The Human Services Adult Behavioral Health area is seeking to hire Senior Social Workers (SSW) to assist in early identification and intervention for individuals with mental health, medical, and substance use needs who have contact with emergency response systems such as law enforcement, fire, or EMS. Individuals in these positions provide community outreach, resources and short term, solution focused case management to those referred.
In these positions you will:
Work on-site in the assigned precinct, build collaborative relationships with law enforcement professionals and department leadership by offering social service-related consults, attending and actively engaging in precinct meetings, presenting social service-related information at roll calls and going out on occasional ride along with officers.
Receive clients through law enforcement referrals after officers have interacted with clients and determined they have a social service-related need.
Assist law enforcement officers by providing engagement, support, and resources to residents.
Provide outreach to individuals referred either by phone, in-person or by letter.
Develop interventions in collaboration with the resident to create a personalized plan that is culturally informed, including coordination with existing supports, providing resources and referrals for ongoing needs.
Assist with applications for benefits and applications for services.
Coordinate with resident’s existing providers in the community.
Document referrals received and case notes utilizing state and county systems.
Participate in community engagement events.
Need to have:
One of the following:
Master's degree or higher in social work or closely related field with course work emphasis in areas such as social work methods, human growth and behavior, and principles of social welfare.
Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or human services, and at least 18 semester (27 quarter) credits of graduate work in the above areas, and three years or more of full-time supervised experience as a social worker.
Licensed as a Graduate Social Worker by the Minnesota Board of Social Work.
A valid driver's license and daily access to reliable transportation to travel primarily within the metro area to meet with persons in their residential settings and/or perform authorized off-site work duties and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County Driver's Permit to provide transportation as needed to essential services.
Nice to have:
Licensed or working towards licensure in any of the following:
Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LSGW), Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).
Experience:
Providing case management.
Serving individuals living with a mental health condition, substance use disorder, and homeless/housing instability.
Collaborating with law enforcement to address the safety and needs of individuals.
Serving individuals who are involved in the criminal justice system.
Effectively interacting with people from diverse backgrounds including efforts towards disparity reduction.
Knowledge of:
Diversity of cultural and lifestyle experiences, beliefs and practices relating to spiritual, mental, and physical health, community, family structure and dynamics and disparities.
County and community resources for mental health, substance use disorder, social services, and basic needs.
Safety practices for meeting with clients in the community and in residential settings.
Harm reduction principles.
Trauma-informed care principles.
Person-centered thinking.
Social determinants of health.
Social work best practices and ethics.
Community resources and providers.
Ability to:
Function well in unpredictable and challenging situations calling for sensitivity, flexibility, resourcefulness, and independent judgment.
Work well independently and as a team.
Demonstrate strong interpersonal, organizational and computer skills.