Social Worker (Child & Family Services)

Waukesha County Department of Health & Human Services is recruiting for a talented Social Worker to join its Child and Family Services Unit.

Under supervision, to perform professional work involving the delivery of social work services to individuals and families in need of counseling and referral services; and to perform other duties as required.

• Makes initial contact with and receives referrals of clients with a variety of problems which require social work assessment and/or intervention.
• Conducts assessments of client needs through interviews, collateral contacts and other investigations, develops a casework plan with clients, and performs agreed-upon and necessary casework services.
• Maintains a caseload involving clients with personal, family, or socio-economic problems and attends to the related protection and safety needs.
• Counsels and provides intervention and case management services, coordinating the various social, community, and other services received by the clients.
• Informs clients of available programs and services to meet their individual needs, and encourages participation in the most appropriate activities; or ensures participation in court-mandated services.
• Initiates and maintains contacts with the courts, schools, mental health, and community agencies to assist individuals and families in need of a variety of human services.
• Attends and participates in staff development programs, including in-service training, staff meetings, and professional seminars.
• Provides consultation to other social work personnel and para-professionals.
• Serves as a representative of the department to interested individuals, professionals, and community groups.
• Acts as a department liaison, providing casework direction and supervision to providers of contracted services.
• Prepares social histories and family assessments, reviews results and recommendations with supervisor and makes recommendations concerning case dispositions, and testifies at court and administrative hearings as required.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with clients, families, caregivers, service providers, volunteers, community agencies, and the public.
• Prepares and presents oral and written reports.
• Maintains detailed case records, and develops and prepares statistical reports as required.
• Performs emergency government duties as assigned in event of Waukesha County Emergency Government declaration.
• Performs other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential Knowledge and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of social work principles and methods.
• Considerable knowledge of financial, health, mental health, and community resources.
• Considerable knowledge of the federal, state, and local rules, regulations, and statutes governing the delivery of human services.
• Considerable knowledge of social problems such as family disorganization, domestic violence, abuse and neglect, discrimination, disability, poverty, unemployment, aging; and their effect on the individual and their families.
• Considerable knowledge of human behavior, dynamics of groups and families, interpersonal relations, and social interaction.
• Working knowledge of social welfare programs, and the role of public human services agencies in providing services.
• Working knowledge of evidence-based practices and ability to integrate into case planning and practice.
• Working knowledge of confidentiality statutes and requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996.
• Working knowledge of computerized department program software, including electronic health record, Internet access, and database, spreadsheet, and word processing programs.
• Ability to provide social treatment to clients with problems.
• Ability to interpret human services programs and explain programs and services available to clients, families, and stakeholders.
• Ability to respond appropriately in a crisis situation and provide skilled intervention to clients with severe problems.
• Ability to develop appropriate plan of services and to implement the plan with individual clients and their families.
• Ability to participate in multi-disciplinary decision making and services coordination as appropriate.
• Ability to utilize word processing, database, and spreadsheet programs.
• Ability to prepare, present, and maintain accurate records and reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, caregivers, services providers, volunteers, community agencies, and the general public.
• Ability to effectively interact with sensitivity with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages and lifestyles.
• Ability to plan and organize work effectively.

You must meet these minimum Training and Experience requirements:

• a. A bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university in sociology, social work, psychology, or a closely related field.
  OR
  b. A bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university with at least four courses in sociology, social work, or psychology, plus one year of professional social work experience.
• Social work certification from the State of Wisconsin within six months of employment.

Work Schedule
40-hours a week on flexible schedule which includes working evenings to meet family needs.

Work Requirements
Social Workers in the Child and Family Services Unit in general are responsible for meeting with their clients in a variety of settings including the office, client homes, schools, and community locations. Social Workers are responsible for transporting themselves, and at times clients, to these appointments and are expected to have some daily driving responsibilities, generally not exceeding two hours per day. Social Workers must have the ability to respond to crisis and be flexible in their schedules. Social Workers must be able to communicate via email, telephone, and in-person and be able to document their work electronically as well as maintain required hard copy files.

Successful candidate will be eligible for performance based merit increases and non-base performance awards.

This position includes comprehensive benefit package including an on-site medical clinic.

Waukesha County’s pay plans, group insurance programs, and other benefit policies comprise a package that is highly competitive and satisfies the needs of its employees. This is intended to give only a brief summary of the employee benefit package. Additional information will be provided at the time of hire. Benefits for part-time positions are pro-rated.

Vacation
2-weeks 1 – 2 years of service
3-weeks 3 – 9 years of service
4-weeks 10 – 16 years of service
5-weeks 17 or more years of service
Holidays (9 paid holidays)
New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving day
The Day after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve Day

Floating Holidays
2 paid floating holidays earned on February 1 and June 1.

