Child Welfare Specialist Jobs

Posting Date

07/28/23

Application Deadline

08/11/23

Pay Range

Full Range: $23.25 - $36.00 per hour

Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification.

Job Type

Unclassified

Department

Legal Advocate

About The Position

Come be a part of a dynamic legal team as a Child Welfare Specialist at the Office of the Legal Advocate!

The Child Welfare Specialist serves as a key member of our legal team, working closely with attorneys who represent parents and children in dependency and severance matters, ensuring that the safety and well-being of the child and family are emphasized from placement until the case has been closed. We seek a skilled problem solver who can diffuse situations and resolve conflict using good judgment while providing the critical communication and support necessary to keep our most vulnerable community members safe.

If this describes you and you highly value serving our community, join our team and make a difference!

About Us

We provide high quality legal representation to our clients while protecting the fundamental rights of every member of the community.

The Office of the Legal Advocate is made up of hard-working and dedicated people who believe in safeguarding the constitutional rights of the indigent clients we serve.

We strive to build a stronger team with every team member we add, because every one of our colleagues plays an integral part in delivering excellent representation.

If your goal is to be part of a dynamic, supportive, and pivotal office, please consider applying to the Office of the Legal Advocate!

Proud to Offer

• Perform work with a greater purpose: promote children's safety and well-being
• Exceptional work-life balance: 40 hours/week with no overtime, flexible schedule, and some telecommute priveleges
• Employee discounts for goods and services
• Enrollment in Arizona State Retirement System
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Paid vacation, sick, and parental (birth/adoption) leaves
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Learn more at maricopa.gov/5284/Why-Work-Here
• Extensive wellness program with $60 monthly medical premium discounts

We Require

• One year of direct experience within the child protection system as a case worker, family advocate, or social worker
• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, child development, or other closely related fields

We Also Value

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills
• Experience applying policies, procedures, and state/federal laws related to child welfare within the state of Arizona

Job Contributions

• Review police reports, pictures of evidence collected by detectives, forensic interviews, medical records, psychological and psychiatric evaluations, developmental assessments, counseling records, parent aide reports, educational assessments, substance abuse treatment records, and any other potential exhibit pertaining to a child abuse and neglect case
• Interpret all written, verbal, and nonverbal information obtained; advise other professionals/stakeholders regarding the direction a case should take or services that need to be provided to the child and/or family
• Participate in meetings with other professionals/stakeholders to obtain additional and current information as the case progresses
• Confer with the authors of the above reports as well as with other persons with knowledge about the family’s circumstance
• Present information on developmental expectations, signs, and symptoms of childhood trauma, alternate treatment modalities, child welfare law, child protective services policies and procedures, available community resources, and current best practices in the field to ensure appropriate care and treatment are provided to the child and family
• Facilitate during multi-disciplinary meetings with professionals/stakeholders to advocate for and advance the client’s best interest
• Testify in court as an expert witness
• Provide training to foster care agencies as requested to educate new and current foster parents as to the legal process
• Interview the child and observes his/her interactions with the family of origin and current caregivers

Working Conditions

• Department of Public Safety Fingerprint Clearance Card eligibility
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
• Working in close physical proximity with others and public contact may be a common occurrence
• Position requires visiting children in various settings, including remote areas of the State and potentially dangerous parts of town
• Work requires travel to and from job-related locations during a scheduled workday, subject to County policies regarding the use of County vehicles and/or private vehicles used on County business
• It also requires that some visits be made outside of the “normal” work hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday-Friday
• Must possess or have the ability to obtain a valid Arizona driver's license by the time of hire

Selection Procedure

• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive
• Only the most qualified candidates will be considered
• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications
• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer.

Apply Now!