Safety Services Worker - Casual

County of Marathon•Wausau, WI

13d

About The Position

The Marathon County Social Services Department is hiring a casual Safety Services Worker to provide program support to Social Workers. The goal is to help maintain children safely in their homes with their parents or support reunification. Services include safety checks of children and parents or caregivers, assessing caretaking abilities, random drug screening and alcohol sobriety checks, and potentially supervising parent-child visits. Services are delivered in a range of locations, predominantly in family homes, and involve considerable direct contact. The role works closely with Social Work staff and requires strong observation, engagement, professional communication, and timely, thorough case documentation. The worker must be able to engage families and develop knowledge of parenting, AODA and mental health issues, and community resources. The position requires weekday availability, including evenings, and weekend availability on Saturdays and Sundays. The worker is responsible for protecting confidential and sensitive information and must demonstrate impartiality, integrity, neutrality, and confidentiality. Work may take place in an office, community setting, or the home of a biological parent, guardian, or foster family. The position is casual, for up to 20 hours per week, and pays $21.00 per hour.

Requirements

At least an associate’s degree from an accredited two-year or four-year college or university in social work, social science, sociology, psychology, or a related field.
Valid driver’s license and a driving record that meets County standards, or ability to obtain reliable transportation as needed.
Knowledge of Social Services Department functions and services.
Knowledge of available community childcare and other resources.
Knowledge of child development and positive parenting techniques, including child discipline.
Ability to follow and understand written and oral instructions.
Ability to work independently, apply standards and criteria, and exercise judgment in accordance with established program procedures.
Ability to conduct basic interviews by listening, observing, gathering facts, and recording facts accurately.
Ability to communicate empathetically with customers, establish effective working relationships, and respond meaningfully to their needs.
Ability to handle crisis situations, de-escalate conflict, and make sound judgments.
Ability to work effectively with agency staff and community members.
Ability to organize and maintain information and keep records and file documentation current.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Skill in using a computer for data entry and word processing.
Availability on weekdays, including evenings, and on Saturdays and Sundays.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in social work, social science, sociology, psychology, or a related field.
One year of experience working with children and families in an area related to child abuse, neglect, and/or delinquency.

Responsibilities

Provide safety checks to clients served by Social Services.
Provide transportation at the direction of a supervisor.
Coordinate services for customers with agency staff through phone contacts or home visits.
Use a computer to prepare reports, correspondence, and other typed materials.
Document client contacts accurately and promptly in eWiSACWIS.
Track program participants, outcomes, services, length of involvement, and successful completion in a spreadsheet.
Conduct announced and unannounced home visits to assess children’s safety.
Engage families and develop supportive relationships.
Provide support through demonstration and modeling.
Connect families with necessary resources and use listening, interviewing, and problem-solving techniques.
Provide court testimony when required.
Administer urinalysis and breath alcohol tests as requested by a Social Worker.
Maintain regular and predictable attendance and work extra hours as required.
Assist Social Work units with administrative tasks as needed.
Provide supervised visitation to families served by Social Services.
Perform related work and other duties as assigned.