Legacy Child Services Senior Social Worker

Hennepin County's Children & Family Services is seeking a Senior Social Worker to work in the Legacy Child Services area. Legacy Child Services Senior Social Workers are assigned caseloads of children who are in out of home placement due to abuse and/or neglect. Children are referred from the Child Protection Case Management program. The Legacy Child Services Senior Social Workers are assigned to children and youth who are under state guardianship or permanent custody to the agency. The Legacy Child Services Senior Social Worker will work to ensure that the physical, educational, medical, cultural, mental health and general well-being needs of these children are met while the child is in out of home placement.
Effective December 31, 2023, there will be a general salary adjustment of 2.5% to the minimum and maximum of the range.
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 hybrid and will be performed both on-site at various designated Child Protection satellite offices, in the community, and remote as job duties require. Work hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. with occasional evening and weekend hours required depending on clients' needs. While this position is designated as hybrid, based on current requirements hires must reside in or relocate to Minnesota or Wisconsin.

• Team with internal and external partners on cases to increase child well-being, safety, and permanency.
• Interview, and assess youth to develop an Out of Home Placement plan that meets the individual needs of the youth, and an Independent Livings Skills plan for youth 14 and older.
• Make monthly visits to clients' homes, assess safety and risk, and transport youth/clients to appointments, meetings, and visitations.
• Prepare, order, and maintain case records, case findings, verbal and written correspondence, and reports.
• Make referrals to appropriate community resources and arrange for services while providing social and emotional factors to other's involved in treatment of children/youth.
• Prepare court documentation, attend, and participate in court hearings, discussions with county attorneys, and internal and external partners regarding case updates.
• Provide consultation and participate in workgroups, committees, and other initiatives as the Subject Matter Expert (SME).
• Assist in the development and implementation of trainings related to the program area.
• Assist with the onboarding, mentoring, and training of new staff.
• Carry a more complex caseload in which youth require a more specialized treatment plan if necessary.

• 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 or higher in social work, psychology, sociology, or human services, and 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, the ability to obtain a Hennepin County driver permit, and daily access to reliable transportation sufficient to transport clients (including children) and to travel to a variety of Hennepin County community locations, and to visit clients in residential settings.

• Experience:
  • Working with preadolescents and adolescent children.
  • Working with child development while being aware of resources for children.
  • Providing professional social work services such as case management.
  • Working directly with clients and identifying and appropriately responding to their needs.
  • Working with diverse and underserved populations of different backgrounds and cultures.
• Knowledge of county and community resources.
• Ability to:
  • Recognize and respect cultural differences and culturally appropriate services.
  • Function well in unpredictable and challenging situations calling for sensitivity, flexibility, resourcefulness, and independent judgment.
  • Plan and organize work, manage multitasking activities in an ever-changing fast paced environment, and to complete paperwork in a timely manner.