Salary: $65,374.40 - $97,968.00 Annually
Location : Elk River 55330-1692, MN
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2025-01697
Department: Health & Human Services
Opening Date: 08/13/2025
Closing Date: 8/27/2025 11:59 AM Central

Job Summary
Do you have a desire to better the lives of the children of Sherburne County?

Join our professional team of Social Workers in the Child & Family Services Unit of Sherburne County Human Services!

Ongoing child protection case management involves assessing a family's needs, helping in the development of a safety plan focusing on the strengths of the family, and coordinating services to ensure child safety. Case managers monitor progress through regular contact and assessments, provide referrals, ensure continuity of care between agencies, and document all activities. The primary goal is child safety, which may lead to reunification with parents, finding an alternative permanent home through adoption, or, in some cases, permanent removal from the family.

Our Mission: The mission of Sherburne County Health and Human Services (SCHHS) is to promote and protect the health, safety, well-being, and self-sufficiency of Sherburne County residents.

Our Vision: It is the intent of the organization to provide human service programs to the residents of Sherburne County, designed to protect and enhance the lives of vulnerable populations (such as the developmentally disabled, children in need of protective services, vulnerable adults, mentally ill, and others).
The work of Sherburne County Health and Human Services is governed by the pillars of serving People, through collaboration and Partnership, to help resident achieve Prosperity, using an Equity lens in all we do.
This position is located at the Government Center in Elk River, MN, however will also require work in the field. Our regular business hours are Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, though the department provides staff with flexibility in effort to strive for a desired work/life balance. Sherburne County is one of the fastest growing counties in Minnesota, where you can find a nice blend of suburban and rural life. If you are interested in bringing your skill and talent to a dynamic department in a growing community, we encourage you to apply for this great opportunity.
Learn more about our workplace culture and a brief overview of our employee benefits.

As a thriving organization fueled by people passionate about serving our community, Sherburne County strives to support and engage employees through investments in competitive compensation and equitable benefits; a culture that promotes physical and emotional wellbeing; opportunities for professional growth and a sense of honor and purpose.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this position. These duties are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

• Utilize knowledge of resources to make decisions as to which resources are most appropriate to meet client needs and to make referrals (both verbally and in writing) to resources.
• Obtain and coordinate information to determine needs of the client, taking into consideration the diagnostic assessment, social history, physical status, emotional needs, family support and community resources.
• Utilize counseling skills to assist crisis clients in discussion of problems related to individual or family dynamics or problems.
• Utilize intensive in-home and other resources to prevent family break-up and out of home placements.
• Meet with the unit supervisor to evaluate the appropriateness of court involvement.
• Prepare the child and/or family members for the Court process.
• Attend all court hearings regarding the issues at hand (emergency protective care, adjudicatory, dispositional reviews, permanency).

• Determine when out of home placement may be necessary, initiate this process and follow through to completion.
• Provide testimony in court regarding the matter before the court, the role of health and human services.
• Utilize a Signs of Safety Approach to maintain children within their home whenever possible or assist with reunification if removed.
• Submit all reports and information to the Court in a timely manner.

• Monitor and supervise the progress and plans of the child in placement.
• Conduct an administrative team review once every six months on each child who continues to remain in out-of-home placement.

Minimum Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Social Work or closely related field.

Must have a valid MN driver's license and reliable vehicle.

Experience:
Social Worker I: Minimum of completed Social Work internship or closely related field/less than 1 year of Social Work experienc.
Social Worker II: Minimum of 1 year of Social Work experience or equivalent education plus work experience

Desirable training/experience/education:

• Social Worker CORE/Foundation training
• Signs of Safety training
• Trauma training
• SSIS training
• Child Welfare IV-E Scholar preferred

Supplemental Information
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Skills needed include interviewing, information collection, assessment, counseling, program development, advocacy skills, report writing and resource development, maintain objectivity.
• Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of all Federal/State laws, Department and County-wide policies, protocols and procedures that apply to the performance of this position.
• Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of court processes, mental health, maltreatment, and delinquency.
• Demonstrate by personal example the service excellence and integrity expected from all employees.
• Develop respectful and cooperative working relationships with co-workers, including sharing knowledge with others and participating in new employee training.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with human services staff, other county employees, clients and the public.
• Confer regularly with and keep one's immediate supervisor informed on all important matters pertaining to assigned job accountabilities.
• Represent the County in a professional manner to all clients, professionals, and community members when doing the County's business.
• Ability to handle confidential and data privacy issues appropriately.
• Ability to handle contentious issues appropriately.
• Ability to solve problems and determine appropriate course of action.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrams or schedule forms.
• Ability to manage crisis situations.

