Children’s Emergency Services Caseworker

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Child Protective Services Caseworker

Opening Date: August 12, 2026

Closing Date: Open Continuously

Job Class Code: 5077

Grade: 24

Salary: $32.35 - $42.34 per hour*

*Hourly rate includes a $7.50 per hour recruitment and retention stipend. This position is also eligible for an additional $1 per hour stipend for a qualifying master’s degree, and a shift differential of forty-five cents ($.45) per hour.

Location: Bangor

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

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.

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 dangerous 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 which requires a valid driver’s license. The schedule for this position is Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday 2PM-10PM, with Wednesday and Thursday off.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Bachelors Degree from an accredited educational institution in Social Work/Social Welfare; OR a Bachelors Degree in a related social service/social welfare/social work area which includes at least 12 courses in behavioral science, social science, or social work; AND must have or be eligible for conditional or full licensure as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) as determined by the Maine State Board of Social Worker 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 require