Social Worker, Rapid Response/Relative Search

Sherburne County•Elk River 55330-1692, MN

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Sherburne County Human Services is hiring a Social Worker in its Child Protection unit, with duties focused on rapid response, family group decision making, and relative search. The role assesses immediate child-safety concerns, develops stabilization and safety plans, completes child protection investigations, and helps determine whether court involvement or out-of-home placement is necessary. The position also coordinates family and multidisciplinary meetings, supports family reunification, and identifies and assesses relatives as potential permanency options for children in placement. The position is based at the Government Center in Elk River, Minnesota, and includes office and field work. It is in-house for at least the first six months for training, after which a hybrid or remote option may be available. Department core hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with flexibility intended to support work-life balance; work outside normal business hours may be required. The estimated work environment is 80% inside work and 20% travel.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or a closely related field.
Social Worker I: completed Social Work internship or internship in a closely related field.
Social Worker II: at least one year of Social Work experience or equivalent education plus work experience.
Valid Minnesota driver's license and reliable vehicle.
Ability to endure extended travel, up to eight hours or more per day, and provide personal transportation when county vehicles are unavailable.
Ability to travel to remote areas and work in all weather conditions.
Ability to exert very moderate physical effort, including some kneeling, crouching, crawling, and potentially lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects weighing 15–25 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Social Worker Foundations training.
Experience with Signs of Safety training.
Experience with Corner House training.
Experience with trauma training.
Experience working in the state SSIS system.
Experience conducting child protection investigations.

Responsibilities

Support goals of MAAFPCWDA by preventing out-of-home placement and promoting family reunification.
Respond to placement-related crises, evaluate immediate safety risks, and develop rapid stabilization and safety plans.
Coordinate and facilitate Rapid Response Meetings and consultations when rigorous safety planning is needed, including meetings held within 24–72 hours.
Use core elements of Family Group Decision Making and the Signs of Safety approach to develop plans that identify risks, goals, roles, and steps to keep children safe.
Communicate and collaborate with families, family supports, community agencies, and social services, sharing crisis plans and clear next steps.
Conduct and complete child protection investigations; determine whether court involvement is needed, initiate and follow through on court processes, and provide testimony as needed.
Determine whether out-of-home placement is necessary when child safety cannot be ensured.
Coordinate and facilitate Family Group Decision Making meetings, maintain the meeting purpose and agenda, support respectful and productive participation, and prepare families for the process.
Complete assigned documentation and paperwork related to family plans, and educate the community about Family Involvement Strategies and Family Group Decision Making.
Complete relative assessments using the 10 Best Interest Factors, open secondary work groups for assigned cases, and coordinate local background checks.
Begin relative searches within 30 days of placement; meet with children, parents, and known relatives or kin to identify placement options.
Coordinate contact and visitation between children in out-of-home placements and relatives or kin, including respite when appropriate.
Share relative-search findings with primary case managers, attend concurrent permanency planning and case-transfer meetings, and refer cases for Family Group Decision Making to identify permanency options.
Document relative-search efforts in SSIS and complete the relative-search section of court reports for primary case managers.
Initiate ICPC referrals when out-of-state relatives are being considered for placement or permanency, and complete Social/Medical Histories when adoption is being considered.
Attend court hearings as needed, prepare court reports, monitor permanency timelines, and make final permanency recommendations to the court.
Ensure relative-search efforts are exhausted and obtain the court's ruling to be relieved of efforts before case closure; rule out concurrent permanency options through the court when necessary.
Attend regional state meetings, training seminars, and conferences, and study relevant professional literature.