Case Worker or Social Worker-Adult Protective Services

Join Us as a Case Worker/Social Worker – Adult Protective Services

Are you passionate about protecting vulnerable adults and making a lasting difference in your community? Dunn County is hiring a Full-Time Case Worker/Social Worker to join our Adult Protective Services (APS) team—a role that also collaborates closely with our Behavioral Health Crisis team.

In this role, you will:

Respond to reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of at-risk adults

Conduct thorough investigations and coordinate care with providers and agencies

Provide trauma-informed, person-centered support during moments of crisis

Develop and implement service plans that prioritize safety and dignity

Collaborate cross-functionally with APS and Crisis team colleagues

Communicate effectively with clients, families, courts, and community partners

Maintain accurate documentation and meet statutory timelines

This position is a strong fit if you:

Hold a bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a related field

Have at least one year of human services or social work experience

Are grounded in ethical service delivery and professional standards

Thrive in a fast-paced, team-driven, and mission-focused environment

Are comfortable navigating emotionally complex situations with compassion and clarity

Recruitment Timeline

Applications Close: Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

Pay is dependent upon qualifications. The salary range for those meeting Case Worker requirements is $27.78 to $36.42 per hour, with anticipated starting pay between $27.78 and $29.32. The salary range for those meeting Social Worker requirements is $61,693 to $80,954 annually, with anticipated starting pay between $61,693 and $65,146 annually.

Primary Responsibilities

The following duties are primarily performed and which are essential for this position.  Employees are expected to be able to perform each of these job duties satisfactorily and successfully to be qualified for the position.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Provides assistance over the phone or in person to the public during all business hours. This assistance may be answering questions about the community and/or county programs, assistance in accessing supports to meet basic needs, addressing concerns and frustrations with service delivery and processes, providing linkage to resources and services, and facilitation and support through emotional and traumatic situations.
• Receives phone, in-person or electronic reports, referrals and requests for services and resources.  
• Makes consumer referrals; maintains contact with other agencies/organizations; coordinates services with a variety of providers and family members.
• Completes accurate and timely record keeping including case notes, assessments, treatment plans, crisis plans, court recommendations, and billing activities.  
• Attends staff training and other meetings as required.
• Completes responsibilities within statutory or administrative rule timelines and meets any monthly productivity documentation or billing goals.  
• Other duties as assigned.

 
Section/Area Specific Functions:
 
Family & Children’s Services -  

• Receives reports of child abuse and neglect and conducts initial assessment.
• Conducts juvenile court intake conferences and makes child custody decisions
• Provides service facilitation and compliance monitoring aimed at protecting child and community safety through voluntary and court-ordered interventions.
• Certifies Kinship providers and licenses foster homes.
• Provides information and testifies in court proceedings as necessary
• Provides after-hours on-call child protective service and juvenile intake coverage.

 
Aging & Disability Resources –

• Provides long-term care options counseling to older adults and individuals with disabilities.
• Assists consumers in understanding and applying for a variety of public and private benefits, including Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and other financial assistance programs.
• Conducts functional screens to determine eligibility for publicly funded long-term care services and supports.
• Offers accurate, unbiased information and referral services regarding housing, transportation, health services, and other community resources.
• Maintains thorough documentation of all client interactions and case activities in accordance with agency policies and state guidelines.
• Collaborates with internal team members and community partners to ensure coordinated and person-centered service delivery.
• Participates in community outreach and education efforts to increase public awareness of ADRC services and support available to individuals and families.
• Participates in trainings and stay current on policies, programs, and best practices relevant to the ADRC role.

 
Behavioral Health – Comprehensive Community Services, and Children’s Long Term Support -

• Position fulfills requirements of Service Facilitator as outlined in Wisconsin Administrative Code DHS 36 (CCS) or of a Service Coordinator as outlined in the Wisconsin Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver Manual (CLTS)
• Provides CCS and/or CLTS community services per Wisconsin statutes, court policies, and/or requirements of program, state, or federal guidelines
• Provides services in support of recovery concepts and practices.  
• Explains the scope of services and discusses consumer’s rights and responsibilities in relation to the use of services
• Performs functional screening for publicly funded services.

 
Behavioral Health – Community Support Program -

• Position fulfills the requirements of a case manager as outlined in Wisconsin DHS 63.12. 

