Social Worker - Disability Services

Blue Earth County • Mankato, MN

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision of the Human Services Supervisor - Adult & Disability Services, this position supports the mission of Blue Earth County Human Services by effectively and efficiently delivering essential services to families and individuals so they can achieve their potential through active community participation. The Social Worker – Disability Services will review MnChoices assessments, initiate interdisciplinary team processes, develop and implement support plans, initiate and develop services, and authorize client services. This position will focus on case management, participate in community relations and customer service activities, manage case files and participate in professional staff development.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in social work, sociology, psychology, special education, or a related field
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience working with individuals with disabilities

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in social work
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience providing direct care to individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities in a residential or vocational setting
• Experience working as a county case manager serving individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities
• Proficient in understanding and speaking languages other than English, such as Spanish, Somali, Chinese, Sudanese, and Arabic, among others.

Responsibilities

• Plans, initiates and develops services.
• Reviews MnChoices assessments to determine appropriate services based on the individual’s needs and preferences.
• Develops person-centered support plans with the person, parents or legal representative.
• Obtains appropriate authorizations.
• Refers to providers for services and arranges interviews and visits to complete referral materials.
• Sends completed support plan to interdisciplinary team members.
• Provides oversight to other team members and ensures assigned responsibilities related to the support plan area completed.
• Ensures completion of risk management plan based on individual’s vulnerabilities and planned interventions to minimize risks.
• Applies for, evaluates and completes reports for any special funding for services or equipment.
• Authorizes client services.
• Determines costs and availability of clients’ services.
• Seeks out funding sources, reviews budgets and initiates contracts.
• Negotiates funding issues and ensures service expectations and funding are consistent.
• Completes service authorizations/agreements.
• Develops individualized budgets with input from consumer, family and legal representatives.
• Authorizes services within funding guidelines.
• Maintains ongoing cases.
• Maintains consumer files by completing case note activity, prepares necessary correspondence, communicates with and between interdisciplinary team members and mediates conflicts.
• Arranges, attends and chairs the interdisciplinary annual, semi-annual and operational team meetings.
• Monitors client services.
• Monitors on-going residential and vocational sites and services.
• Revised support plan.
• Ensures health and safety needs are met.
• Monitors guardianship.
• Monitors budgets and contracts.
• Reviews provider reports and data to ensure services meet expectations and following support plan guidelines.
• Maintain intra-agency contracts with financial workers and accounting.
• Corrects deficiencies and citations.
• Participates in appeals process.
• Advocates for clients.
• Encourages and empowers the person to make informed choices.
• Provides information to allow for informed decision making.
• Promotes health, safety, well-being and independence.
• Provides information and assistance with public and private guardianship.
• Attends guardianship review team meetings to consult on cases as needed.
• Writes petitions to initiate, modify and/or discharge guardianship.
• Attends and testifies at hearings.
• Prepares related documents.
• Provides credible testimony in court.
• Attends and testifies in court proceedings.
• Represents the interests of the county, state, and federal government.
• Makes a verbal account for observations, actions, and findings while performing official duties.
• Participates in community relations and customer services activities.
• Attends committee meetings, work groups and task forces.
• Participates in interagency screening teams and makes referrals.
• Provides community education to the general public on programs and services.
• Facilitates person-centered planning process as requested.
• Interacts and communicates with court representatives, general public, advocates, families, organizations, agencies, supervisor and co-workers.
• Promotes a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace.
• Engages positively with both internal and external customers.
• Communicates and interacts effectively and respectfully with colleagues, supervisors, representatives from other organizations, and the public.
• Performs the physical and mental demands of the position.
• Attends work during regularly scheduled hours.
• Manages case file.
• Files documents in designated sections.
• Reviews for necessary documents.
• Discards unnecessary information per state and county policy.
• Communicates information to appropriate people.
• Provides on-call services.
• Answers phone calls, follow-up as needed, at home and responds to calls after hours.
• Document the calls and makes appropriate referrals.
• Participates in professional staff development.
• Participates in training and education opportunities to maintain and improve proficiency.
• Attends and participates in professional organizations.
• Associates with employees and departments from other counties and states for collaboration.
• Performs other related functions as apparent or assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level