Child Welfare Licensing Social Services Specialist IV

Child Welfare Licensing Social Services Specialist IV

Salary: $71,544.00 - $93,024.00 Annually

Location: Denver Metro, CO

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: IHA 07318

This position is remote based because this position requires extensive travel within the state of Colorado to include overnight stays and the licensing of childcare agencies and facilities during all shifts, 5 days a week. This is due to being a staff in the 'field' and spends anywhere from 3-5 days a week in licensed facilities and agencies performing their job functions. The licensing specialist are required to be in person for PSU team meetings once per month. Typically the work schedule goes past 5 PM and/or require them to travel across the state and stay overnight in other locations to fulfill their job duties.

The position is located in the Division of Child Welfare, Provider Services Unit. The Division is responsible for the ongoing implementation of child welfare services in Colorado and supervises county departments of human/social services in the administration of Child Welfare programs, as well as privately operated 24-hour child care facilities. The Provider Services Unit exists to license, manage, supervise, and provide statewide oversight for privately operated 24-hour childcare facilities and agencies, to include Residential Child Care Facilities, Secure Residential Treatment Centers, Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs), Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs), Homeless Youth Shelters, Specialized Group Homes and Centers, Child Placement Agencies, Adoption Agencies, Respite Child Care Centers (RCCC), and Day Treatment Facilities across the state of Colorado. The goals of the unit are to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the youth served in those facilities. The work unit is responsible for comprehensive integrated (Interagency) licensing and monitoring of the 24-hour child care facilities and to audit and investigate reports/allegations involving licensing violations, facility or agency culpability, and to ensure the safety of children in out-of-home placements using Volume 7 rules and regulations, the Licensing Act, and all other applicable rules and statutes.

This position has been delegated staff authority for licensing oversight of 24-hour child care facilities across the state of Colorado by Division management. Consults with agency management to influence decisions concerning essential, wide-ranging, critical program or policy direction to ensure facility practice is in compliance with regulatory agency's standards. This position implements the Division's audit process to include sample reviews, technical assistance and training, issuing reports of inspection, issuing fines, authorizing licensure, and recommending adverse action against a facility or agency. This position determines whether the 24-hour child care facilities are operating in compliance with applicable internal guidelines, rules, policies, regulations, and standards. This position identifies and recommends opportunities for improving standards of practice for programs to meet operational expectations. This position is responsible for researching adoption practices, such as, implementation and fidelity to the Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) standards and implementing national standards and safety as they relate to foster care settings overseen by licensed Child Placement Agencies as well as private domestic and intercountry adoption settings. This position provides support to the other Licensing Specialists with regard to private adoption services provided within the Unit's licensed facilities and agencies. This position ensures that youth are receiving safe and adequate care and treatment by evaluating the physical plant, treatment planning, staff and care provider qualifications, training, and supervision as well as financial stability, interviews with youth in care, and required corrective actions. This position also is responsible to handle and safeguard confidential information regarding youth in care as well as specific to provider staff background checks. This position requires extensive travel within the state of Colorado to include overnight stays and the licensing of childcare agencies and facilities during all shifts, 5 days a week.

Summary of Job Duties

The purpose of the licensing specialist position is to work with the entire Provider Services Unit as the regulatory body responsible for agency and facility culpability and adherence to licensing regulations and statutes. The team values transparency, collaboration, communication, and high ethical standards as well as adherence to the regulations and laws that govern licensed entities. Busy seasons are July to October, but can also vary depending upon the caseload of the licensing specialist. The unit is also particularly busy during the legislative session from January through May.

Licensing of Agencies and Facilities and Technical Assistance:

• Provide or research options for and coordinate technical assistance to licensed facilities and agencies in order to support the delivery of quality care to youth and to increase their compliance with State and Federal rules, with particular focus on child protection and safety.
• Oversee and direct providers to improve programming to ensure the safety, care, and well-being of children in placement.
• Technical assistance expert for the Division of Child Welfare in the areas of licensing, child care/child welfare, and treatment planning related to these populations. Serve as the staff authority on child care and child welfare treatment and the protocols necessary to assure resident safety and well-being.
• Evaluate the quality of programming, practices and policies, and compliance with providers of out-of-home care; specifically, conduct building and site inspections, ensure staff and care providers are supervised and trained according to their individual needs and the needs of the youth served in the facility or agency, assess treatment planning, observe milieu, assess quality of home study evaluations, assess behavioral interventions utilized by facilities, examine medication administration requirements, examine restraint and/or seclusion practices, examine financial documentation to ensure stability of agencies and facilities and that the needs of the youth are being met, and conduct interviews with staff, foster families, and youth to determine quality of care provided.
• This position researches and stays up-to-date on areas related to adoption practices, such as, implementation and fidelity to the Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) standards and implementing national standards and safety as they relate to foster care settings overseen by licensed Child Placement Agencies as well as private domestic and intercountry adoption settings.
• Provides support to the other Licensing Specialists with regard to private adoption services provided within the Unit's licensed facilities and agencies.

Corrective Action:

• Compile and interpret data on patterns of provider deficiencies or gross incidents of non-compliance with Volume 7 in order to determine when adverse licensing actions is warranted. Provide documentation and testimony in summary suspension situations and other adverse action cases. Issue expert opinions, as authorized by the Division of Child Welfare, on child protection and safety that occur within agencies and facilities in order to prompt further actions by other entities within the Department and in the provider community.
• Advise management on action steps necessary to rectify ongoing concerns and violations at agency and when adverse action is indicated. Provide follow-up and increased on-site licensing until provider deficiencies are resolved and abuse/neglect or other safety concerns are alleviated.

Licenses, Continuation, and Renewals Approval:

• Evaluate and license programs both for initial and ongoing licensure. Evaluate programs initially to determine the most appropriate license type to serve the populations the provider seeks to support. Thoroughly analyze policies and procedures, behavior management and discipline, staff qualifications, medication administration, and plans for educational, community, and recreational activities, treatment and services to be provided, and site compliance and quality via inspections and interviews. Ensure that facilities meet mandatory requirements of external entities that also oversee facilities: CDPHE, zoning and planning, and fire departments. Conduct reviews at minimum annually, reviewing staff and youth files to ensure compliance with licensing requirements. Complete reports of inspection to identify rule violations. Ensure agency response and timely correction of violations.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Important Note: Please review your application to ensure completion. For the most equitable applicant experience, CDHS' hiring teams consider only the contents of your application to determine meeting minimum qualifications and for the comparative analysis process. Experience is calculated on a full-time equivalency basis, therefore, it is important to accurately notate the hours you averaged per experience section entry. Volunteer work or related type of experience may be used to meet the qualifications, but must be clearly documented. It is paramount that in the experience portion of the application, the applicant describes the extent to which they possess the education, experience, competencies and background as they relate to the duties outlined in the job announcement.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Option 1 - Experience: Seven (7) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position. Please note: This experience must be clearly documented on your application and the supplemental questions must be answered.
• OR Option 2 - Experience & Education: A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to seven (7) years.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, or Sociology.
• Two (2) or more years of work experience related to human services or licensing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of child welfare policies and