Overview

FLSA: Exempt A youth justice social worker plays a crucial role in supporting and empowering young people who are involved with the justice system. These professionals work alongside youths who have experienced challenges with the law, focusing on their strengths and potential for positive change. Youth justice social workers collaborate with individuals under the age of 18 who are navigating the complexities of the legal system.

Their primary goal is to help these young people enhance their strengths, develop their skills, and create opportunities for growth and rehabilitation. By emphasizing each youth's unique abilities and resilience, social workers aim to foster a path towards positive outcomes and maintain youth in their communities.

Essential Leadership Functions

Act with Integrity and Build Trust

• Demonstrate mutual respect, humility, and honesty in all interactions

• Speak up appropriately, even when expressing unpopular viewpoints

• Actively listen and remain open-minded to diverse perspectives

Drive for Results

• Set clear goals and objectives to motivate self and others to achieve outcomes

• Seek new opportunities to improve processes and drive sustainable results

• Hold self and others accountable through consistent evaluation and monitoring

Develop Talent and Effective Teams

• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and growth

• Provide mentorship and support to help self and others reach full potential

• Recognize and leverage diverse strengths within self and team

Lead with Vision and Strategy

• Understand and communicate a compelling vision that aligns with organizational goals

• Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to achieve long-term objectives

• Connect daily work to the bigger picture, inspiring self and others to contribute meaningfully

Lead with Paradoxical, Critical, and Agile Thinking

• Navigate complex situations by considering multiple perspectives

• Adapt quickly to changes and uncertainties in the work environment

• Make critical decisions using analytical skills, experience, and input from others

Build and Maintain Effective Relationships

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across the organization

• Influence others through coaching, consulting, and team-minded thinking

• Develop and sustain partnerships that create positive outcomes for all stakeholders

Cultivate Community Engagement and Provide Excellent Service

• Understand and address the needs and concerns of the community

• Incorporate community perspectives into decision-making processes

• Drive initiatives that create positive impacts beyond the organization

Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence

• Show self-awareness and manage emotions effectively in challenging situations

• Seek and respond constructively to feedback, even in the face of setbacks

• Balance empathy with accountability when leading self and working with others

Essential Job Functions

Demonstrates self-leadership, seeks out opportunities for personal growth and development, accepts feedback, and demonstrates ability to learn and apply.

Shares ideas and demonstrates respect, humility, honesty, and open-minded thinking. Demonstrates flexibility, acceptance of change, and emotional intelligence.

Takes initiative and demonstrates the ability to think critically and strategically.

Participates as a contributing member of the team and brings authentic self to discussions regarding all aspects of the work.

Demonstrates ability to build and maintain effective relationships. Contributes positively to an inclusive workplace.

Provides social services per Wisconsin Statutes, court policies, and/or requirements of the program, state, or federal guidelines.

Accepts requests and referrals for agency services.

Utilizes a family systems approach and implements strength-based practices to enhance the family's natural, informal supports.

Conducts assessment and planning: Develops, implements, monitors, and modifies case plans in partnership with youth and their families.

Explains the scope of the agency's services and discusses the client's rights and responsibilities in relation to the use of such services.

Arranges or provides appropriate social services for clients based on assessments of needs.

Provides comprehensive and supportive coaching, modeling, and guidance to address social, emotional, educational, and health issues.

Conducts regular case evaluations and develops and updates service plans accordingly.

Maintains case records containing pertinent, accurate, and current information. Ensures timely, accurate, and client-focused case documentation, including preparation of legal documents for juvenile court.

Prepares correspondence, reports, and other records as required.

Fully completes required documentation in a timely fashion and in accordance with program requirements.

Coordinates or participates in team meetings. Participates in committees and task forces as assigned.

Attends court proceedings to testify, as necessary or required, and provides dispositional reports within appropriate timeframes.

Performs duties and responsibilities as defined in Chapter 938 of the Wisconsin Statutes and established court procedures.

Works cooperatively with team members and participates in collaborative efforts both internally and with external agencies.

Participates in on-call rotation including nights, weekends, and holidays, and responds to calls for Youth Justice after-hours calls.

Maintains confidentiality of client-related information, maintains respectful treatment of clients, and adheres to the La Crosse County Standards of Conduct in the Administrative Code (3.13).

Adheres to approved social worker principles, methods, and practices, including the National Association of Social Workers' (NASW) code of ethics.

Maintains skill and competence levels as policies and regulations change by attending department/staff meetings and by participating in continuing training as required and appropriate.

Reports to work when scheduled, with minimum use of sick leave. Employee is expected to build up sick leave balance for income protection for unexpected illness.

In this public service position, employee is required to be courteous, cooperative, and respectful at all times with the public and clients. Also establishes and maintains a courteous, cooperative, and respectful working relationship with other employees, supervisors, and public officials.

Physical demands: Large percentage of time is spent talking and hearing. Approximately half the time is spent sitting and using near and far vision, low fingering and low (35 lbs.) carrying. A limited amount of time is spent standing, walking, climbing (using feet and legs), reaching, low to medium lifting and carrying. Occasionally transports/carries a child or assists in transferring an adult. Occasionally it is necessary to stoop, kneel, and bend/twist. There is the threat of physical attack or injury from clients in unusual situations. Uses automobile, telephones, copy machines, computer/keyboard, dictating equipment.

Related Job Functions

Assists and provides backup to other Social Workers as necessary or required.

May be required to work nights, weekends, or during community emergencies and/or disasters when work may vary from normal job responsibilities.

This job description is not intended to encompass every job duty or responsibility but is illustrative only. This position may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Assists student interns assigned to the unit.

May research data for writing grants related to youth justice programs.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of the philosophy, history and development of social welfare programs.

Basic knowledge and understanding of human growth and behavior.

Knowledge of current social and economic problems and the way in which these problems affect families and individuals.

Knowledge of laws, regulations and practices pertaining to federal and state public welfare programs.

Knowledge of resources for community welfare and health, and ways in which these resources may be used by people in need.

Ability to work with diverse populations.

Ability to relate to people in an unprejudiced and understanding manner with concerns for their circumstances and feelings.

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

Ability to plan and organize work to most effectively achieve program objectives.

Ability to participate in, and appropriately use, available supervision.

Ability to participate meaningfully in training provided by the agency, State Department, the University of Wisconsin Extension, and other resources.

Knowledge of the dynamics of behavior of justice involved youth and adolescent development.

Ability to deal effectively with justice involved youth and their families.

Ability to invoke the judicial process and use authority granted by Statute.

Ability to make decisions with limited information while under pressure.

Training, Experience and Other Requirements

Requires graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in Social Work (or a related degree of Sociology, Psychology or Criminal Justice).

Strong preference for minimum of one year of experience working with youth and families, and familiarity with community resources available to them.

Requires basic computer keyboarding skills for entering data related to clients. Must have valid driver's license and access to personal transportation, or other reliable means for city and rural travel.

Requires certification by the State of Wisconsin as a Social Worker. If not certified at the time of application for employment with La Crosse County, must have applied to the State of Wisconsin for a Temporary or Training Certificate and obtain regular Certification within specified time limits. Strong preference for certification at time of hire.

Must be versed in Chapters 48, 51, 55 and 938 of the Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Rules relating to detention.

Must be available to work outside normal work hours and be available for on-call duties.