SOCIAL WORKER - COMMUNITY RESPONSE

La Crosse County•La Crosse, WI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Under supervision, this employee assists clients with environmental and supportive services designed to overcome financial, personal health or family struggles; conducts individual or family assessments to determine services needed; provides agency services when appropriate; and refers clients for other community services when needed. Services to clients may take the form of protective actions in their behalf or on behalf of the community. The social worker in this position will work alongside an established Community Response Program (CRP). Community Response focuses on preventing child maltreatment and strengthening family functioning. This is achieved by providing families with access to services that families need and assisting them in accessing formal systems and informal resources to meet those needs. This position aims to provide children with safe, stable and nurturing environments through service linkages, case advocacy, connections to both formal and informal resources and skill-building for parents/caregivers. The focus will be on families in La Crosse County who were diverted by child protective services (CPS) following a report of alleged child maltreatment. The intent of this position is to reach families that are not actively involved in the child welfare system in an effort to reduce re-referrals to CPS, strengthen families, and prevent child maltreatment. By intervening before family circumstances rise to the level of threatened or actual maltreatment, risk factors can be addressed, and protective factors promoted to prevent child abuse and neglect. The successful candidate for this position will be highly creative, demonstrate a skill for relationship-building and effective program coordination. Under the direction of the Community Programs and Prevention Supervisor, the Community Response Social Worker collaborates with law enforcement, school representatives, community partners, residents, and others to provide prevention/early intervention services at the community level.

Requirements

Requires graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in Social Work (or any related college degree such as Sociology, Psychology or Criminal Justice).
Requires basic computer keyboarding skills for entering data related to clients.
For many positions, must have valid driver's license and access to personal transportation, or other reliable means for city and rural travel.
Requires certification by the State of Wisconsin as a Social Worker.
If not certified at the time of application for employment with La Crosse County, must have applied to the State of Wisconsin for a Temporary or Training Certificate and obtain regular Certification within specified time limits.

Nice To Haves

Strong preference for minimum of one year of experience working with the same population of clients that are served by the unit in which the vacancy occurs, and familiarity with community resources available to them.

Responsibilities

Provides assistance to children, youth, and families.
Serves as a referral source and liaison to the Department regarding child welfare and service needs.
Works with others to develop and coordinate neighborhood and community-based resources to strengthen families and communities.
Develops special projects or initiatives designed to address client or resident needs.
Acts as a community referral source and resource person.
Provides prevention/early intervention services to children, youth and families: meets with families and support networks to develop relationships and build trust; provides preventive early intervention and crisis response as appropriate; connects people to resources; utilizes the discretionary fund and other resources to address the minor emergency needs of clients; interfaces with child protective services, other Human Services departments and community partners as needed.
Engages in collaborative activities with appropriate parties: works with agency representatives and others to identify needs and develop strategies to address them; coordinates services and interventions with other agencies and service providers; identifies gaps and barriers to service delivery.
Performs departmental public relations and liaison duties: interprets the Department's role and responsibilities to community residents and service providers; consults with county workers and others regarding community resources; provides information to the Department, and other stakeholders regarding community needs as appropriate; serves on Department and community committees as directed.
Adheres to Departmental reporting and training requirements: submits quarterly data reports and program documentation as needed; seeks out and participates in appropriate training opportunities.
Explains and discusses options with clients regarding problem solving challenges that arise for them; utilizes both funded programs and other services that are available for individuals in the community.
Makes home visits to assess client's needs and offers the client services and/or program options as applicable.
Provides social services per Wisconsin Statutes, court policies, and/or requirements of the program, state, or federal guidelines.
Accepts requests and referrals for agency services.
Conducts thorough assessments through interviews, home visits and collateral investigations, to determine the range of services needed by these individuals and their families for preventative, remedial or rehabilitative services.
Explains the scope of the agency's services and discusses the client's rights and responsibilities in relation to the use of such services.
Arranges or provides for appropriate social services for clients based on assessments of needs.
Conducts regular case evaluations and develops and updates service plans accordingly.
Maintains case records containing pertinent, accurate and current information.
Prepares correspondence, reports and other records as required.
Fully completes required documentation in a timely fashion and in accordance with program requirements.
Coordinates or participates in care conferences.
Participates in committees and task forces as assigned.
Testifies in court as necessary or required.
Maintains confidentiality of client-related information, maintains respectful treatment of clients, and adheres to the La Crosse County Standards of Conduct in the Administrative Code (3.08).
Adheres to approved social worker principles, methods and practices, including the National Association of Social Worker's (NASW) code of ethics.
Maintains skill and competence levels as policies and regulations change by attending department/staff meetings and by participating in continuing training as required and appropriate.
Reports to work when scheduled, with minimum use of sick leave.
Employee is expected to build up sick leave balance for income protection for unexpected illness.
In this public service position, employee is required to be courteous, cooperative and respectful at all times, with the public and clients.
Also establishes and maintains a courteous, cooperative and respectful working relationship with other employees, supervisors, and public officials.
Assists and provides back up to other Social Workers as necessary or required.
May present public sessions of programs that promote prevention, wellness, or educational information to the general public.
May be required to work nights, weekends, or during community emergencies and/or disasters, when work may vary from normal job responsibilities.