Social Worker - Youth Justice

Job Posting End Date:

10-20-2025

Worker Sub-Type:

Regular

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

We are recruiting for one (1) full-time social work position in the Youth Justice Team. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in providing a variety of case management services to families and children in the areas of youth justice, child abuse and neglect, parenting, financial and household management. This position also includes on-call responsibilities.

As an employee of the Department of Social Services and Marathon County, you will play a crucial role in managing and safeguarding confidential and sensitive information. This position requires a high level of impartiality, integrity, neutrality, and confidentiality.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a closely related human services field.

• Eligibility for Social Work licensure in Wisconsin, with licensure required within 2 years of hire.

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

• Must complete Basic Intake Worker Training (if not already completed).

Work Conditions:

• Hybrid office and field-based work.

• Regular business hours with on-call rotation after hours, weekends, and holidays.

• Exposure to sensitive and emotionally challenging situations.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

The following duties are typical for this position.  These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Determines through interviews, home visits, and other evaluation procedures the range of services needed.

• Prepares complete and thorough case plans as required by local, state, and federal government and prepares ongoing follow-up reports on each case assigned; monitors and adjusts case plans.

• Provides case work services either individually or as part of an inter-agency team approach in the areas of family relationships, finances, parent-child relationships, domestic abuse, separation, juvenile delinquency, and other problems in accordance with the needs of the client.

• Places children in substitute care settings; maintains ongoing supervision of placements through site visits and evaluates the social adjustment of the children; reports to court and participates in administrative review activities.

• Provides case management to children with physical disabilities, mental health issues, and children in need of protective services, juvenile justice youth, and their families.

• Provides oversight of youth subject to court orders to monitor community safety.   

• Provides emergency and ongoing services to families with the objective of preventing family breakup; provides services to reunite families.

• Provides court testimony and corresponding timely completion of court documentation.

• Provides emergency after hours on-call duties to include telephone and, when needed, in-person responses to situations involving child abuse/neglect and/or youth justice.

• Participates in professional training programs leading to the ability to perform the full range of Social Worker duties and responsibilities as may be assigned.

• Participates in establishing professional development goals that are supportive of broader County goals.

• Develops solutions to work issues that add value for our customers.

• Maintains regular and predictable attendance, works extra hours as required.

• Assists with the Youth Opportunity as needed.

• Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Understands the County's and department's mission, core values, plans, and priorities for the future.

• Ability to contribute to a positive work culture that fosters excellent customer service and teamwork. 

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of social case work.

• Knowledge of basic sociology and psychology as it applies to social case work.

• Knowledge of the functions and resources of public and private social service agencies and other agencies in the areas of finance, employment, health, etc.

• Knowledge of state and federal laws and administrative rules applicable to a public social service agency.

• Skill in preparing professional written case plans, summaries, updates, court reports and correspondence and keep accurate and current records.

• Knowledge of relevant Wisconsin State Statutes 938 and Children’s Code - 48 and standards.

• Knowledge of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.

• Ability to integrate training and experience into practice.

• Ability to establish rapport with clients, their families, and their associates so as to enable them to meet their social needs.

• Ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing.

• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with all agency staff and with members of other agencies to whom clients are referred.

• Ability to recognize and build upon the strengths of family members.

• Skill in conducting interviews, interpreting laws and procedures, and obtaining cooperation from others in difficult situations.

• Skill in using a computer for e-mail, calendaring, basic word processing, and data entry.

COMPENSATION:

• If certified or eligible to take the open-book online State statute exam and the subsequent in-person State certification exam, starting annual salary: $58,697.60 + benefits

• If not certified and not yet eligible to take the open-book online State statute exam and the subsequent in-person State certification exam, starting hourly rate of pay: $26.38 + benefits

• More information on Marathon County employee benefits: https://www.marathoncounty.gov/about-us/careers/employee-benefits

Special Accommodations:

Marathon County will make arrangements to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary and reasonable to afford an individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in the recruitment process. Please notify the Employee Resources Department office or phone (715) 261-1451 to request special accommodations prior to the application deadline.

Notice to Applicants:

Wisconsin Statutes, Sections 19.36 (7), 64.09 (5), and 64.11 (7) require public employers to treat the following items as a public record: Each applicant’s application, records, recommendations, and qualifications except as provided in Section 19.36 (7), Wis. Stats. that allows the identity of an applicant to remain confidential if the applicant requests in writing that the County not provide access to this information.  If you choose not to have this information become a public record, you must make such a request in writing to the Employee Resources Department. If you become a finalist for the position, your identity may be disclosed as required by law