Social Worker
Position Summary
The Social Worker’s primary purpose is to ensure health and safety of individuals we serve and provide person centered planning with an effort to enhance individual lives and to promote happiness, independence, and autonomy. Social Workers must determine eligibility for the programs coordinated and monitored by the County, as well as assisting clients in making informed choices regarding services. Determining eligibility includes but is not limited to conducting the assessment and gathering financial and any other information required to make that determination.
Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Functions
A. Assess clients to determine individual needs and establish treatment/service goals.
B. Maintain caseload and provide ongoing case management including crisis management.
C. Effectively interview and engage clients to assess and evaluate needs.
C.1. Interview and counsel client.
C.2. Make field visits to clients’ homes.
C.3. Explain policies, regulations, and programs to clients and the public.
C.4. Provide immediate response in crisis situations to maintain safety of clients and the community.
D. Develop and complete assessments and documentation, including but not limited to, social histories, home assessments, and individual or family service plans to treat identified problems.
E. Prepare intensive long or short-term treatment plans.
F. Manage individual clients or families to explore, identify, resolve, prevent or control problems.
G. Complete required paperwork and documentation as related to client activity according to mandated timelines.
H. Prepare and maintain case records which meet federal, state, and local guidelines.
I. Attend court hearings as required.
J. Update client information (SSIS).
K. Generate case plans and assessments to outline needs, current functioning levels and expectations of clients.
L. Facilitate access to and refer clients to appropriate community services.
M. Interprets policies and regulations to clients.
N. Provides casework services for rehabilitation and care of clients.
O. Facilitate access and provide information to individuals upon request, and/or refer them to appropriate community services/resources.
P. Follow through on treatment/service plans.
Q. Monitor progress toward goals and objectives.
R. Perform intake as assigned.
R.1. Prepare and maintain case records which meet federal, state, and local guidelines.
S. Handle on-call responsibilities on a rotating basis with other social workers.
S.1. Available to respond to weekend, holiday, or crisis situations, on-call as scheduled.
T. Other duties as assigned.
Additional Functions
A. Attends trainings as needed.
B. Maintains accurate client records on computer system, prepares reports, and submits to proper personnel and/or agencies.
C. Prepares and maintains progress notes, narrative summaries, reports, and other required case documentation in the file and in SSIS.
D. Collaborates and consults with multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams in order to
achieve desirable outcomes for clients.
E. Attends continuing education programs and participates in in-service training.
F. Maintains knowledge of best practices in the profession.
G. Works closely with law enforcement and county attorney staff in development and followup to court cases.
H. Consult with other agency units/workers when services/needs overlap programs.
I. Maintain professional boundaries.
J. Function as a contributing and productive member of the unit and agency by attending and participating in meetings.
K. Provide community education and other associated duties as assigned.
L. Participate and comply with social services on-call systems.
M. Be available for consultations and other crisis interventions during non-office hours.
N. Maintain paperless system for record keeping.
O. Performs other duties as assigned or apparent.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
A. Bachelor's Degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or related field.
Conditions of Employment
A. Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to drive in the state of Minnesota.
B. Must successfully complete a background check.
C. Obtain and maintain certifications and licensures.
C.1. Maintain certification of OSHA, Data Privacy, and Personal Safety annually.
D. Ability to travel within your daily work assignment.
E. Ability to travel within Minnesota, including extended overnight stays.
F. Ability to work extended, evening and weekend hours as needed.
G. Must comply with organizational and departmental policies.
H. Performs physical/mental demands of the work environment requirements for this position.
I. Attendance during regularly scheduled work hours, and outside regular hours, as necessary.
J. Effective and respectful communication and interactions with other employees, supervisors, individuals from other organizations, and citizen customers.
K. Must comply with data practices policies and standards relative to not public data. Any access to not public data should be strictly limited to accessing the data that are necessary to fulfill the employment responsibility. While data are being accessed, incumbent should take reasonable measures to ensure the not public data are not accessed by individuals without a work reason. Once the work reason to access the data is reasonably finished the not public data must be properly stored according to county policies and the Minnesota Statutes.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
A. Ability to maintain, review and interpret program management reports.
B. Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding collections, child support enforcement, data privacy and human services programs.
