Salary: Depends on Qualifications Location : 500 Fir Avenue West Fergus Falls, MN Job Type: Full-Time Job Number: 72:07/25 Department: Human Services Opening Date: 07/22/2025 Closing Date: 8/12/2025 4:30 PM Central Description Otter Tail County is accepting applications for a full-time Social Worker - Early Engagement Pilot Program. The Early Engagement Social Worker position supports individuals living with serious and persistent mental illness in accessing voluntary mental health services, aiming to reduce the risk of civil commitment. This position focuses on individuals at high risk for civil commitment, using motivational and person-centered approaches to connect them to services, supports, and treatment options that promote mental health stabilization and symptom management. The Early Engagement Social Worker will also provide psychoeducation and support for family members and social supports. Please note: This is a limited duration position funded for two years through a legislative allocation to pilot early engagement services to reduce civil commitments. If the pilot is successful, there may be opportunities to continue providing these services beyond the initial timeframe. Examples of Duties
- Provide a minimum of 90 days of assertive, person-centered, engagement services to individuals who have been identified as being at high risk of civil commitment, including providing psychoeducation and support for family members and support systems.
- Use motivational interviewing approaches to explore barriers to symptom management, mental health stability, and voluntary treatment
- Provide hands-on assistance in reducing barriers to mental health stability (including access to housing, food, income, disability verification, medication access, and medical treatment)
- Complete Diagnostic Assessments, as needed, for expedited access to Targeted Case Management and /or other mental health related services
- Assist individuals in accessing mental health services
- Engage individual's existing support systems, including providing psychoeducation, education on restricting means of harm, suicide prevention, and general support
- Establish and maintain a working relationship with providers and resources that may be a referral source or working contact; development of public relations and early intervention activities
- Advocate and develop system changes and service development
- Consult with program/team staff
- Interpret rules/policy related to Diagnostic Assessments
- Represent team, department or agency in community assignments and groups.
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Administrative tasks
- Attend staff and supervisory meetings as scheduled
- Attend conferences as scheduled or agreed upon with supervisor
- Attend training as related to job responsibilities
- Complete required documentation, agency time sheets, and employee records in a timely manner
- Utilize SSIS as the case management system, including time documentation and case notes. Utilize the electronic document management system for case records, and other systems as applicable.
- Communicate schedule changes with supervisor
- Utilize agency status board consistently to keep agency staff aware of availability
- May assist with duties and responsibilities as outlined in the County Emergency Operations Plan and Continuity of Operations Plan
Minimum Qualifications
- Master's degree in social work, counseling, or closely related field; AND
- Be licensed in the State of Minnesota (or eligible for licensure) as an independent mental health professional (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)); AND
- A minimum of 2 years of experience working with individuals with a diagnosis of a serious and persistent mental illness, including experience completing Diagnostic Assessments
- Valid Driver's License in the State of Minnesota
Supplemental Information This is a full-time, 40 hours/week position, and generally the work hours are Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30 p.m. The 2025 starting salary is $33.43 per hour, depending on qualifications, with potential career advancement to $53.02 per hour. The selection process will include an online employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Semi-finalists will be invited to interview. Prior to hire, finalist will be required to pass a background investigation and reference check. A standard one-year probationary period applies. Please note: This position is considered a safety-sensitive position due to the essential job duties in accordance with . Safety-sensitive employees are subject to pre-employment drug testing and random drug and alcohol testing. In addition, all employees are subject to drug and alcohol testing upon reasonable suspicion/cause, return-to-duty, follow-up, and post-accident. How to Apply To apply for this position, click on desired job title, then the Apply link. On-line applications are stored on a secure site. Only you and authorized employees of Otter Tail County have access to the information submitted. When filling out any employment application materials for Otter Tail County, you must include your entire employment and education history. Failure to do so may render your application incomplete. Veterans Preference Eligible veterans as defined by Minnesota Statute 197.447 may claim Veterans Preference during the hiring process. A DD214 and required supporting documentation must be included with the employment application to receive preference. Background Investigation All employment offers are contingent upon the applicant passing a background investigation which may include, but are not limited to, gathering information from the following sources: Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, other law enforcement agencies, court documents, educational institutions, previous employers, Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services, military records, Immigration and Naturalization Services, and known associates of the applicant. Criminal convictions are not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought. Making false statements or withholding information during the hiring process will cause you to be barred from employment or removed from employment. Otter Tail County is a tobacco-free workplace. Otter Tail County does not discriminate on the basis of political affiliation, race, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, sex (pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation), marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, disability, or genetic information. Equal Opportunity Employer Otter Tail County provides an attractive benefit package for regular full-time employees, including health, dental, life, long-term disability, and retirement benefits through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). Regular full-time employees can expect to accrue holiday, sick, and vacation leave benefits. In addition, employees receive professional development opportunities. 01 The following questionnaire will be used as a scored evaluation of your knowledge, skills, and experience and is used to determine advancement in the hiring process. Be sure that your responses are thorough and complete. If a question asks for education and experience that you have already stated in the employment application, it is still important to answer the question thoroughly on the questionnaire. All responses should be examples of your own writing and will be evaluated for potential AI. If we determine that the responses were created using AI, your application may be deemed ineligible. 02 To qualify for this position, you must be a licensed mental health professional in the State of Minnesota. Tell us about how your education, licensure, and professional work experiences relate to this position. 03 This role is part of a pilot program that is positioned to influence how mental health services are delivered in Minnesota. What excites you about being part of a pilot program? What specific skills and attributes do you possess that will support the success of the pilot? 04 How would you approach building trust with individuals who are ambivalent or resistant to services, especially when they are experiencing psychosis or mania? 05 The ideal candidate for this role will be tenacious, empathetic, outcome-driven, and highly skilled in building rapport. Tell us how you exemplify these characteristics, giving specific examples from previous work experiences. What training and/or specific approaches would you leverage to do this work effectively? 06 Are you bilingual? If you are bilingual, indicate the language(s) you speak and your skill level. Also tell us whether you can speak fluently, read/or write the language(s). 07 Have you included your entire work history on this employment application? Do not mark your application see resume . Not including your entire work history will render your application incomplete. 08 How did you hear about this job opportunity? Check all that apply.
- Otter Tail County Website
- Minnesota Works Website
- Newspaper
- Social Media
- Word of Mouth
- Other
Required Question
