Salary: $61,547.20 – $83,969.60 Annually
Location : Stillwater, MN
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 23-00273
Department: Community Services Dept
Division: Social Services Childrens Division
Opening Date: 10/03/2023
Closing Date: 10/12/2023 11:59 PM Central
JOB SPECIFICS
Washington County Community Services has a vacancy within the Children’s Division to provide front-end child protection services for children and families. The position is in the area of Family Assessment in the Children’s Services Division. Staff are responsible for responding to reports of child abuse and/or neglect. The position will be responsible for working with family systems to assess child safety, create plans ensuring safety, identifying family strengths and needs, identifying supportive services for families, and determining whether ongoing child protection services are needed. This position will require strong working relationships with internal and external service partners as well as relatives and natural support systems.
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE:
- Master’s Degree in Social Work (or closely related field)
- Experience interacting with and providing services to individuals from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds
- One year of paid social work experience in a county agency
- Paid work experience as a social worker working with children and families
- Paid work experience within the juvenile court system
SELECTION TECHNIQUE: Your training and experience will be rated based on the required application material submitted and the top scoring candidates will be forwarded to the hiring department for further consideration.
HOURS / DAYS: 8:00 – 4:30 Monday – Friday – Stillwater Office. Work schedules (hours and days) and location are subject to change based on department needs. Flexible Work environment available based on experience.
ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: $61,547.20 – $83,969.60 Annually (This position may be hired at the level, depending on qualifications.)
JOB SUMMARY
The Social Worker I is an entry level position responsible for identifying and assessing complex individual, family and community problems and strengths, selecting case work, group methods or community resources and implementing plans to protect vulnerable people, promote independence and prevent abuse or neglect.
A Social Worker I may be assigned duties in any of the following units: Family/Children, Licensing, Chemical Health, Adult Mental Health, Development Disabilities, Adult Family Services, Adult Protection, Minnesota Family Investment Program/WorkForce Center or Housing.
EMPLOYMENT CRITERIA
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: This position requires a Bachelor’s Degree in social work or related field, or equivalent.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: A Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field and one year of related experience as a Social Worker is highly desirable.
Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field and four years of full-time work experience as a Social Worker in a public human services agency and/or a private human services agency that contracts services with a public human services agency. A Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field may substitute for up to one year of required Social Worker experience. Required Social Work experience must have occurred after receipt of Bachelor’s Degree.
Additional requirements for specific unit assignments will be identified when a vacancy occurs.
CORE COMPETENCIES, JOB SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL JOB PERFORMANCE
outline essential business and professional traits necessary to perform this job.
• Promote a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace;
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles, techniques, practices and ethics of Social Work;
• Demonstrates knowledge of interviewing techniques and skills at conducting interviews;
• Demonstrates knowledge of relevant laws, policies and resources;
• Demonstrates knowledge of social and economic problems and family systems;
• Demonstrates knowledge of legal and court proceedings;
• Demonstrates ability to assess vulnerabilities and strengths of individuals and families;
• Demonstrates ability to develop clear and reasonable services and plans;
• Demonstrates ability to coordinate implementation of services and plans with families, other agencies and the community at large;
• Demonstrates ability to counsel and offer supportive services to individuals and families including those in crisis; and
• Demonstrates ability to apply previously acquired knowledge and skills to complex situations.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Coordinate client intake:
• Receive referrals, conduct interviews and investigate to identify and assess problems or need for intervention/service;
• Develop, write, implement and monitor strength-based individual and family service plans to correct/eliminate identified problems;
• Determine appropriate resources and referrals to community-based care and services; and
• Develop and implement abuse prevention plans to address vulnerabilities.
Determine and implement intervention services:
• Assess risks to self and others (abuse or neglect and dangerousness);
• Intervene in crisis situations;
• Coordinate and secure emergency services; and
• Negotiate and resolve conflicts.
Provide client case management:
• Collaborate and consult with others (professional staff and community agencies) regarding clients, community services or programs;
• Open and maintain client case records and files according to established standards and timelines,
• Prepare necessary correspondence, required narratives, eligibility reviews and other incoming/outgoing communication about the client;
• Provide appropriate information regarding case openings, closings, and denials;
• Provide testimony or written recommendations in county or district court or in administrative appeal hearings regarding client cases;
• Advise clients of possible resources, rights and responsibilities under programs or services; and
• Develop, coordinate and deliver program information to the general public, special interest groups and professional organizations.
Perform other duties as assigned.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Semi-sedentary involving office and outside field work. Lifting requirement may include lifting up to 20 pounds. Exposures may include but not be limited to disagreeable odors, communicable diseases, bodily fluids and behavior challenges. Use of general office equipment to include telephone, cell phone, pager, personal computer, laptop computer, electronic recorder, calculator, etc. Additional physical/mental requirements that occur may not be listed above, but are inherent in performing the position’s essential functions.
This job description is intended to describe the kinds of tasks and level of work difficulty being performed by people assigned to this classification. The list of responsibilities is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. The County retains the discretion to add or change the contents of this job description at any time.
Washington County offers a comprehensive including paid time off, holidays, medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance.
For a more detailed overview of our AFSCME exempt (salaried ) benefit package,
For a more detailed overview of our AFSCME non-exempt (hourly) benefit package,
01
Do you possess the following minimum qualifications for this position: Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field and four years of full-time work experience as a Social Worker in a human services agency? A Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field may substitute for up to one year of required Social Worker experience.
- Yes
- No
02
If you answered “Yes” to the above question, you must provide a brief summary of your experience and the name of the employer(s) where you gained that experience. (If you answered “No” to the above question, enter “NA” in the text box.)
03
The work performed in this role requires interaction and providing services to individuals from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Please check the areas below that best describe your experience:
- I have experience using a translator/interpreter for a family or person who requires this service.
- I have completed professional or educational Cultural Competence training or courses.
- My job responsibilities/duties have required specific interaction with people from different racial/ethnic backgrounds.
- I am fluent in a second language.
- I have participated in community Racial Equity, Diversity or Inclusion work.
- I have participated in professional or volunteer opportunities in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings.
- I have experience working with a diverse background of individuals from various socioeconomic status.
- None of the above
04
IMPORTANT: If you checked any of the areas listed above, you must describe your personal or professional experience that demonstrates your ability to interact with people from cultural/ethnic backgrounds other than your own. You must also provide information about where you obtained the experience, what ethnic/cultural population(s) you worked with, and the dates when you gained this experience. Credit will not be given for the answers above if this additional information is missing or incomplete. (If you answered “None of the above” to the question, enter “NA” in the text box.)
05
Do you have paid work experience or training in support or administration of public assistance programs such as emergency assistance?
- Yes
- No
06
If you answered “Yes” to the above question, you must provide a brief summary of your experience and the name of the employer(s) where you gained that experience. (If you answered “No” to the above question, enter “NA” in the text box.)
07
Do you have paid work experience as a social worker working with children and families?
- Yes
- No
08
If you answered “Yes” to the above question, you must provide a brief summary of your experience and the name of the employer(s) where you gained that experience. (If you answered “No” to the above question, enter “NA” in the text box.)
09
Do you have paid work experience within the juvenile court system?
- Yes
- No
10
If you answered “Yes” to the above question, you must provide a brief summary of your experience and the name of the employer(s) where you gained that experience. (If you answered “No” to the above question, enter “NA” in the text box.)
Required Question