C. Understanding of basic social work practices and a working knowledge of other units and services within the agency and community resources.
D. Ability to plan, assess, and make decisions under pressure.
E. The ability to use time wisely and efficiently.
F. Determine work priorities and manage workload requirements.
G. Ability to perform the job functions as governed by policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and law.
H. Demonstrate the ability to anticipate and meet realistic time frames.
I. Flexibility to adjust to crisis situations.
J. Demonstrates dedication and conscientiousness in carrying out job responsibilities.
K. Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with clients, colleagues, agency administration, professionals, and work with the public in a positive manner.
L. Ability to work independently.
M. Ability to plan and coordinate workflow for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
N. Ability to handle confidential information and follow data practices requirements.
O. Skill with human resource management practices including training, delegation, and performance appraisal.
P. Ability to apply professional/managerial principles and judgement within overall goals/direction established by senior management.
Q. Considerable analytic ability needed to select, evaluate, and interpret data from several sources.
R. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of internal and external contacts to achieve organizational objectives.
Employee Core Competencies
Quality of Work
A. Maintains a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
B. Demonstrates the ability to use resources productively, effectively, and efficiently.
C. Demonstrates the ability to think proactively, anticipates potential problems, and provides workable solutions and alternatives with a ‘can do’ approach.
D. Develops and maintains good working knowledge of job responsibilities and prescribed procedures, which facilitates the efficient performance of duties.
E. Takes initiative to utilize job knowledge to analyze situations, resolve problems, and reach decisions.
Quantity of Work
A. Exhibits good organizational and time management skills: plans and schedules completion of work accountabilities in order of priority, making the most effective use of time.
B. Self-motivated and works independently: demonstrates willingness to assume new and challenging assignments.
C. Demonstrates ability to work well under pressure, utilizing resources effectively.
Professional Conduct/Integrity
A. Demonstrates knowledge and actions consistent with the County’s values and the County’s code of ethics and conduct.
B. Demonstrates high moral principles and professional standards with others through truthfulness and sincerity; makes ethical decisions.
C. Shows respect for others’ ideas, perspectives, and styles.
D. Demonstrates appropriate business etiquette and social skills.
Customer Service
A. Provides information, options, and/or solutions to inquiries, concerns, and/or requests from the diverse public in a respectful manner.
B. Maintains the County’s reputation of providing a high-level of customer satisfaction.
Communication
A. Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain working relationships to produce results, and a work environment that builds rapport and trust.
B. Communicates professionally and effectively with internal and external customers through spoken and written correspondence, including emails.
C. Maintains confidentiality.
D. Listens well, respects viewpoints different than own.
E. Contributes knowledge, experience, and feedback appropriately to others.
Safety
A. Maintains a safe work environment by complying with County safety policies and procedures and attends necessary trainings.
B. Performs duties with consideration to minimize risk. Reports safety concerns to appropriate parties.
Accountability and Dependability
A. Adheres to all County policies and procedures.
B. Competently performs all required job duties.
C. Maintains an acceptable record of work attendance, and punctuality in accordance with County and Department requirements.
Physical Demands & Working Conditions
A. Positions in this job typically require sitting, walking, standing, driving, talking, hearing, typing, repetitive movement, and seeing.
B. There is exposure to computer keyboards and computer screens.
C. This position is generally light-duty and may require the exertion up to 20 pounds of force on occasion and the ability to lift, carry, push, pull and move objects.
D. Working conditions include exposure to odors, chemicals, and unsanitary living conditions of clients.
E. Exposure may include animals, animal odors, animal waste, contagious diseases, or illness.
F. Exposure to potentially violent clients that behavior may include biting, kicking, spitting and nudity.
G. Exposure may include clients who are mentally ill, using illegal drugs, intoxicated, enraged in violent and illegal activities.
H. May be exposed to firearms or deadly weapons.
I. This position is frequently exposed to mental effort and stress.
J. This position continuously works under high attention to detail.
Hours of Work
A. Monday – Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Equipment Utilized
A. Office equipment, medical equipment, computer hardware and software, and automobile.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship. The County Board, County Administrator or appropriate Elected Official retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.
Benton County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.