Accountabilities Shared By All Employees

• Performs job responsibilities in a manner consistent with the County's vision, mission, and values.
• Develops and maintains a thorough working knowledge of all department and county-wide policies, protocols and procedures that apply to the performance of this position.
• Develops respectful and cooperative working relationships with co-workers.
• Informs immediate supervisor of all-important matters pertaining to assigned job responsibilities.
• Seeks opportunities for further personal growth and development.
• Represents the County in a professional manner to all internal and external contacts when doing the County's business.
• Complies with all rules and policies in order to maintain a safe work environment.

Hiring Salary Range:
Social Worker I: $31.43 - $37.72/hour (Grade 12)
Social Worker II: $33.63 - $40.37/hour (Grade 13)

Union: Teamsters
Vacancies: 1

Interviews: Selected candidates will be informed via email by August 28th to self-schedule a 10-minute phone interview for the first week of September.

Location:
The first 6 months will be on-site at 13880 Business Center Drive NW, Elk River MN 55330, then after options for working remote.

Hours of Work
Usual work schedule of 40 hours per week generally during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; may include occasional evening and weekend hours.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment
Must be able to endure extended travel, up to 8 hours or more per day. Must be able to provide own means of transportation when county vehicles are not available. May be required to travel to remote areas and in all weather conditions.
Must be able to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (15-25 pounds).

Typical Working Environment:80% Inside Work (office and field work), 20% Travel. (These percentages are an estimate and may vary based on job duties.)
Work is performed both in the office and in the field (some examples of settings include client's: homes, apartments, hospitals, group homes, schools, shelters, correctional facilities, and treatment facilities). Headaches, eyestrain, and other related occupational hazards reflect the most common potential for injury in the office. Field visits to clients' homes may expose employee to unsanitary conditions, communicable illnesses, infrequent exposure to health hazards, unpredictable and/or unsafe environments.
Likelihood of verbal abuse and threats from hostile, frustrated clients and may include unpredictable situations.
Sherburne County offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical (employee, employee + spouse, employee + child(ren), or family coverage). Monthly premiums for Employee only coverage are covered 100% by the county.
  • County Contributions to VEBA and HSA plans
• Employer paid $25,000 Term Life Policy
• Optional Benefits:
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Additional Supplemental Life Insurance for self, spouse and child(ren)
  • Short-Term Disability
  • Long-Term Disability
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care Reimbursement and/or Dependent Care Reimbursement Account)
  • Accident Insurance
  • Critical Illness Insurance
  • Hospital Care Insurance
  • Deferred Compensation Plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Annual Paid Time Off accrual of 21 days to start, increasing up to a maximum of 33 days per year.
• 12 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• On-Site Well@Work Clinic available to Sherburne County Employees and Dependents covered under our plan.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Public Employees Retirement (PERA):

Part-Time employees working less than 30 hours per week, Seasonal, Temporary and Interns are not eligible for benefits.
01

Each applicant must complete the supplemental questionnaire as a part of the application screening process. Responses will be used as an evaluation of your knowledge, skills and experience. Provide complete information for each question. Do not write "see resume" and the like as it is not an acceptable answer. The experiences you indicate in your responses will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Select "yes" if you have read and understand.

• Yes
• No

02

You must have a valid driver's license to qualify for this position. Do you have a current Minnesota driver's license or are you eligible to obtain one upon offer of employment?

• Yes
• No

03

List your highest level of education completed. Degree must be Social Work or Social Work related (NOTE: Degree must be held by the closing date of this posting to receive credit. Examples of RELATED fields include: Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Early Childhood Education, Human Development, Family Studies, Pastoral Counseling or Therapeutic Recreation.)

• Less than a Bachelor's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Masters Degree or higher

04

In what field of study did you receive your degree? i.e. Social Work, Psychology, etc.
05

Do you have experience working for a City, County, State, or Federal Government Human Services Agency?

