Police Navigator/Social Worker

Job Summary

The Police Social Worker is a non-sworn, administrative position responsible for providing social service support to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. The Police Social Worker is available to employees of the Sheriff’s Office and community members as crisis intervention, resource navigation, short-term case management and a referral source for opioid use disorder or co-occurring substance use/mental health disorders and other conditions.

The position reports to the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Commander, or designee, and the Boone County Director of Community Services and Programs (Department).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties are standard for this position.

• Acts as a liaison between the BCSO and community agencies by providing follow-ups, monitoring, and assistance with cases upon request from the BCSO or Department for causes including, but not limited to, opioid and substance use disorder, mental health crisis, inter-personal violence, child abuse or neglect, financial hardship, competency, homelessness, and human trafficking.
• Conducts home visitations and provides follow-up services to families as requested by BCSO.
• Provides crisis intervention services to community members as needed including linking community resources.
• Identifies existing services in the community to act in the capacity of an information and referral source for BCSO personnel.
• Conducts seminars and training sessions directed to the BCSO on a variety of social services issues.
• Attends community meetings to establish collaborative relationships with the members and organizations within the community.
• Acts as an advocate for victims of crime by attending court, making follow-up appointments, setting up social and legal education classes and researching other available assistance options.
• Prepares and maintains records of contact with community members, prepares detailed reports and correspondence as required. Maintains data base for reporting requirements.

MINOR ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Other duties may be required and assigned that are similar, related or a logical assignment for this position.
• May need to work adjusted shifts/hours or some weekends.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, or other social science related field with three (3) years’ experience in the area of social science.

Or

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, or other social science related field with two (2) years’ experience in the area of social science.

AND

• Must be at least 21 years of age and possess a valid Kentucky Driver’s License.

PERFORMANCE APTITUDES

Data Utilization:

• Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.
• Must be able to research and reference a variety of sources.

Human Interaction:

• Requires the ability to apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others in coordinating activities of a project, program, or designated area of responsibility.
• Must be able to establish and maintain relationships with agency employees and citizens.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization:

• Requires the ability to operate computer equipment with Microsoft Office software and various office machines to include phones, fax machines, copiers, printers, and scanners.
• Must be familiar and comfortable with social media sites.

Verbal Aptitude:

• Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information to communicate orally and in writing.

Mathematical Aptitude:

• Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.

Functional Reasoning:

• Requires the ability to apply principles of social justice, social service, legal codes, and Psychology and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems. Requires the ability to perform multiple tasks and projects concurrently.

Situational Reasoning:

• Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

ADA COMPLIANCE

Physical Ability:

• Tasks require the ability to exert moderate, though not constant physical effort, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20 pounds).

Sensory Requirements:

• Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors:

Working conditions are office environment as well as field environment with occasional exposure to noise, dust, heat, cold, rain and other inclement weather conditions. Office conditions may require periods of heavy workloads. Field environment conditions may be subject to attack by individuals encountered during duty, exposure to bodily fluids and may result in injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises too serious injury or death.

EMPLOYEE AWARENESS

• Implement and assure adherence to policies and procedures regarding Equal Employment Opportunity.
• Adheres to the County of Boone initiative on ethics, code of conduct, and other employment policy.
• Adheres to federal/state laws and regulations regarding MSDS, OSHA and EPA Compliance.
• Mandatory overtime is sometimes required, as well as varying work hours including evenings, weekends, and some holidays.
• Be available on-call to address concerns pertaining to social service.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

An individual in this class must meet the requirements of all applicable Kentucky Revised Statutes and local ordinances, with regards to a person in this classification.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and the requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, requirements, or responsibilities.