Salary : $73,153.60 - $102,523.20 Annually
Location : Government Center, 410 S. 5th St., Mankato, MN
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: Human Services
Division: Disability Services
Opening Date: 08/13/2026
Closing Date: 8/27/2026 11:59 PM Central

DESCRIPTION
Under general supervision of the Human Services Supervisor - Adult & Disability Services, this position supports the mission of Blue Earth County Human Services by effectively and efficiently delivering essential services to families and individuals so they can achieve their potential through active community participation. The Social Worker - Disability Services will review MnChoices assessments, initiate interdisciplinary team processes, develop and implement support plans, initiate and develop services, and authorize client services. This position will focus on case management, participate in community relations and customer service activities, manage case files and participate in professional staff development.

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Plans, initiates and develops services. Reviews MnChoices assessments to determine appropriate services based on the individual's needs and preferences. Develops person-centered support plans with the person, parents or legal representative. Obtains appropriate authorizations. Refers to providers for services and arranges interviews and visits to complete referral materials. Sends completed support plan to interdisciplinary team members. Provides oversight to other team members and ensures assigned responsibilities related to the support plan area completed. Ensures completion of risk management plan based on individual's vulnerabilities and planned interventions to minimize risks. Applies for, evaluates and completes reports for any special funding for services or equipment.
2. Authorizes client services. Determines costs and availability of clients' services. Seeks out funding sources, reviews budgets and initiates contracts. Negotiates funding issues and ensures service expectations and funding are consistent. Completes service authorizations/agreements. Develops individualized budgets with input from consumer, family and legal representatives. Authorizes services within funding guidelines.
3. Maintains ongoing cases. Maintains consumer files by completing case note activity, prepares necessary correspondence, communicates with and between interdisciplinary team members and mediates conflicts. Arranges, attends and chairs the interdisciplinary annual, semi-annual and operational team meetings.
4. Monitors client services. Monitors on-going residential and vocational sites and services. Revised support plan. Ensures health and safety needs are met. Monitors guardianship. Monitors budgets and contracts. Reviews provider reports and data to ensure services meet expectations and following support plan guidelines. Maintain intra-agency contracts with financial workers and accounting. Corrects deficiencies and citations. Participates in appeals process.
5. Advocates for clients. Encourages and empowers the person to make informed choices. Provides information to allow for informed decision making. Promotes health, safety, well-being and independence.
6. Provides information and assistance with public and private guardianship. Attends guardianship review team meetings to consult on cases as needed. Writes petitions to initiate, modify and/or discharge guardianship. Attends and testifies at hearings. Prepares related documents.
7. Provides credible testimony in court. Attends and testifies in court proceedings. Represents the interests of the county, state, and federal government. Makes a verbal account for observations, actions, and findings while performing official duties.
8. Participates in community relations and customer services activities. Attends committee meetings, work groups and task forces. Participates in interagency screening teams and makes referrals. Provides community education to the general public on programs and services. Facilitates person-centered planning process as requested. Interacts and communicates with court representatives, general public, advocates, families, organizations, agencies, supervisor and co-workers.
9. Promotes a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace.
10. Engages positively with both internal and external customers. Communicates and interacts effectively and respectfully with colleagues, supervisors, representatives from other organizations, and the public.
11. Performs the physical and mental demands of the position.
12. Attends work during regularly scheduled hours.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Manages case file. Files documents in designated sections. Reviews for necessary documents. Discards unnecessary information per state and county policy. Communicates information to appropriate people.
2. Provides on-call services. Answers phone calls, follow-up as needed, at home and responds to calls after hours. Document the calls and makes appropriate referrals.
3. Participates in professional staff development. Participates in training and education opportunities to maintain and improve proficiency. Attends and participates in professional organizations. Associates with employees and departments from other counties and states for collaboration.
4. Performs other related functions as apparent or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in social work, sociology, psychology, special education, or a related field; and
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience working with individuals with disabilities

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in social work
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience providing direct care to individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities in a residential or vocational setting
• Experience working as a county case manager serving individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities
• Proficient in understanding and speaking languages other than English, such as Spanish, Somali, Chinese, Sudanese, and Arabic, among others.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must successfully pass a background check.
• Must possess a valid driver's license to drive in the State of Minnesota, reliable transportation, and the ability to travel to client homes and community locations as required.
• Must comply with all federal and state laws and organizational and departmental policies and regulations.
• Must adhere to data practices policies and standards regarding non-public data. Access to non-public data should be strictly limited to what is necessary to fulfill job responsibilities. While accessing these data, the employee should take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access by individuals without a work-related reason. Once the work-related purpose is complete, non-public data must be securely stored in accordance with county policies and Minnesota Statutes.

HOURS OF WORK
Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This position allows for flexible hours and may require some evening, weekend and overtime hours.
Benefits Overview
AFSCME, No. 65 - Courthouse & Human Services

The County of Blue Earth provides a comprehensive, balanced, competitive total compensation package. The County's benefit programs address both the immediate needs that you and your family may have, such as medical coverage or dependent care assistance, and your long-term needs, such as retirement savings. Benefits begin upon date of hire.