Sick Leave
12-days of sick leave granted immediately upon hire. Thereafter, 1-day earned per month, up to a maximum of 120-days.

Funeral Leave
Up to 24-hours of leave with pay to attend the funeral of an immediate family member.

Health Insurance – High Deductible Health Plan
County pays 85% of premium and employee contributes 15% of the premium.

Health Savings Account
Pre-tax savings account that can be used for qualifying medical expenses (e.g. office visit fees, co-pays, prescriptions, vision and dental). County contributes to health savings account based on Health Risk Assessment completion- $2,250 for family plan and $1,125 for single plan.

Onsite Health and Wellness Clinic
Available to individuals who are enrolled in the County’s health insurance plan including employees, spouses, and children ages 2+. Preventive care services are free. All dispensed prescriptions are $2. Dispensed available ACA preventative medications are $0 cost. Non-preventative care visits are $28. Physical therapy is $28 per visit. No cost for office visits after deductible is met. Clinic staffed with MD and Physician Assistant, Physical Therapists, and Health Coaches.

Dental Insurance
Choice of two dental plans. Coverage begins on the first day of the month following 6-months of employment.

Vision Insurance
Coverage begins on the first day of the month following 60-days of employment.

Employee Wellness Activities & Program/Fitness Center
24/7 access to a wealth of health tools and information on the wellness portal. On-going education programs, fitness challenges and classes. On-site fitness center in Administration Center and Health & Human Services buildings.

Retirement Pension
As a full-time employee, you will automatically be enrolled in the Wisconsin Retirement System. This pension is administered by the State of Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds. You are required to pay the employee’s share of contributions to the fund, while Waukesha County contributes the employer’s share. Employees are vested in their portion of contributions immediately and after five years of creditable service for the employer contribution. To view employee/employer contribution rates, visit Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds’ website and type in WRS Contribution Rates in the search box.

Part time employees are enrolled and required to pay the employee’s share of contributions after working 1,200 hours of work in any 12-month period.

457 Deferred Compensation
Optional program used to supplement retirement income. Pre-tax and Roth options available. Eligible to contribute upon hire.

Payroll Roth IRA
Optional post-tax program used to supplement retirement income. Eligible to contribute upon hire.

Group Term Life Insurance
Automatic coverage in life insurance at no cost to employee. Coverage effective first of the month following six months of employment. Coverage upon hire is two times annual salary and then transitions to two times prior year gross salary after at least one full calendar year of employment is completed.

Voluntary Supplemental Term Life Insurance
Additional voluntary coverage for an employee at the employee’s expense. May purchase amount in increments of $25,000 up to $200,000. No medical underwriting upon initial eligibility. Coverage effective first of the month following six months of employment.

Dependent Life Insurance
Voluntary life insurance coverage for a spouse or dependent child at the employee’s expense. Coverage effective first of the month following six months of employment.
Coverage options:
Option 1:$20,000 (spouse)/$10,000 (child) – $4.00/month
Option 2: $10,000 (spouse)/$5,000 (child) – $2.00/month

Dependent Care FSA
Optional pre-tax benefit account where employees to deduct up to $5,000 ($2,500 if married and filing separate federal income tax returns) that can used to reimburse self for eligible dependent care services such as child or adult daycare. Coverage effective first of month following 60 days of employment.

Healthcare FSA
Optional pre-tax benefit account where employee can contribute pre-tax dollars to pay for health care expenses not covered under a group health, dental, or vision plan such as deductible, co-insurance, co-pay etc. Must not be enrolled in an HSA Qualifying High Deductible Health Plan to elect. Coverage effective first of month following 60 days of employment.

Retirement Health Savings Plan
Automatic enrollment in a retirement health savings plan. County makes contributions each month on the second paycheck of the month on behalf of employee. Effective the first of the month following employment.

Long-term Disability Insurance
Automatic coverage in long-term disability. County pays 100% of monthly premiums. Coverage effective the first of the month following employment.

Employee Assistance Program
Voluntary program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees and their family members who have personal and/or work-related problems. Unlimited access to a highly informative website with articles and tools to support you in a wide variety of your work/life needs. Eligible immediately upon hire.

Tuition Reimbursement
Financial assistance for attending Job-related classes.

Employee Discount Programs

• Dell products
• Discount on cell service through U.S. Cellular, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon
• Discounted rate to get Microsoft 365 through Microsoft Home Use Program

Pay for Performance
Employees are eligible for performance based merit awards with exceptional and commendable performance ratings