
• Guide new workers through Transfer of Learning (TOL) requirements
• Promote kin-first, family-centered, and culturally responsive practice
• Maintain accurate coaching documentation and monthly statistics
• Provide consultation and coaching to teams across FCS units
• Participate in statewide committees and workgroups to advance coaching practices
• Perform related work, as required
• May be reassigned during emergency situations

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree from a higher education institution with course work related to the job responsibilities of child welfare social caseworker (e.g., human behavior development, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures, or therapeutic techniques)
• At least two years of professional human services casework experience
• Valid driver's license and a clean driving record
• Access to reliable transportation that is readily available for business use
• Pass a background investigation with fingerprinting
• Bilingual in English and Spanish (proficiency will be determined through standardized verbal and written demonstration; additional compensation provided for bilingual skills)

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to model high-quality practice and support skill transfer
• Experience delivering coaching grounded in equity and reflective practice
• Familiarity with the Boulder County FCS practice model and Partnering for Safety tools
• Ability to facilitate group supervision for complex, multi-system, high-acuity cases
• Creative, flexible approach to family engagement and permanency challenges
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills
• Capacity to model inclusive leadership and build trust
• Ability to center race in decision-making and practice discussions
• Deep understanding of child welfare practice
• Strong understanding of the D&N court processes and ability to support caseworkers in navigating relationships with RPCs, GALs, judges, magistrates, county attorneys, and respondent parents and their children
• Strong rapport-building skills with families, caregivers, staff, and community partners
• Ability to model collaboration across FCS units
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to communicate in a trauma-informed, culturally responsive manner

Skills

• Extensive knowledge of social casework theories, principles, and best practices
• Strong understanding of community resources and agency policies
• Skilled in interviewing, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed engagement
• Ability to support program development and evaluation
• Skilled in coaching, training, and guiding the work of others
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues, clients, community partners, and the public

Benefits

• Comprehensive health plans including vision and dental coverage
• Family-forming benefits: infertility treatment, adoption, and surrogacy reimbursements
• 12 weeks Paid Caregiver leave
• Breastfeeding-friendly work environment
• Infants-at-work policy
• Access to LifeMart and Benefits Hub discount hub (childcare centers, event tickets, travel, and more)
• Employee Assistance Program
• PERA 401k and Social Security retirement plans
• Additional Life and Disability Insurance
• Critical Illness and Accidental Insurance
• County-paid tuition assistance
• Eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Free EcoPass
• Hospital Indemnity
• ID Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• 8 Hours of Paid Public Service Leave
• Generous paid time off and holidays

Pay

$70,428.00 - $101,388.00 Annually (Hiring Salary Range: $70,428.00 - $85,908.00)

Schedule

• Full-time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Occasional evening or weekend hours based on program needs

Vacation and Leave

• 80-hour bank of vacation at the time of hire (for new employees who have not worked at Boulder County in the prior 12 months)
• 8 hours of vacation and medical leave accruals each month
• After the first year of continuous service, accrue 12 hours of vacation per month