Social Service Worker I

Kentucky Personnel Cabinet•Columbia, KY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice is hiring a Social Service Worker I to provide entry-level professional social work services to adjudicated juveniles in Department facilities. The role supports juveniles’ development and re-entry into their communities through counseling, treatment planning, placement and discharge activities, and coordination with juvenile service workers. The position calls for maturity, reliability, self-discipline, responsible conduct, leadership, and respectful treatment of staff, youth, and others. Training and mentoring opportunities support career growth and advancement. The job is performed in an office, facility, or residential program setting and may include visits to clients or families at their residences. Emergency services are provided on a 24-hour basis, including accepting referrals and completing investigations at any hour without prior warning. Enforced intervention carries a risk of physical harm. Minimum travel may be required, and the employee may be required to restrain out-of-control juveniles. Employees in this classification at the Department of Juvenile Justice are prohibited from using medical cannabis. A valid driver’s license must be documented within one month of employment, and any required licenses, certifications, or other credentials must be maintained throughout employment. The position has an initial and promotional probationary period of nine months, except as provided in KRS 18A.111.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a college or university in social work, sociology, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or a related field.
No experience, training, or skills are required.
If employed by the Department of Juvenile Justice, must provide documentation of a valid driver’s license to the appointing authority within one month of employment.
Must maintain any required licenses, certifications, or other credentials for the duration of employment.
Must not use medical cannabis while employed in this position.

Responsibilities

Provides entry-level professional social work services to adjudicated juveniles in Department of Juvenile Justice facilities.
Provides beginning-level individual, group, and family counseling and develops individual treatment plans.
Conducts treatment team planning sessions.
Participates in the placement and discharge of juveniles.
Assists juvenile service workers with integrating juveniles back into the community.
Writes progress notes, discharge summaries, charting summaries, and other administrative or treatment reports.
Maintains current and confidential case records.
Supervises juveniles as needed.
May provide minimum required travel.
May be required to restrain out-of-control juveniles.
Provides emergency services on a 24-hour basis, including accepting referrals and completing investigations at any hour without prior warning.