• Yes
• No

06

How many years of full-time experience do you have working as a Social Worker or in a similar type position? Include all paid, internship and volunteer experience. All experience considered MUST be listed in the Work Experience portion of your online application.NOTE: Direct Care/CNA/PCA, Case Aide, Eligibility/Financial Worker, Child Support Officer, Corrections Officer, and other similar type positions are not considered Social Work experience.

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 2 years
• 2 years but less than 3 years
• 3 years but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more

07

List the name of the agency and your primary duties. Do not write 'See Resume'. Agency listed must be included in the Work Experience portion of your online application in order to receive full credit.
08

Have you completed either a Child Welfare or Child Protection internship?

• Yes
• No

09

List the agency the internship was completed.
10

Have you completed the CornerHouse or First Witness Training Program?

• Yes
• No

11

Do you hold any active social work licensure?

• Licensed Social Worker - LSW
• Licensed Graduate Social Worker - LGSW
• Licensed Independent Social Worker - LISW
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker - LICSW
• Other

12

Do you have direct hands-on experience with any of the following? Check all that apply.

• Conducting forensic interviews
• Conducting Vulnerable Adult Investigations
• Working with Law Enforcement/County Attorneys with regard to Social Service issues
• Testifying in court
• Using Signs of Safety - an innovative strengths-based, safety-organized approach to child protection casework created by Andrew Turnell and Steve Edwards
• Providing direct services to involuntary/resistant families
• Conducting Child Protection Assessments/Investigations
• Providing MI/Children's Mental Health Case Management
• Providing On-going Child Welfare Case Management
• Working in Law Enforcement or as a Probation Officer
• No experience in the above.

13

Describe your experience, as selected in the above question. If you have no experience, enter N/A.
14

The work performed in this role requires interaction and providing services to individuals from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Check the areas below that best describe your experience:

• I have experience using a translator/interpreter for a family or person who requires this service.
• I have completed professional or educational Cultural Competence training or courses or participated in community Racial Equity, Diversity or Inclusion work.
• I have direct experience assisting people from different racial/ethnic backgrounds and of various socioeconomic status.
• I am fluent in another language (other than English).
• None of the above

15

IMPORTANT: If you checked any of the areas listed above, describe your professional experience that demonstrates your ability to interact with people from cultural/ethnic backgrounds other than your own. You must also provide information about where you obtained the experience, what ethnic/cultural population(s) you worked with, and the dates when you gained this experience. Credit will not be given for the answers above if this additional information is missing or incomplete. (If you answered "None of the above" to the question, enter "NA" in the text box.)
16

What qualities do you possess that would make you an effective Child Protection worker?
17

If, during or after your interview, Sherburne County determines that you have been convicted of a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or felony for which a jail sentence was or could have been imposed, you may be disqualified from this position by operation of law or county policy. I have read and understand this statement.

• Yes
• No

18

Veterans Preference: Veterans preference points are awarded to qualified veterans and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans and are added to the exam results. Points are awarded subject to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes 197.455. YOU MUST SUPPLY A COPY OF YOUR DD214 (Member Copy 4). Disabled veterans must also supply a Summary of Benefits Letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or an equivalent letter from a service retirement board. Spouses applying for preference points must supply their marriage certificate, the veteran's DD214 and Summary of Benefits Letter from USDVAFL or death certificate. All required documentation must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on the posted closing date. Are you applying for veteran's preference points?

• NO
• YES - veteran who served on active duty 181 or more consecutive days and received an honorable discharge - see MN Stat 197.447
• YES - veteran who served on active duty 181 or more consecutive days and received an honorable discharge and has a service-connected disability
• YES - spouse of a veteran who served on active duty 181 or more consecutive days and received an honorable discharge and has a service-connected disability (the Veteran must also be qualified to apply for the position but their service-connected disability restricts them from applying for or performing the job duties)
• YES - spouse of a deceased veteran who served on active duty 181 or more consecutive days and received an honorable discharge and had a service-connected disability

19

I affirm that the information provided is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any falsification may disqualify me for consideration for this and subsequent recruitments with Sherburne County for up to three years.

• Yes
• No

Required Question