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Referral and Assessment Specialist Social Services Specialist IV

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Referral and Assessment Specialist Social Services Specialist IV

Salary

$71,544.00 - $93,024.00 Annually

Location

Denver Metro, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

IHA 05640 01/20/2026

Department

Colorado Department of Human Services

Division

OCYF - Child Welfare

Opening Date

01/20/2026

Closing Date

2/3/2026 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Primary Physical Work Address

1575 Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

[email protected]

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Department Information

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

This position requires an in-office presence at the primary work address (1575 Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203) every Wednesday and Thursday. Any additional required days in the office will be determined as business needs require. Teleworking is permitted on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details! (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/state-of-colorado-employee-benefits)

Description of Job

About this Unit:

The unit works to oversee child protection for the State of Colorado. This unit sets policy and procedures for the 64 county departments of social/human services to practice child protection including prevention, hotline, referral, assessment, institutional assessments, and anti-human trafficking. The unit works with county departments to ensure regulatory and statutory compliance and to offer technical assistance support and guidance when the practice is not congruent with policy, statute, and rule. Staff also research promising and evidence-informed practices utilized throughout the nation and make recommendations for consideration or implementation in Colorado

About this Position:

The purpose of this position is researching and identifying promising and evidence-based practices for consideration of implementation in regard to formal and informal assessments of safety and risk, referral and assessment processes and the oversight of Colorado’s statewide use of the Colorado Family Safety and Risk Assessment tools. This position reports directly to the Intake and Assessment Administrator and advises counties on implementation of the tools and ensuring fidelity and consistency of use. This position is responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of Colorado Family Safety and Risk Assessment tools as well as ongoing review and collaboration with the Colorado training vendor, to update training curriculum as related to referral and assessment practices. This position researches and assesses promising practices in child protection and implements policies and practices for the 64 county departments.

Job Duties:

Program Development, and Implementation:

As Staff Authority, position includes researching and identifying promising practices, strategy, systems, process, guideline, rules and standards through evidence-based programs for consideration in drafting an implementation plan for implementing and ensuring fidelity in using the Colorado Family Safety and Risk Assessment tools. Reports directly to the Intake and Assessment Administrator. Develops and oversees Colorado’s practice. Designs strategies, systems, processes guidelines, rules and standards that are critical to the mission of the division and directly impacts the department’s ongoing operations and broad program policies in the area of child protection. Coordinates and participates in collaborations with other state offices to include but limited to Office of Behavioral Health, Office of Public Safety, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing and the Administrative Review Division. Serves as the subject matter expert for the Colorado Family Safety and Risk Assessment tools, referral and assessment practice to counties, community partners and within the department.

Subject Matter Expert (i.e. Intermediary) to County Partners:

Provides ongoing communication, direction and technical assistance to assigned counties through monthly contact using face to face contacts, email, telephone and other emerging technologies; monitors assigned county performance, provides coaching and work with assigned counties; provides consultations for policy and practice guidance; serves as a representative of CDHS and the Division of Child Welfare to county partners; serves as staff authority with technical expertise to monitor and analyze county work and to facilitate and apply theories of continuous quality improvement processes to align with standard child protection practices.

Rule, Policy and Procedure Development:

Develops rules, policies, procedures, and guides related to improving the interaction of child protection, and treatment providers specific to the delivery of child welfare. Develops, supports, and assists with the implementation of these rules, policies, and procedures. Maintains full knowledge of rules and statutes at the state and federal level. Remains informed and prepared to discuss such information with county departments, federal partners, community and private medical treatment and service providers. Coordinates within child welfare and other experts to provide a consistent scope of practice and to implement promising practices in child protection. Maintains a broad understanding of general child welfare practice

Other duties as assigned

Other duties as required

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

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:

+ Experience as an assessment caseworker or supervisor.

+ Thorough understanding of the Colorado Safety and Risk Assessment Tools.

+ Knowledge of child welfare policy, state and federal statutes/rules, and the ability to interpret and integrate this information into practical guidance and policy recommendations.

+ Strong written communication skills with experience drafting and editing formal documents such as rules, policies, procedures, and guides for diverse audiences.

+ Current certification as a caseworker or supervisor in Colorado.

Conditions of Employment:

+ Travels to counties to provide technical assistance, coaching, monitoring regarding the child abuse and neglect hotline, referral and assessment. Up to 50% of the time

+ Ability and willingness to complete Certification as a Colorado Child Welfare Caseworker within one year of hire and complete Certification as a Colorado Child Welfare

+ Full Background – A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges. Additionally, you will be required take and pass a drug screen.

+ Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email ([email protected]), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

A standard appeal form is available at:www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply (https://cdhs.colorado.gov/information-for-job-applicants#how-to-apply)

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact [email protected]

About Us:

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs) (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

+ Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans

+ Medical and dental health plans

+ Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

+ Paid life insurance

+ Short- and long-term disability coverage

+ 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

+ BenefitHub state employee discount program

+ Employee Wellness program MotivateMe

+ Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

+ Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

*Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .

Our Values:

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at [email protected] or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

Your legal name is used in the hiring process for background checks. Did you use your full legal name in your application?

+ Yes

+ No

02

The bottom of this job announcement provides links to additional information on how to apply, the assessment process, toll free applicant technical support, and about how the State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. Please acknowledge below that you have read the information provided in these links.

+ This information is available to me and I have read this information.

+ I am unable to access the links with this information on the job posting. (If you select this option, please contact the recruiter, whose information is listed on this announcement, so that they can send this information directly to you.)

03

Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application. In the space below, please provide an explanation as to why the prior termination or resignation should NOT disqualify your application from the current position.

04

If you are a current or former State of Colorado employee, please list your employee number (starts with 997...). Failure to provide this requested information may render your application incomplete, and you may no longer be considered for the position.

05

Please answer the following application questions in detail and as specific as possible, including your years of experience with each task. These responses are formally reviewed and heavily weighted in the structured application review process. Please acknowledge your understanding of this.

+ I understand my answers to the application's supplemental questions will be reviewed and assessed in the Structured Application Review process.

06

Please describe your knowledge of child welfare policy, state and federal statutes/rules, and any experience interpreting and integrating information into practical guidance or policy recommendations.

07

Describe a time you managed multiple projects simultaneously. How did you prioritize competing demands, and what methods or tools did you use to track progress and ensure all tasks were completed?

Required Question

Employer

State of Colorado

Address

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Website

https://careers.colorado.gov/

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