Social Worker - Child Welfare - Ongoing/Adoption

Job Summary

Do you have a desire to better the lives of the children of Sherburne County?  

Join our professional team of Social Workers in the Child Welfare unit of Sherburne County Human Services!

This position will carry a dual caseload of Child Protection Case Management and Adoption.

Child Protection case managers aim to assist families in mitigating risk factors and protecting children from child abuse, neglect, and exploitation. They work with families and systems to address needs and build off strengths and protective factors to help them overcome barriers. They participate in creating safety plans and case plans with families that promote child and family safety, stability, permanency, and well-being. Case managers respect confidentiality, support and monitor progress of goals and objectives, and make recommendations about what is in the best interests of children.

County adoption workers provide direct services to children in need of permanency. They assess the unique needs of children and appropriateness of identified caregivers interested in adopting and engage in recruitment for child wards. They provide case management and services to children and pre-adoptive families and make diligent efforts to assist them in reaching finalization. Adoption workers often act as a liaison between biological and adoptive families and provide post adoption resources as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.
   
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this position. These duties are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive.  Other duties may be required and assigned. Regular attendance according to the position’s management approved work schedule is required for all positions.
 

• Effectively engage individuals and families to assess and evaluate needs and strengths, including safety and risk.
• Collaborate with agencies and clients to determine eligibility, need, and level of service for identified clients.
• Construct and implement case plans, which includes necessary assessments, defines goals and objectives, and provides for the direction of service.
• Evaluate, document, and monitor progress toward goals and objectives.
• Coordinate and provide direct services and advocacy to clients and families.
• Facilitate access to and integrate community resources on behalf of the client.
• Maintain and apply knowledge of relevant policies, procedures, and statutes and professional practice.
• Complete agency, state, and federal required documentation as related to client activity according to mandated timelines.
• Close cases based on eligibility or client desire to discontinue services.
• Provide immediate response in crisis situations. Maintain safety for clients and community.
• Develop and implement a safety plan for clients to maximize their safety and minimize community risk.
• Prepares legal documents and testifies at court, as necessary.
• Completion and coordination of Northstar Adoption Assistance.
• Utilize the MAPCY for assessment and reassessment of Northstar Adoption Assistance.
• Engage in, and collaborate with other agencies, for recruitment when necessary to locate and secure appropriate and fitting permanent families for child wards.
• Complete all necessary documentation and submission appropriately as needed for finalization.
• Provide adoption searches for birth parents, adoptive parents. and adults adopted through the county.
• Be a liaison between birth families and adoptees and adoptive families as necessary and appropriate.
• Provide supportive resources for adopted and adoptive families regarding adoption related issues.
• Meet all Agency standards for time reporting and TCM documentation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: BA/BS in Social Work or closely related field

Experience:  
Social Worker I: Minimum of completed Social Work internship or closely related field
Social Worker II: Minimum of 1 year of Social Work experience or equivalent education plus work experience

Must have a valid MN driver's license and reliable vehicle.
 
Desirable experience: 

• Social Worker Foundation training

• Signs of Safety training

• SSIS training

• Child Foster Care Licensing

• Previous Social Work Investigations/Assessments or Case Management experience

Supplemental Information

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
 

• Skills needed include interviewing, information collection, assessment, counseling, program development, advocacy skills, leadership abilities, report writing and resource development, maintain objectivity.   
• Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of all Federal/State laws, Department and County-wide policies, protocols and procedures that apply to the performance of this position.
• Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of court processes, mental health, maltreatment, and delinquency.
• Demonstrate by personal example the service excellence and integrity expected from all employees.
• Develop respectful and cooperative working relationships with co-workers, including sharing knowledge with others and participating in new employee training.  
• Communicate effectively and professionally with human services staff, other county employees, clients, and the public.
• Confer regularly with and keep one’s immediate supervisor informed on all important matters pertaining to assigned job accountabilities.
• Represent the County in a professional manner to all clients, professionals, and community members when doing the County’s business.
• Ability to handle confidential and data privacy issues appropriately.
• Ability to handle contentious issues appropriately.
• Ability to solve problems and determine appropriate course of action.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrams or schedule forms.
• Ability to manage crisis situations.
• Work cooperatively with members of management and co-workers.

• Performs job responsibilities in a manner consistent with the County's vision, mission, and values. 
• Develops and maintains a thorough working knowledge of all department and county-wide policies, protocols and procedures that apply to the performance of this position. 
• Develops respectful and cooperative working relationships with co-workers. 
• Informs immediate supervisor of all-important matters pertaining to assigned job responsibilities. 
• Seeks opportunities for further personal growth and development. 
• Represents the County in a professional manner to all internal and external contacts when doing the County's business. 
• Complies with all rules and policies in order to maintain a safe work environment. 

Hours of Work 
Usual work schedule of 40 hours per week generally during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; may include occasional evening and weekend hours.

Physical Requirements:
Must be able to endure extended travel, up to 8 hours or more per day. Must be able to provide own means of transportation when county vehicles are not available. May be required to travel to remote areas and in all weather conditions.
Must be able to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (15-25 pounds).
 
Typical Working Environment:
80% Inside Work (office and field work), 20% Travel. (These percentages are an estimate and may vary based on job duties.)
Work is performed both in the office and in the field (some examples of settings include client’s: homes, apartments, hospitals, group homes, schools, shelters, correctional facilities, and treatment facilities). Headaches, eyestrain, and other related occupational hazards reflect the most common potential for injury in the office. Field visits to clients’ homes may expose employee to unsanitary conditions, communicable illnesses, infrequent exposure to health hazards, unpredictable and/or unsafe environments.
Likelihood of verbal abuse and threats from hostile, frustrated clients and may include unpredictable situations.