Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services (DVHHS) is currently seeking two qualified individuals to fill full-time (40 hours per week) positions for County Agency Social Workers. DVHHS serves Cottonwood and Jackson Counties. DVHHS offers a full benefit package which includes Public Employee Retirement pension.

These positions will assess the need for services when requested by families and/or individuals and will provide on-going case management services. Primary job duties include performing client visits and taking part in meetings with service providers. These positions may work with children and/or adults.

The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) partnered with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Minnesota Association for County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA) to develop the Minnesota Realistic Job Preview for Child Protection (Linked) Child Protection Services job description video

Application Instructions are below in the Examination Process Section below.

• Interviews clients at intake.
• Carries a caseload where a need for continuing social casework predominates.
• Provides counseling to families and individuals.
• Conducts complex case evaluation for the purpose of assessing problems and determining appropriate types and methods of treatment.
• Prepares intensive long or short-term treatment plans, which require a fund of casework knowledge.
• Identifies client situations, which require intensified service and brings to the attention of supervisor for help or referral.
• Provides vocation/employment services.
• Provides direct services to emotionally, physically, or socially handicapped individuals.
• Provides services to delinquent children.
• Provides or assists in providing services to other cases involving difficult or complex social and financial problems. Interprets programs to clients, refers clients to appropriate community services.
• Interprets social and emotional factors to others involved in treatment of clients.
• Prepares social histories with emphasis on psychosocial factors, adoption, or foster home placements.
• Supervises foster home placements.
• Interviews and screens prospective adoptive parents.
• Provides preventive services.
• Interprets policies and regulations to clients.
• Provides casework services for rehabilitation and care of children.
• Prepares and maintains case records which meet federal, state and local guidelines.
• Dictates findings and correspondence.
• Prepares regular and special reports.
• May provide work direction to social work par-professionals.
• Participates in in-service training and other staff development activities to increase knowledge of social work processes and skill in application to individual cases.

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in social work, psychology, sociology, nursing or closely related field.

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in any field and one (1) year of experience as a social worker in a public or private social services agency.

The examination will consist of a rating of training and experience based on the information you provide in your application and your responses to the supplemental questions included in the application process. You must read the questions carefully, answer truthfully, and include any experience claimed in your answers to the supplemental questions in the Work Experience section of your application. Any experience claimed in your answers to the supplemental questions but not included in the Work Experience section of you application will not be credited. You will be asked to verify your degree with official transcripts upon hire.

Once your application has been submitted changes cannot be made. If you have a change in location availability or your contact information changes please email dhs.merit.system@state.mn.us with the new information and include your applicant ID.

Note: There are two (2) steps required for this application process:

Step 1. Submit an application to Minnesota Merit System by 4:30 pm on Monday, January 9, 2023 by applying at this link here: 011-OC - County Agency Social Worker - Bachelor's

AND

Step 2. Complete an online DVHHS County Application by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, January 9, 2023.

In order to ensure the safety of citizens, employees and property, DVHHS has adopted a drug and alcohol testing policy which applies to all candidates being considered for employment with DVHHS. A Drug and Alcohol test must be completed within 24 hours of all contingent verbal offers of employment, unless alternate scheduling arrangements are approved by Human Resources office.

Please contact DVHHS Human Resources by calling 507-847-4000 with additional questions.