Social Worker

Performs intermediate-advanced human support work conducting child abuse and neglect assessments, providing case management for assigned cases, preparing and executing case plans, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Children and Family Services Manager.

1. Conducts child abuse and neglect assessments; interviews children at school or in their home; interview caregivers at home, work or in the community; make home visits and assess home conditions to ensure children are in a safe environment.
2. Prepares appropriate recommendations for future case handling including conducting family assessments, developing case plans, and preparing dispositional reports.
3. Conducts youth intake assessments and planning services as prescribed by appropriate statutes; provides recommendations for disposition to the District Attorney, other legal counsel, and the court.
4. Provides case management for assigned cases; prepares, executes, and review case plans.
5. Maintains agency records and records case data on the computer system.
6. Submits reports as required within established time frames.
7. Testifies in court and participate in hearings when necessary.
8. Participates in division meetings, staff meetings, and other meetings concerning case planning and the provision of services within as well as outside the department; makes referrals to community or other resources when appropriate.
9. Operates within a team approach; teams may be informal or formal, with other members of the department and representatives from other agencies; works to provide integrated services.
10. Serves as point of contact for the Health and Human Services Department relative to assigned external agencies, programs, or services.
11. Participates in the Department's Children and Family Services after-hours on-call.
12. Participates in staff development, training programs, or other in-service programs as directed.
13. Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Manager or Supervisor for this position.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Performs other related functions and duties as assigned or required.

It is unlikely an employee will perform all the duties listed on a regular basis, nor is the list exhaustive in the sense it covers all the duties that an employee may be required to perform.  The examples are merely indicative, not restrictive. 

Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, or related field and moderate experience in child and family counseling and care, human services, case management, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Thorough knowledge of County and department policies and procedures to include emergency and inclement weather policies; ability to prioritize and manage multiple, concurrent projects; attention to detail and ability to effectively organize time and anticipate, plan and successfully respond to changing circumstances; ability to conduct child abuse and neglect assessments; ability to testify in court and participate in hearings when necessary; ability to maintain agency records in an electronic format; ability to make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals; ability to operate and use standard office equipment; knowledge and ability to use standard office and position-specific software; ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, other departments and the general public.  Obtain Wisconsin Juvenile Court Intake Association Juvenile Court Intake Worker training within 6 months of hire.  Obtain the State of Wisconsin Social Worker certification and Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Child Welfare Foundation training within 2 or more years of hire.  Valid driver's license in the State of Wisconsin.

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This work requires the frequent exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions, frequently requires standing, walking, sitting, reaching with hands and arms, tasting or smelling and lifting and occasionally requires climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and pushing or pulling; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to outdoor weather conditions and exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Exposure to bloodborne pathogens is considered moderate to high for this position.