Social Service Worker I

Commonwealth of Kentucky; Elizabethtown (KY); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Flexible work schedules

Paid sick leave

Vacation leave

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Commonwealth of Kentucky, Cabinet for Health & Family Services, Dept for Community Based Services, seeks a Social Service Worker I in Elizabethtown. The role supports families and vulnerable individuals, conducting investigations, case management, and collaboration with partners.

Telecommuting may be allowed; a valid driver’s license is required. The position offers full-time status in the executive branch with overtime eligibility, benefits, and career growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related field required.
• Experience, training, or skills: none.
• Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: NONE.
• Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: NONE.

Responsibilities

• Investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children and adults.
• Recruit, train, and approve foster/adoptive homes.
• Meet with families to assess reports of neglect or abuse.
• Collaborate with school and medical staff to gather information.
• Prepare detailed assessments based on investigations and case management.

Skills

Experience with families

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Time management

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work

Job description

Advertisement Closes 10/2/2026 (11:59 PM ET)

2605053

Social Service Worker I

Pay Grade 14

Salary $55,541.52 - $64,816.08 Annually

Employment Type EXECUTIVE BRANCH | FULL TIME | ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME PAY | 18A | 37.5 HR/WK

Hiring Agency Cabinet for Health & Family Services | Dept for Community Based Services

Location 916 N Mulberry Street Suite 140 Elizabethtown, KY 42701 USA

Description

The agency may authorize the selected candidate to telecommute. The agency may terminate or modify the telecommuting arrangement at any time.

The Kentucky Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) is a multi-faceted agency that provides services and programs to enhance the self-sufficiency of families; improve safety and permanency for children and vulnerable adults; and engage families and community partners in a collaborative decision-making process.

DCBS seeks a Social Service Worker I who is driven to succeed in helping people and advance family self- sufficiency. With professionalism and integrity, our agency offers services to individuals and families to ensure safe, stable homes for the children of the Commonwealth. The Social Service Worker I is a skilled team member, providing a vital link between the children, families, adults, and local community partners. The employee is expected to perform at the highest quality to ensure services to vulnerable citizens. This is a demanding position that requires maturity, self-discipline, and the ability to work overtime.

For more information on the Department for Community Based Services, please visit our website at: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/pages/default.aspx

Career growth is encouraged through training and mentoring. Benefits include health and life insurance, flexible work schedules, paid sick and vacation leave, and retirement benefits.

Responsibilities May Include But Are Not Limited To

• Investigate allegations of child and adult abuse, neglect, and/or dependency and exploitation.
• Recruit, train, and approve individuals and families as foster and adoptive homes.
• Meet with family members to determine the merits of a report of child and adult neglect and/or abuse.
• Meet with other interested parties such as school and medical staff in order to gather additional information.
• Complete detailed assessments based on investigative and ongoing case management work.
• Locate and secure appropriate placements for children when necessary.
• Work with families and adults to create case plans for addressing and correcting issues.
• Make referrals to outside community resources to assist the family, adults, and children with meeting identified needs for well-being, safety, and permanency.
• Enter case information into the computer.
• Complete court reports and provides testimony during administrative and judicial hearings.
• Work closely with community partners such as law enforcement, school systems, counselors, shelters, vacation leave, and retirement benefits.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

• Experience working with adults, children, families
• Experience working collaboratively with team members/community partners
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Good time management and organizational skills
• The ability to work well under pressure
• A willingness to work as part of a team
• A valid driver’s license

The position you are applying for has access to or use of federal tax information (FTI) or meets the statutory definition of front-line staff. Therefore, pursuant to IRS Publication 1075 and 900 KAR 1:009 or KRS 194A.062 and 900 KAR 1:050, applicants for this position in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) shall submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background check by the Department of Kentucky State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

CHFS also participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in U.S. CHFS will only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that CHFS has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at 888-897-7781 or https://www.e-verify.gov/ .

Minimum Requirements

EDUCATION: Graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree in social work, sociology, psychology, marriage and family therapy or a related field.

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, OR SKILLS: NONE

Substitute EDUCATION for EXPERIENCE: NONE

Substitute EXPERIENCE for EDUCATION: NONE

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

If employed by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice, an employee in this job classification must furnish to the appointing authority within one month of employment, documentation that he/she possesses a valid driver's license Must maintain any required licensure(s), certification(s), or other credentials for the length of employment in this job classification. Employing agency is responsible for ensuring employee possesses and maintains required licensure(s), certification(s) or other credentials.

Working Conditions

Performs job duties in an office/facility or residential program setting and visits clients and/or families at their residence. Provides emergency services on 24-hour basis, including accepting referrals and completing investigations at any hour without prior warning. As a result of enforced intervention, the worker runs the risk of physical harm.

Probationary Period

This job has an initial and promotional probationary period of 9 months, except as provided in KRS 18A.111.

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D