Social Worker - Community First Services and Supports

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED.

Conduct Evaluations and/or Assessments per direction of Agency, State, or Federal regulations:

• Apply knowledge of social case work objectives, principles and methods to determine the appropriateness of program participation through various assessment tools and other procedures.
• Contact with potential clients and/or guardians to explain social service programs, services and eligibility criteria.
• Determine eligibility and appropriateness of program participation.
• Authorize waiver or county funded services based on recipient’s needs and available funding.
• Complete all related paperwork requirements as dictated by state and federal mandates and agency policies.
• Review assessment results for Community First Services and Supports. Provide the results of the assessment to the client and/or guardian and the clients Interdisciplinary Care Team.
• Assist with developing Renville County Agencies process for Community First Services and Supports.
• Complete training required to become a certified MnChoices Assessor and maintain certification.

Providing on-going case management for individuals on the CAC, CADI, DD, and BI Waivers: 

• Determine financial eligibility for program participation.
• Provide Relocation Service Coordination Service.
• Gather information to assess the needs of recipients and complete a Support Plan in MnChoices 2.0.
• Create a Support Plan identifying the assessment results and chosen provider(s) for the Community First Services and Supports program.
• Review and approve any changes in service needs throughout the year for the Community First Services and Supports program.
• Contact physicians, family members and providers to coordinate and facilitate formal and informal services.
• Conduct the required screenings specific to the program’s consumers are seeking. Authorize waiver or county paid services based on recipient needs and available funding.
• Prepare reports/petition for court, attend court hearings, and assist families with preparation of annual court reviews, guardianship. Complete out of home placement plans and other required paperwork for children in out of home placements.
• Complete all related paperwork requirements in a timely manner.
• Contact waiver clients on a regular basis. This includes verbal and written contact with clients, service providers, and other relevant individuals to determine status of service delivery and progress toward program goals per agency standards for frequency of contacts and in accordance with the stipulations of Rule 185 Developmental Disabilities Waiver Program.
• Contact Community First Services and Supports clients once a year and as changes in the plan or state policy dictate. This includes verbal and written contact with the clients and service providers.
• Document, through case noting, significant changes and contacts with clients or affected parties per agency procedures.
• Notify relevant agencies and inter-agency staff person of significant changes concerning client cases.

Information and Referral Responsibilities:

• Direct community members to appropriate resources both internally and community-based providers.
• Coordinate with specific Community First Service and Supports providers on behalf of the client.
• Coordinate with internal and home and community-based community waiver providers on behalf of the client.
• Perform on-call services per agency policy.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Complete time recording and case note documentation in SSIS according to agency standards.
• Maintain up to date information regarding DHS regulations, rules and procedures (i.e. researching, reading reviewing, and referring to manuals and bulletins).
• Clarify and explain information on program(s) to other agency staff, County Board of Commissioners, clients, potential clients, client guardians, service providers, other interested persons, etc.
• Attend training session, conferences, meetings, etc., on program specific issues, with prior approval of supervisor in accordance with personnel policies.
• Attend agency staff meetings as scheduled.
• Utilize the Agency computerized/telephone sign out/scheduling, AppXtender, SSIS, and other electronic systems as requested by unit supervisor.
• Complete agency timesheets and leave requests in a timely manner.
• Represent agency at civic functions per request of Agency.
• Attend County Board of Commissioners meetings per request of agency director.
• Act as agency resource person for any existing programs regarding CAC, CADI, BI, and DD Waivers.
• Act as Renville County Agency contact person for all Community First Services and Supports cases without a waiver.
• Maintain and update appropriate program(s), manuals, standards, policy strategies, etc.
• Maintain and update appropriate manuals, standards, etc. as it relates to Community First Services and Supports program implementation.
• Act as agency representative on various community boards per agency request.
• Prepare appropriate responses to any bulletins from the Minnesota Department of Human Services requesting information.
• Prepare appropriate responses to any surveys requesting statistics and information regarding clients, service providers, county needs, etc.
• Perform other duties assigned by Supervisor, Agency Director.
• Enter Type B service agreements into the state system.

FREEDOM TO ACT AND PROBLEM SOLVING

Employee is responsible and accountable for facilitation of services and monitoring of service to client population per existing local State and Federal regulations provided through manuals, bulletins, laws, policies and procedures, etc. Employees have access to supervision when needing direction on specific cases, when needing approval on specific matters and for the purpose of receiving performance reviews. Access to supervision on unusual matters is available 24 hours a day. Typical reports are through oral communication and written dictation to the files. Employee's professional judgment is relied on heavily by this agency.

JOB RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal interactions with: County Attorney's Office, Case Manager, Public Health and client advocate with other worker's case plans.

External interactions with:  Schools, law enforcement, State Department of Safety, State Department of Probation, doctors, treatment agencies, court, hospitals, care facilities, funeral homes and the public.

Ability to deal with customers who are under stress, and who may be angry, hostile, verbally aggressive, and may use language that would be considered inappropriate in normal business interactions. The ability to diffuse these situations is highly desirable.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from accredited four-year college or university, with a major in social work, psychology, sociology or closely related field. Knowledge of human behavior, interviewing skills, decision making skills, and organizational skills. 

Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.

Mathematical and Computer Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. Ability to use a personal computer is necessary including a thorough knowledge of computer related tasks and programs such as SSIS, MMIS, Word, Excel, and Microsoft Outlook. 

Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, collects data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Driver’s license necessary.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Some driving of vehicles in inclement weather possible.

Benefits:

Full Benefits Package including a choice of Health and Ancillary coverage options, Pension, Vacation and Sick time, Bilingual Pay, and more! Follow the link to learn more: https://www.renvillecountymn.gov/employment/benefits/ 

Employees certified as bilingual earn an additional $1.20/hour.

Selection Process:

Applications will be accepted until: 1/29/2025

First Round interviews will be held via technology on: 2/6/2025

For those selected, second round interviews will be held in person on: 2/13/2025