Social Worker, Senior - Alternative Response Team

Hennepin County's Behavioral Health area is seeking a Senior Social Worker (SSW) to join the Alternative Response Team (ART). The ART includes a Senior Social Worker who will respond in real-time with a Cope Social Worker. The team will be embedded in the Edina and Richfield Police Departments and dispatched by the City of Edina 911 dispatch center. The ART team will respond to calls where the 911 caller defines the situation as urgent, and the dispatcher or responding officer does not flag it as potentially violent or involving weapons, in addition to mobile crisis team requested calls. The team may respond with or in lieu of patrol officers.

About the role

The SSW will complete crisis assessments, provide solution-focused interventions in person, offer short-term follow-up, and document cases in the Epic Electronic Records System. Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into this position may be eligible for a $500 referral bonus.

Location and hours

This position is located onsite at both the Edina Police Department (4801 West 50th Street, Edina, MN 55424) and Richfield Police Department (6700 Portland Avenue South, Richfield, MN 55423), with travel required throughout Hennepin County. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. New Employee Orientation (NEO) for benefit-earning employees is in-person in downtown Minneapolis; details will be provided upon hire.

Responsibilities

• Develop collaborative relationships with law enforcement, emergency departments, human services, and other community stakeholders/partners.
• Conduct crisis and risk assessments of adults, children, and adolescents in a client’s home or community setting.
• Utilize solution-focused interventions to create culturally informed, person-centered crisis/safety plans with individuals in crisis.
• Facilitate immediate treatment planning, disposition, and coordination of recommendations and services.
• Coordinate placement into facilities providing a higher level of care when individuals are assessed as unsafe to remain in the community.
• Facilitate immediate service coordination with community providers and connect individuals to new and existing supports.
• Provide consultation, support, and resources to police officers responding to behavioral health-related calls.
• Document referrals and case notes using state and county systems.
• Transport individuals, as needed, to community providers to further stabilize (a vehicle may be provided based on assigned duties).
• Participate in community engagement events and other assigned duties.

Requirements

• One of the following:
  • Master's degree or higher in social work or a closely related field with coursework 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, plus at least 18 semester (27 quarter) credits of graduate work in the above areas, and three or more years 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, daily access to reliable transportation, and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County Driver's Permit.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain Minnesota Criminal Justice Data Network Certification and pass the CJIS Competency Exam within 6 months of employment (annual recertification required).
• Licensed or working toward licensure as one 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:
  • Serving individuals living with a mental health condition and/or substance use disorder.
  • Serving individuals involved in the criminal justice system.
  • Providing case management.
  • Collaborating with law enforcement to address safety and needs of individuals.
  • Effectively interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, including efforts toward disparity elimination.
• Knowledge of:
  • Diversity of cultural and lifestyle experiences, beliefs, and practices relating to spiritual, mental, and physical health, community, family structure, and disparities.
  • County and community resources for mental health, substance use disorder, social services, and basic needs.
  • Harm reduction principles.
  • Trauma-informed care principles.
  • Person-centered thinking.
  • Social determinants of health.
  • Social work best practices and ethics.
  • Race-based disparities and their impact on community development, social justice, corrective justice, socio-economic statuses, and overall health and wellness of populations.
• Ability to:
  • Function well in unpredictable and challenging situations requiring sensitivity, flexibility, resourcefulness, and independent judgment.
  • Work well independently and as part of a team.
  • Demonstrate effective interpersonal, organizational, and computer skills.
• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Those who pass a language assessment may qualify for additional bilingual pay and duties.

Benefits

This is a full-time, benefit-earning position. Hennepin County offers a combination of competitive benefits and a positive workplace culture, including meaningful work, competitive pay, work-life balance, and opportunities for growth. Learn more at The Bridge (login as Guest).

About the department

Human Services delivers a variety of services to individuals or families to assist with basic needs or encourage client change around specific objectives. We work with individuals, systems, and communities to develop policy and advocate for the people we serve. Our work connects communities and individuals—helping one supports the other.

About Hennepin County

Hennepin is the largest county government organization in Minnesota. Our employees improve the health, safety, and quality of life for residents and communities. All jobs align with our mission to serve residents through transformative services that eliminate disparities, eliminate inequities, and create opportunity for all. Our vision is a community where all people are healthy, valued, and thrive.