Behavioral Health – Case Manager -

• Provides follow-up and linkage to services for consumers who access crisis services through Dunn County DHS Behavioral Health crisis programming.  
• Serves as a liaison between crisis services, law enforcement, DHS, Corporation Counsel, hospital staff, inpatient and outpatient placement providers and other community stakeholders to continually improve crisis services and provide assessment and treatment planning for consumers involved in emergency detention and Chapter 51 actions.
• Designs interventions which divert consumers out of formal interventions and into voluntary referral/services whenever safe and possible, including developing crisis plans and alert forms for consumers at high risk of need for crisis intervention.  
• Attends Chapter 51 hearings and provide recommendations and testimony regarding treatment and placement.  
• Performs functional screening for publicly funded mental health services.
• Facilitate access of families or other interested associates of mental health consumers to court action via Three Party petitions 
• Provides case management to clients and their team as needed, including monitoring consumer compliance with settlement agreements and commitment orders.
• Ensures the Department of Human Services 51.42 Board statutory requirements. 
• Communicates with Dunn County Corporation Counsel to ensure case management of mental health involuntary orders.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
 

• Bachelor’s degree in human behavioral science, which must include 30 semester or 45 quarter hours either in development of human behavior, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures, or therapeutic techniques, such as social work, psychology, sociology, guidance and counseling, or child development OR
• Master's degree in social work, human services, education, counseling or psychology
• Minimum of two (2) years previous experience in Human Services or Social Work

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess at least one of the following certifications or licensures in the State of Wisconsin:
  • Certified Social Worker (CSW) or possess a social worker training certificate
  • Certified Advanced Practice Social Worker (CAPSW)
  • Certified Independent Social Worker (CISW)
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC); working job title would be Case Worker, LPC
  • Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT); working job title would be Case Worker, MFT
• Valid driver’s license or the ability to travel between work locations
• Upon hire, obtain and maintain Functional Screener Certification
• Successful passing of the Continued Skills Test, administered bi-annually
• Prior to hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted.  Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES QUALIFICATIONS
In order to perform the duties of the position (listed above) the following knowledge, skills, and abilities are essential for this position to possess.

• Knowledge of local and state regulations, rules, policies and procedures pertaining to specific program assignments.
• Knowledge of the fundamentals, principles, techniques and trends in social services in family systems/dynamics, child development, individual/family therapy, counseling, intervention, chemical dependency, abuse, neglect, family violence and aging and disability benefits/needs.
• Knowledge of interviewing, assessing, counseling and evaluating.
• Knowledge of community resources and needs.
• Knowledge of case management and record keeping requirements.
• Skill in assessing general client issues and making necessary referrals to others inside or outside of the department, as warranted.
• Skill in applying professional judgement, discretion and decision making in developing strategies and plans to best meet client needs and concerns within relevant and applicable requirements, regulations, rules, policies and procedures.
• Skill in investigating, interviewing and gathering information and documentation needed in making assessments and evaluations concerning client emotional/physical needs, issues and concerns.
• Skill in assessing, evaluating and developing individual service plans for clients and coordinating consumer services.
• Skill in conducting and preparing court studies, preparing court documents and testifying in court concerning actions, findings and recommendations.
• Skill in conducting child, elderly or vulnerable adult abuse/neglect investigations.
• Skill in performing intake assessments.
• Skill in planning, coordinating and monitoring services provided.
• Skill in documenting and maintaining required case management activities and requirements.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to follow Dunn County policies and procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and professional working relationships.
• Ability to manage time effectively, manage multiple projects, and complete work within established deadlines.
• Ability to work the allocated hours of the position.

 
MINIMUM LANGUAGE SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS 
In order to perform the duties of the position (listed above) the following language skills are essential for this position to possess. 

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with other staff members, supervisors, and community members in written and verbal form. 
• Ability to read, interpret, and communicate policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; etc.
• English skills (oral, written and comprehension) sufficient to effectively communicate with all internal and external customers.

 
MINIMUM REASONING ABILITY QUALIFICATIONS
In order to perform the duties of the position (listed above) the following reasoning abilities are essential for this position to possess.

• Ability to understand and effectively carry out verbal and written instructions.
• Must have ability to work accurately with attention to detail.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.

 
MINIMUM MATHEMATICAL ABILITY QUALIFICATIONS
In order to perform the duties of the position (listed above) the following mathematical skills are essential for this position to possess.

• Ability to make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals.
• Ability to compute rates, ratios and percentages.

In evaluating candidates for this position, Dunn County may consider a combination of education, training, and experience which provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position.

Physical and Work Environment

The physical and work environment characteristics described in this description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions or as otherwise required by law.  Employees needing reasonable accommodation should discuss the request with the employee’s supervisor or Human Resources.  
 
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
 

• Physical effort will typically require infrequent exertion of objects weighing up to 25 pounds and/or regular, but not continuous, exertion of objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Work requires continuous sitting, talking and listening and frequently requires using hands to key, handle or feel. This work occasionally requires standing, walking and reaching with hands and arms. 
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.

 
WORK ENVIRONMENT
 

• Work is inside and outside of an office setting.
• Work frequently requires travel to clients, agencies or provider locations.
• Work may involve exposure to poor housing/housekeeping conditions.
• Work may involve interactions with clients that are unpleasant such as clients that are hostile, violent, angry, upset or uncooperative.
• Work may involve interaction with clients with chemical/emotional illnesses.
• Potential risks and hazards can be minimized through professional training, judgement, county risk management procedures and ability to adjust schedules, locations and appointments.