General Description

POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive

DEPARTMENT: Social Services

HOURS: Intermittent, various, on-call

PREFERRED HIRING RANGE: $35.20 - $39.60/hourly (108 Salary Grade; 2026 rates)

FULL SALARY RANGE: $35.20 - $55.01/hourly

LOCATION: Hybrid; telework and in-person at the Northern Service Center, West Saint Paul

UNION: None

CLOSE DATE: 4:30 p.m. on 1/12/2026

Come join us at Dakota County and "Be more". Dakota County employs over 2,000 skilled individuals whose talents and contributions makes Dakota County a premier place to live and work . The work County government does is unique. Dakota County offers important careers – the kind of careers that make a difference in people's lives.

Dakota County welcomes and is inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and perspectives. The County aims to reflect the community and clients it serves and fosters an equitable and respectful working environment where everyone is empowered to be their authentic selves.

Crisis Response Social Workers are responsible for providing coverage for telephone and on-site intervention to Dakota County residents experiencing a mental health, child welfare, community corrections, or financial crisis.

The Dakota County Crisis Response Unit (CRU) is a 24/7 mobile crisis program that provides crisis services in Dakota County. As a team member, you will make decisions about an individual's safety in real time while assessing their strengths. Instead of managing a caseload, you will be providing community members with safety planning and reassurance in times of crisis while determining their needs and resources. The CRU program operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with team members co-located for timely response to any community member in need.

This vacancy is an intermittent, on-call position.

Minimum Qualifications

NEED TO HAVE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, or related Human Services degree

AND

• One year full-time professional experience in a social services agency OR Two years full-time paraprofessional experience in a social services agency.

AND

• Valid Driver's License

Nice To Have Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work or Psychology
• Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• Experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses
• Knowledge of and experience with person - centered strategies.
• Pursuant to Dakota County Policy, this position is designated as Safety Sensitive. “Safety-sensitive position” means a position, including any supervisory or management position, in which impairment caused by drug, alcohol, or cannabis use would threaten the health and safety of any person as defined in Minnesota Statutes Section 181.950, subdivision 13.

Duties & Responsibilities

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

• Conduct initial mental health screening of adults, children, and adolescents in crisis via phone to determine client needs.
• Provide mobile crisis assessment for adults, adolescents, children, and/or families in a client’s home, community setting, or at our new crisis and receiving center.
• Complete mental status examinations, determine appropriate provisional diagnoses, and develop short-term treatment goals and intervention plans based on the individual's identified needs.
• Collaborate and consult with supervisory mental health professionals, colleagues, case managers, and family members with the appropriate authorization.
• Provide services including short term therapy and bridge to long-term professional supports.
• During non-business hours, act as county response representative supporting efforts of adult protection, child protection and crisis response with the support of supervisors and colleagues.
• Provide, arrange, and coordinate direct services and advocacy to clients and families.
• Facilitate, integrate, and mobilize community resources on behalf of the client. Develop services where needed resources do not exist.
• Demonstrates a commitment to support cultural diversity County wide, actively supports the County's diversity initiatives, and works to address the needs of diverse and underrepresented communities.
• Complete agency, state, and federal required documentation as related to client activity according to mandated timelines.
• Maintain appropriate engagement and boundaries with clients and colleagues.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Duties 1-11 are essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities And Work Environment

• Knowledge of child and human development, family dynamics and systems, including crisis management and cultural competency.
• Knowledge of community resources and funding sources.
• Knowledge of medical diagnoses, medications, and basic medical terminology, as well as medical insurance processes and procedures.
• Knowledge of statutes, rules, and policies pertaining to social work and the ability to research the same.
• Demonstrates an understanding of and respect for the diversity of customers, co-workers, and supervisors, including individuals with a disability or whose first language may be other than English.
• Interviewing, negotiation, and listening skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to apply person-centered and recovery oriented principles.
• Knowledge of/ability to apply social work statutes to work with clients and colleagues.

Nice to have:

• Knowledge of:

  • County and community resources.
  • Cultural differences in beliefs and practices relating to mental health, treatment, family structure, and dynamics.

• Ability to:

  • Function well in unpredictable and challenging situations calling for sensitivity, flexibility, resourcefulness, and independent judgment.
  • Effectively interact with people from diverse backgrounds and/or historically underserved populations; bilingual skills preferred.
  • Work well in a group setting.
  • Apply strong therapeutic intervention skills.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in a County office building and on client home visits. Some travel is required. Lifting requirement of up to 20 pounds on an occasional basis. Exposure to inadequate lighting may occur on client home visits. Equipment used may include, but is not limited to, computer, printer, telephone, cell phone, pager, audio/visual equipment, and copy and fax machines.

SELECTION PROCESS: The examination/selection process for this classification will consist of a rating of your training and experience from the application materials submitted. The top scoring candidates will be forwarded to the hiring department for further consideration.

Dakota County aims to create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of diverse people, backgrounds, and experiences. Our goal is to have a workforce that is reflective of the communities and individuals we serve. We promote an equitable and culturally aware working environment where everyone can be their authentic selves.

Dakota County Human Resources

www.co.dakota.mn.us

Main Number 651.438.4435 (contact 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday)

Fax 651.438.8178