What are the responsibilities and job description for the County Agency Social Worker position at Minnesota Merit System?
Classification Summary
Polk County Social Services has an opening for a full-time (40 hours a week) Social Worker position. This position will primarily provide Adult Protective Services. Responsibilities also include working with individuals with disabilities, conducting assessments, and providing case management services.
Polk County in northwestern Minnesota offers a variety of activities, including exploring parks and trails, visiting historical sites, and enjoying outdoor recreation.
Crookston is a safe, laid-back community full of friendly people. Located on the banks of the Red Lake River Offering scenic areas, shopping, outdoor activities, historic downtown and the biggest small-town festival in Minnesota in Ox Cart Days every August.
Polk County offers a highly competitive benefits package including affordable healthcare plans through BCBS with attractive low-cost family healthcare plans, dental, vision, life, long-term and short-term disability coverage; flexible spending accounts; PERA retirement with contributions made by the County, vacation and sick leave, and access to many other health and wellness programs. Applicants are not required to be licensed or have a social work degree. Individuals with 4-year human service degrees (criminal justice, psychology, sociology, etc.) may be eligible for these positions.
Polk County Social Services is dedicated to providing quality services through social and financial assistance programs to individuals and families in an equitable, compassionate manner, which affirms the value and uniqueness of each individual.
These services are provided by a professional staff committed to enhancing the quality of life for people while ensuring the cost-effective expenditure of public funds consistent with state and federal requirements.
For information on how to apply, see Examination Process section below.
Examples of Duties
- Interviews clients at intake.
- Carries a caseload where a need for continuing social casework predominates.
- Provides counseling to families and individuals.
- Conducts complex case evaluation for the purpose of assessing problems and determining appropriate types and methods of treatment.
- Prepares intensive long or short-term treatment plans, which require a fund of casework knowledge.
- Identifies client situations, which require intensified service and brings to the attention of supervisor for help or referral.
- Provides adult and child protective services.
- Provides vocation/employment services.
- Provides adult and children's mental health services and services to persons with disabilities.
- Provides or assists in providing services to other cases involving difficult or complex social and financial problems.
- Interprets programs to clients, refers clients to appropriate community services.
- Interprets social and emotional factors to others involved in treatment of clients.
- Prepares social histories with emphasis on psychosocial factors, adoption, or foster home placements.
- Supervises foster home placements.
- Interviews and screens prospective adoptive parents.
- Provides preventive services.
- Interprets policies and regulations to clients.
- Provides casework services for rehabilitation and care of children.
- Prepares and maintains case records which meet federal, state and local guidelines.
- Dictates findings and correspondence.
- Prepares regular and special reports.
- May provide work direction to social work paraprofessionals.
- Participates in in-service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of social work processes and skill in application to individual cases.
Minimum Qualifications
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in social work, psychology, sociology or closely related field.
or
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in any field and one (1) year of experience as a social worker in a public or private social services agency.
You may apply before graduating, but no more than 60 days prior to receiving your Bachelor's Degree.
Examination Process
Once your application has been submitted changes cannot be made. If you have a change in location availability or your contact information changes please email dhs.merit.system@state.mn.us with the new information and include your applicant ID.
Apply online at this link here: 011-OC - County Agency Social Worker - Bachelor's
To receive additional information, please contact Marni Kelly at 218-470-8416 or email marni.kelly@polkcountymn.gov.
Polk County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.