Embedded Social Worker - Congregate Setting & Alternative Response Team Back-Up

The Human Services Adult Behavioral Health area is seeking to hire a Senior Social Worker (SSW) to assist in early identification and intervention for individuals with mental health, medical, and substance use needs who reside in congregate living facilities and have contact with emergency response systems such as law enforcement, fire, or EMS. This position will provide community outreach, resources, consultation, and care coordination to those referred. This position will also serve as a backup Social Worker for the Alternative Response Team Pilot. The Alternative Response Team is comprised of a Social Worker and a community paramedic. The team responds to urgent behavioral health related 911 calls.
Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a $500 referral bonus. For more information visitemployee referral program.
Location and hours:
This position is onsite and located at the Brooklyn Park Police Department, 5400 85th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 and will require travel throughout Hennepin County. The work hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with some limited evening hours.
About this position type:
This is a full-time, benefit-earning position.
This position is internally classified as a Social Worker, Senior.
Click here to view the job classification specification.
In this position, you will:

• Build collaborative relationships with law enforcement professionals and department leadership through case consultation, active engagement in meetings, presenting at rollcalls, and ride alongs.
• Assist law enforcement officers in real time to provide engagement, support, and resources to residents.
• Provide outreach to individuals living in Congregate Settings, case managers, legal guardians, and residential providers either by phone, email or in-person.
• Assist with development of interventions in collaboration with the individual, and their support team, to create a personalized plan that is culturally informed, which includes coordination with new and existing supports.
• Provide consultation regarding resources and referrals to address ongoing needs.
• Coordinate with resident's existing providers in the community to facilitate discussion around creative plans and access to additional social service supports.
• Document referrals received and case notes utilizing state and county systems.
• Participate in community engagement events.
• Serve as back-up Social Worker for the Alternative Response Team Pilot in that role you will:
  • Respond with Community Paramedic to behavioral health crisis calls.
  • Provide on scene needs and risk assessments.
  • Utilize solution focused interventions and together with the individual in crisis create a personalized crisis/safety plan that is culturally informed, and person centered.
  • Facilitate immediate service coordination with community providers and connect individuals to new and existing supports.
  • Provide face-to-face therapeutic interventions, adjusting interventions based on environmental and safety factors.
  • Utilize state and county systems to document all assessments and case communications.
  • As needed transport individuals in county vehicle to community providers to further stabilize.
    

Need to have:

• One of the following:
  • Master's degree or higher in social work or closely related field with course work emphasis in areas such as social work methods, human growth and behavior, and principles of social welfare.
  • Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or human services, and at least 18 semester (27 quarter) credits of graduate work in the above areas, and three years or more of full-time supervised experience as a Social Worker.
  • Licensed as a Graduate Social Worker by the Minnesota Board of Social Work.
• A valid driver's license and daily access to reliable transportation to travel primarily within the metro area to meet with persons in their residential settings and/or perform authorized off-site work duties and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County Driver's Permit to provide transportation as needed to essential services.

Nice to have:

• Licensed or working towards licensure in any of the following:
  • Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).
• Experience:
  • Serving individuals living with a mental health condition and/or substance use disorder.
  • Serving individuals who are involved in the criminal justice system.
  • Effectively interacting with people from diverse backgrounds including efforts towards disparity reduction.
    
• Knowledge of:
  • County and community resources for mental health, substance use disorder, social services, and basic needs.
  • Harm reduction principles.
  • Trauma-informed care principles.
  • Person-centered thinking.
  • Social determinants of health.
  • Race-based disparities and the impact of these disparities on the development of a community, social justice, corrective justice, socio-economic statuses, and the affects to overall health and wellness of populations.
    
• Ability to:
  • Function well in unpredictable and challenging situations calling for sensitivity, flexibility, resourcefulness, and independent judgment.
  • Work well independently and as a team.
  • Demonstrate strong interpersonal, organizational and computer skills.

Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Bilingual candidates who pass a language assessment may qualify for additional bilingual pay and duties.
About the department:
Human Services delivers a variety of services to individuals or families that assist with basic needs or encourage client change around specific objectives. We work with individuals as well as systems and communities in order to develop policy and advocate for the people we serve. The people we serve and our communities are connected. By helping one, we help the other.
About Hennepin County:
Hennepin is the largest county government organization in Minnesota. Our employees work every day to improve the health, safety and quality of life for our residents and communities. All of our jobs align to one or more of our overarching goals -- that Hennepin County residents are healthy, protected and safe, self-reliant, assured due process, and mobile.
Our employees receive a combination of generous benefits and positive workplace culture not found at other organizations. This includes meaningful work that impacts our community, competitive pay, work-life balance, a variety of benefits and opportunities to grow. Learn more at The Bridge (select Guest).
Hennepin County envisions an organization where our commitment to diversity and the reduction of disparities is fundamental in providing excellent service to our community.
Your future. Made here.

If you have any questions, please contact:
Kristin Checco
Kristin.Checco@hennepin.usEmployment Type: Full-time