Social Worker

WHO WE ARE:
The Wood County Human Services Department has great passion for helping the members of our community. As an employer, we strive to provide a work environment where diversity and differing opinions are valued, creativity is encouraged, continuous learning and improvement are fostered, teamwork and open/honest communication are encouraged, and meeting customer needs through quality services is a shared goal across all departments. If you have a background in Social Work and a passion to help the members of our community, please consider joining our team!

WHAT WE OFFER:
In addition to who we are, Wood County team members are offered competitive salaries, flexible schedules, and excellent benefits including:

• Health Insurance - we offer low premiums and low deductibles, with excellent coverage!
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) - This is one of the best-funded public pension plans in the U.S.!
• 457 deferred compensation plan
• On-Site Training and Continuing Education Credits
• Vacation and Sick Time - Start accruing for both on your first day!
• Paid Holidays
• Call Time
• Flexible Spending Account to set aside pre-tax dollars for childcare and medical expenses
• Life Insurance
• Short and Long-Term Disability
• Wellness Incentive Plan
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

CURRENT OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN OUR TEAM:
The Wood County Human Services Department has an opening for a full-time (.97 FTE) Initial Assessment Social Worker Position. The primary responsibility of this position is to identify children who are in need of protection or services and assure that unsafe children are protected by engaging parents/caregivers in implementing in-home or out-of-home safety plans. This position must work toward the efforts and support the Family Services Division to ensure compliance with program objectives and applicable standards, mandates, rules, regulations, and statutory authority. The work is performed under the immediate direction of the Access and Initial Assessment Social Work Supervisor with additional oversight.

GENERAL FUNCTION
This Social Worker position responds to reports of child maltreatment by providing safety assessments, identifying risk factors and evaluating the need for services in an effort to ensure child safety and enhance family functioning.

SUPERVISES
No supervisory responsibility.

RESPONSIBILITIES
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A. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1. Use Social Work Methods, principles, and interviewing techniques with parents and/or children to assess for safety in cases of alleged maltreatment. The social worker will need to establish rapport with the parents and family to obtain adequate information to identify any potential safety threats or risk factors and determine if formal interventions are warranted. The social worker must develop a cooperative working relationship with other community systems involved with treatment of the child and his family and assist the family in obtaining services as needed.
2. Provide services to children at risk of abuse and neglect and their families. Court preparation and testimony is required.
3. Manage workload to assure adequate compliance with required paperwork through Court Reports and eWiSACWIS documentation per Wisconsin State Statutes, Child Protective Services Access and Initial Assessment Standards, Child Protective Services Safety Intervention Standards and internal processes.
4. Function as a team member with staff throughout Human Services, school personnel, placement providers, court officials, volunteers, law enforcement, medical providers, and treatment and service providers.
5. Provide on-call coverage and perform duties during after-hours, weekends, and holidays for emergent child protection and youth justice matters.
6. Responsible to know and practice the Safety policies of the County. Perform all job tasks in a safe and prescribed manner.

B. OTHER JOB DUTIES
1. Attend department staff meetings, appropriate training and education, and supervisory conferences.
2. Demonstrate the ability to critically think by constructively utilizing training and education provided and administrative consultation.
3. Any other duties as may be assigned.

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum qualifications of a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a directly related field and possession of, or eligibility for, Social Work Certification in accordance with Wisconsin Chapter 457.08 is required. This position may require travel to and from off-campus sites. Individual may use personal vehicle or other means of reliable transportation. Basic everyday living skills, the ability to understand and follow directions (agency manuals, etc.), and reading and writing (for reports) is necessary. Ability to communicate orally and in writing with individuals and groups.

Basic office equipment used - computer terminal, printing equipment, dictation equipment, telephone, copy machine, FAX machine.

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: Multiple Locations