Social Worker - Child Protection, Kinship Connector (Hybrid)

Position Description

Consider joining a team where your strengths can shine and help foster change for good in parts of the community that need it most. Anoka County Community Social Services and Behavioral Health (CSS/BH) has a newly created position that will partner with families in the assessment and investigation phase to inquire, identify and increase family supports, facilitate family meetings, develop safety and support plans, and assess and coordinate kinship placements when needed.

Consider joining a team of professionals dedicated to providing services and support to families within the community! If your career ambitions resonate with our mission, we invite you to apply with Anoka County today!

This is a full-time, exempt, hybridposition. Virtual Interviews will take place the week of February 10th, 2025 for those selected to move forward in the hiring process.

Pay & Benefits

• Salary: $70,012 to $84,011 annually ($33.66 to $40.39 per hour).

• 2025 Anoka County Salary Schedule Grade 34: $70,012 to $98,009 annually ($33.66 to $47.12 per hour).

• 24 days of paid flexible time off and up to 12.5 paid holidays.

• Comprehensive insurance, including medical, dental, vision, flex benefits and more at www.anokacountymn.gov/benefits.

• Medical and dental clinic exclusive to employees, located at the Anoka County Government Center.

• Pension plan and other retirement investment options.

• Advancement/professional development opportunities.

Work Location

• This position will work at Anoka County Government Center, located at 2100 3rd Ave, Anoka, MN 55303.

• This position may be eligible for flexible work arrangements, including hybrid work, with some days working remotely, in the field, and some days working in the office.

• Expected work hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
These examples are not all inclusive and are intended to be illustrative of primary responsibilities of an Anoka County Social Worker.

• Collaborate with Family Investigators/Assessors to identify and assess kinship information, supports, safety planning and placement options for cases that qualify for kinship rapid response.

• Coordinate and facilitate family meetings utilizing the concepts of the Family Group Decision Making and Talking Circles models.

• Coordinate and facilitate rapid consultations for Child Protection cases where there is an immediate need for rigorous safety planning to ensure child safety. These meetings will need to occur within 24-72 hours.

• Complete all assigned documentation in SSIS and prepare paperwork related to family plans and relative search.

• Provide education and information to families on the child welfare system, resources and supports.

• Attend regional state meetings, training seminars, and conferences to improve skill levels, and stay current on literature in the field, changes to statutes.

• Complete initial relative assessments to determining the relative's ability to meet the child's needs and parameters for licensing considerations, including initial background inquiry.

• Engage with family systems and meet with children, parents, and known kin to gather information for purposes of locating non-resident parents and relative/kin placement options and develop intentional supportive connections for family support.

• Participate in case transfer meetings to ensure continuity of kinship search efforts and family planning.

• Attend and participate in initial court hearings as needed.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or a closely related field.

• Two years (2,080 annual hours) of job-related experience working in child protection, child welfare, or a closely related field.

• In lieu of the required education, an equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

• Valid driver's license and vehicle available for business use.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed

• Master's degree or higher in social work, psychology, or a closely related field.

• Three years or more (2,080 annual hours) of job-related experience

• (If there is additional experience that would be helpful to ask about, we can list that here and add questions).

• Training or experience facilitating Family Group Decision Making or Talking Circles.

• Training or certification in Motivational Interviewing.

Physical Demands and Work Conditions

• Standard office environment.

• Occasional lifting of 10 - 20 pounds.

• Occasional travel to other county work sites as needed. Travel between work sites may require driving a county vehicle and/or a personal vehicle.

• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Selection Process

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions.

Pre-employment Requirements

Anoka County has determined that successfully passing a pre-employment criminal/driving background check, drug screen and DOT physical, and/or other qualifications checks may be necessary for certain positions. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the County to obtain to conduct such screenings and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

About Anoka County

As the fourth largest county in Minnesota, we depend on the diversity, dedication, determination, and innovation of our employees. We offer a wide range of career opportunities for people with a variety of personalities, abilities, knowledge, and life experiences who can come together for the single purpose of serving Anoka County's 369,000 citizens in a respectful, innovative, and fiscally responsible manner. If your career aspirations resonate with our mission, we invite you to Find Your Path with Anoka County!Hear from other Anoka County employees here.

Commitment to Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employment

Anoka County is committed to the principles of our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity. It is the policy of Anoka County to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, marital status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, physical ability, sexual orientation, or age except where such status is a bona fide occupational qualification. It is the policy of Anoka County to make employment decisions in a manner that will further our Affirmative Action Plan and Equal Employment Opportunity.

If you require accommodations or have any other questions regarding this job posting, please call the Anoka County Human Resources Department at 763-324-4300 and reference the posting title and number. If you have questions about the hiring process, please visit: http://www.anokacountymn.gov/er-faq

Anoka County is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy: https://www.anokacounty.us/401/Diversity-EEO