Job Description

SALARY RANGE

$27.49 - $42.11

WORK ASSIGNMENT DETAILS

Waukesha County’s Department of Health & Human Services is recruiting for a talented Ongoing Child Protective Services Worker to join its Child and Youth - Family Services Division. Candidates with fluent Spanish speaking ability are preferred. The purpose of Child and Youth - Family Services Division is to serve individuals and families of Waukesha County by providing quality and professional services. We strive to use the many formal and informal supports within families and our community to keep children in their home whenever safely possible. We value collaboration and coordination with the families we serve, community professionals, and within our department to implement effective prevention and intervention strategies. We are committed to providing the appropriate level of intervention and protection, while encouraging families to utilize their strengths toward independence and self-sufficiency whenever possible. While adhering to legal mandates, our work will be conducted in an atmosphere of respect, compassion, and confidentiality.

Why Join our Dedicated Team?

This Ongoing CPS position deviates from the norm by incorporating non-traditional and impactful roles. Beyond the standard responsibilities of engaging with court-involved families to ensure child safety, permanency, and well-being in compliance with Chapter 48 of the Wisconsin Statutes and other regulations, this role provides unique opportunities for proactive engagement.

• Proactive Change Agents You will engage voluntarily with families, acting as a proactive change agent to prevent child abuse and neglect, expanding your impact beyond customary duties.
• Support for Family Empowerment Initiative You will support our Family Empowerment Initiative, emphasizing family voice and participation. This involves:
  • Facilitating family-centered team meetings
  • Direct engagement with families through voluntary Child Welfare Reports
• Enhanced Client Interaction With a manageable caseload size, you will be able to give families the personalized attention they deserve, enhancing your ability to effect positive change.

Why Come Work for HHS?

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Family Team Meeting Facilitation: Through strong facilitation skills, lift family voice during involvement in the CPS process.
• Family Engagement & Assessment: Build meaningful connections and conduct comprehensive assessments to understand family dynamics and needs.
• Case Management & Service Coordination: Take an active role in coordinating services that cater to the unique needs of each family, guiding them toward stability and success. Provide court services to families as needed.
• Safety Assessment & Planning: Implement strategies to ensure the safety and well-being of children.
• Parenting Education: Empower parents through educational initiatives, fostering better parenting practices.
• Permanency Planning: Contribute to creating long-term stability and permanent solutions for children and families.
• Record Management: Maintain thorough records that support informed decision-making and reflective practice.
• Coordinating & Planning Placements: Guide processes for both in-home and out-of-home placements, ensuring the best possible environments for children’s growth and development.
• Crisis Intervention: Act swiftly and thoughtfully in crisis situations to protect and support children and families.
• Support & Intervention: Provide critical support and interventions, making a direct impact on the lives of children and families.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work collaboratively with a network of community service providers and stakeholders to enhance service delivery and outcomes.

We strongly encourage individuals with personal experiences in child welfare or related support systems that meet job requirements to apply. We welcome the unique insights lived experience brings, enhancing our service effectiveness and enriching our compassionate team approach.

Work Schedule
40-hours a week, Monday through Friday 8AM to 4:30PM, with the ability to flex your schedule when it is necessary to work evenings to meet family needs. We can offer remote work up to 50% of a pay period after certain requirements are met. If desired, there is an opportunity to voluntarily join our primary Afterhours coverage team for overtime compensation.

Work Requirements
Ongoing CPS Workers in the Child and Youth - Family Services Division are generally responsible for meeting with families in a variety of settings including the office, their homes, schools, and community locations. Ongoing CPS Workers are responsible for transporting themselves, and at times clients, to these appointments and are expected to have some daily driving responsibilities, generally not exceeding two hours per day. Ongoing CPS Workers must have the ability to respond to crisis and be flexible in their schedules. Ongoing CPS Workers must be able to communicate via email, telephone, and in-person and be able to document their work electronically.

CLASSIFICATION SPECIFICATION

The department may choose to fill this position as a Senior Care Manager.
The Senior Care Manager classification specification can be viewed here
The 2026 salary range for Senior Care Manager is: $30.32 - $42.11.

Senior Care Manager Minimum Training & Experience Requirements
1. A bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university in sociology, social work, psychology, nursing, criminal justice, or a closely related field.
2. Two years of responsible work experience in social work, counseling, nursing, criminal justice, or a closely related field.
3. A master’s degree in social work, nursing, psychology, criminal justice, or a closely related field may substitute for one year of the work experience.
4. Social work certification may substitute for one year of work experience.
5. Valid driver’s license.

The department may choose to underfill this position as a Care Manager.
The Care Manager classification specification can be viewed here
The 2026 salary range for Care Manager is: $27.49 - $38.19.

Care Manager Minimum Training & Experience Requirements:

1) A bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university in sociology, social work, psychology, nursing, criminal justice, or a closely related field.

2) Valid driver’s license.

3) One year of related work experience in social work, counseling, nursing, criminal justice, or a closely related field.

Waukesha County provides a comprehensive compensation and benefits package including excellent health/dental/vision, life insurance, generous paid time off (vacation, 10 holidays, 3 floating holidays, ample accrued sick time that rolls over each year), an exceptional pension plan with employer match and lifetime retirement payment plus an optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan. Amongst many other benefits, employees are recognized and valued through a pay for performance system. Successful candidates will be eligible for performance-based merit increases and non-base performance awards.

Employee well-being is promoted through a balanced work-life culture and through an exceptional employee wellness program that offers a variety of programs and tools to help promote an employee's wellness and health, including an on-site health & wellness clinic.

About Us:
Waukesha County prides itself on operating in a business-like manner and is recognized as a leader delivering high quality services with competence and skill. With our vision of "Leading the Way", we value teamwork and collaboration, ethics and diversity, communication, efficiency and cost savings, innovation, and the wellbeing of our staff and the citizens we serve. Employees are provided professional development opportunities and encouragement to learn and practice continuous improvement and LEAN principles as we regularly ask ourselves "Is there a better way?"

Location:
Located in the City of Waukesha, our campus offers an on-site fitness center, free parking, and easy access to interstate highway systems. Waukesha County offers a perfect blend of urban and rural living where one can enjoy the benefits of quiet rural lake communities or opt for nearby attractions that the greater Milwaukee area offers including vast beach and park systems, public markets, performing arts, music festivals, and sports including the Milwaukee Admirals, Brewers, Bucks, Wave, Marquette University Golden Eagles and the UW-Milwaukee Panthers Basketball programs.

EEO:

Waukesha County is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in employment and adheres to all Federal, State and County Equal Employment Opportunity laws, policies, plans, rules, regulations and ordinances. The County recognizes and accepts its important leadership role in providing for equal employment/service opportunities. It is the express policy of Waukesha County to promote equal employment opportunity among all who are employed by Waukesha County and who seek employment with Waukesha County.

For further information visit: https://www.waukeshacounty.gov

The County does not sponsor applicants for work visas. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.