The following outlines County offered total compensation benefits. This document provides an overview and does not offer all provisions, limitations, and exclusions. If there is a contradiction between this and the official plan documents and/or collective bargaining agreements, the plan documents will prevail.

Regular, Full-Time Employee

Wage/Salary Scale
Blue Earth County features a 12-Step Pay Plan. Our advertised salary ranges include all 12 Steps. A selected candidate will typically be offered Step 1 of the salary range. Additional salary considerations are subject to negotiation and dependent on skills and experience directly related to the position.

Vacation Leave
Vacation accruals, utilization, and payouts are detailed in the collective bargaining agreement and/or the employee handbook.

Blue Earth County Years of Service Bi-Weekly Accrual Rate
0 - 5 years - 3.85 hours
6 - 9 years - 4.77 hours
10 - 13 years - 5.69 hours
14 - 18 years - 6.62 hours
19 - 24 years - 7.54 hours
25 + years - 8.46 hours

Sick Leave
Employees accrue sick leave at a rate of 7.34 hours for each full month of service.

Paid Holidays
Blue Earth County recognizes 11 (88 hours) paid holidays, and employees receive one floating holiday per year.
Health Insurance
Employees may choose from 3-health insurance plans and either single or family coverage. Insurance Rates (Monthly) - Effective: July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027

Plan 1: CMM $0 Deductible
Employee: Single - $157.63 / Family - $1,389.71
Employer: Single - $1,418.63 / Family - $3,242.66
Total Cost: Single - $1,576.26/ Family - $4,632.37

Plan 2: CMM $300 Deductible
Employee: Single - $1.18/ Family - $929.98
Employer: Single - $1,418.64 / Family - $3,242.66
Total Cost: Single - $1,419.82 / Family - $4,172.64

Plan 3: HDHP with HSA
Employee: Single - $0.00 / Family - $488.78
Employer: Single - $1,108.79 / Family - $2,769.74
Total Cost: Single - $1,108.79 / Family - $3,258.52

Blue Earth County contributes to a health savings account (HSA) when the employee elects the HDHP. Single coverage HSA contributions equal $1,700, and family coverage HSA contributions equal $3,400.

Life Insurance
Employees are provided with Term-Life Insurance at no cost to them:

• $20,000 term-life/$20,000 accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
• After ten (10) years of continuous employment with Blue Earth County, the policy will increase to $35,000 term-life/$35,000 accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)

Retirement
The County and the employee contribute to the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) based on a percentage of the employee wage:

General/Coordinated Plan

Employee: 6.5%
Employer: 7.5%

Voluntary Benefits Available

• AFLAC
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Nice Healthcare
• Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)
• Voluntary Life (Employee, Spouse, and Child(ren))
• Deferred Compensation (457b)
• Roth IRA
• 529 Educational Roth
• Minnesota Benefits Association (MBA)
• Savi Student Loan Benefit

01

The following supplemental information may be used as a scored evaluation of your knowledge, skills and experience. Be certain that the choices you make correspond to the information you have provided in your application. By completing this supplemental questionnaire you are attesting that the information you have provided is true and accurate. Any information provided may be reviewed by the hiring manager. Any misstatements or falsification of information will eliminate you from consideration or may result in dismissal. Do you understand and agree with this statement?

• Yes
• No

02

Which of the following best describes your level of education?

• High School Diploma/GED
• Some College
• Associates
• Bachelors
• Masters or Higher
• None of the above

03

Which of the following best describes the degree that you completed?

• Social Work
• Sociology
• Psychology
• Special Education
• My degree is in an area NOT listed above but is in a related field.
• My degree is in an area NOT listed above
• N/A - I have not completed a degree

04

If applicable, list the field of study in which you possess a degree. If you do not have a degree, type N/A.
05

Do you have a minimum of two years experience working with individuals with disabilities?

• Yes
• No

06

Which of the following best describes your years of employment experience providing county case management with individuals with disabilities?

• No experience
• Less than 6 months
• More than 6 months, but less than 1 year
• More than 1 year, but less than 2 years
• More than 2 years, but less than 3 years
• More than 3 years, but less than 4 years
• More than 4 years, but less than 5 years
• More than 5 years, but less than 6 years
• More than 6 years, but less than 7 years
• More than 7 years, but less than 8 years
• More than 8 years, but less than 9 years
• More than 9 years, but less than 10 years
• 10 or more years

07

Which of the following best describes your years of employment experience providing direct care in a residential setting?

• No experience
• Less than 6 months
• More than 6 months, but less than 1 year
• More than 1 year, but less than 2 years
• More than 2 years, but less than 3 years
• More than 3 years, but less than 4 years
• More than 4 years, but less than 5 years
• More than 5 years, but less than 6 years
• More than 6 years, but less than 7 years
• More than 7 years, but less than 8 years
• More than 8 years, but less than 9 years
• More than 9 years, but less than 10 years
• 10 or more years

08

Which of the following best describes your years of employment experience providing vocational support to disabled individuals?

• No experience
• Less than 6 months
• More than 6 months, but less than 1 year
• Mor