Location: Machias,Maine,United States

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Opening Date: July 1, 2024

Closing Date: July 31, 2024

Job Class Code: 5077
Grade:  22
Salary: $31.51 - $37.04 per hour (Employees in this classification begin at Step 3 of the Pay Scale)
* Hourly rate includes a $7.50/hr. recruitment and retention stipend

This position may be eligible for $1,000 in Recruitment & Retention Incentive Payments. 

 Link to realistic job preview

Want to make a real difference in the lives of Maine children?  The Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) within DHHS is looking for people committed to protecting the rights and well-being of children by providing professional case management services for our clients throughout the State of Maine.  As a Child Protective Services Caseworker, you will develop investigative and case management skills and build extensive contacts within the judicial, law enforcement, educational, and social services communities. If you’re in search of a career that is professionally and personally rewarding, offers exceptional training and educational opportunities, and supports children and families in Maine, this could be your next career opportunity.   

We have current vacancies in our Augusta, Skowhegan, Portland, Lewiston, Rockland, Bangor, Sanford, Biddeford, Machias, Ellsworth, and Caribou offices.

Agency Information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers. The Office of Child & Family Services (OCFS), within DHHS is responsible for ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families through community networks, local resources, and life-long family connections throughout Maine.  

As a Child Protective Services Caseworker you will:

• Perform professional social work in the areas of child protection, children’s services, and adoption.
• Engage families to assess child safety and make plans which best meet the safety, well-being, and permanency needs of their children.
• Create a team for each family consisting of family, staff, and community resources to support safe solutions for children.
• Reach factually supported safety decisions in a timely and thorough manner, with input from parents, children, extended family, and community stakeholders to assure child safety.
• Assess:
  • child safety, abuse, and neglect, and signs of danger.
  • family strengths and capabilities.
  • family functioning;
• Separate unsafe caregivers from children in need of protection when court action is required to make children safe.
• Make appropriate plans for children, focusing on their safety needs, preservation of family relationships, reunifying children when appropriate, or achieving a permanent placement in another family if needed.
• Maintain accurate case records of assessments, activities, and plans; summaries; reports; letters and memos.
• Follow federal and state laws, mandates, policy, and timeframes to achieve child safety, well-being, and permanency. Perform case planning and when needed, petition for protective custody and placement of children

Successful candidates will be:

• detail oriented
• able to effectively manage and meet deadlines.

Work requires frequent overtime, emergency standby coverage, and regular travel within the geographic area served by a District Office.

Minimum Qualifications:

 In order to qualify, you must have a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited education institutions in Social Work/Social Welfare, or a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited educational institution in a field related to social work/social welfare* as determined by the Maine State Board of Social Work Licensure.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Applicants must have or be eligible for conditional or full licensure at the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) level as issued by the Maine State Board of Social Work Licensure. An LSW requires an earned BA/BS in social work/social welfare. An LSW-Conditional requires an earned BA/BS in a f